Bailey Island Hobo Bag-A Finish!
Okay-so this was supposed to be done in time to carry to Houston, but we’re just not talking about that. In the usual way, I did take a fairly simple project and make it unnecessarily complicated. Would you expect anything less?
My local quilt shop, Meissner’s Folsom, had a sample of this bag in the store and I was intrigued. The Bailey Island Tote has structure built into the bag that is not from stabilizer. I liked that’s it was soft to the touch yet still stood up on its own.
The Bailey Island Hobo pattern is made by Aunties Two Patterns, in Portland Maine, just a stone’s throw from my son-awww! When we visited my son in May, we took the Casco Bay Mailboat which I believe took us by Bailey Island. Let’s see if my son actually reads my blog and confirms this in a comment (evil Mommy laugh!). I decided to make it a little taller than the pattern and I do like the added height.
I created my own straps from webbing and ribbon but they were too wide to move through the channel easily. I finally removed them, and then stitched them in half for the part that runs through the channel. That fixed the binding problem. Honestly though, the bag would probably hang better with the straps the pattern calls for-I just thought mine looked more professional.
The pattern calls for a jelly roll. I really didn’t want that “jelly roll” matchy look so I headed into my stash and came up with this group of fabrics. I do like this look over the jelly roll. My fabric selection included some Radiance for glow and I’m especially pleased with that.
I used the batting I had on hand, some Warm and Natural. I would not do this again. It is so sturdy that it was very difficult to sew through 4 layers of fabric and 2-3 layers of batting. Plus Warm and Natural is heavy. If I did this bag again, I would use wool batting and the bag would be much lighter.
I like the pockets that she built into the pattern-they were easy to add and I am confident that they will come in handy. She even has you put little buttons on them for a pretty interior.
The pattern did not call for this, but I wanted a sturdy bottom so I headed over to TAP Plastics and ordered a custom cut bottom with a hole cut in the middle to secure it to the bag. It works well and I like the structure it adds to the bag.
You may notice skipped stitches in some of the photos. About halfway through it dawned on me that I needed a bigger needle, which fixed the problem-but, I was NOT going to go back and fix the skipped stitches!
This is a fun bag. The pattern was well written and the construction of the bag was easy. And you could use this technique to make a bag of another shape that you choose. I’d love one that’s like a round bucket. I just hope I don’t get the dreaded remark: “Oh, did you make that yourself?”-noooo! I am beginning to think that bags are best left to the professionals.
Well, Jenny…you have a one-of-a-kind version of that bag — beautiful, functional, and not quite what you expected! Plus I just had to grin at how you went about it… ;-)
Thank you Margaret. Yes, I do have my own path, don’t I? Sigh.
Oh my, I have such sympathy for you, having just made a bag myself. I had to grin at your honesty in pointing out your skipped stitches. I’m familiar with them in my own work with fleece layers. And yes, in the future I’ll be happy to pay for someone else to make my bags.
I have no shame in showing my less than perfect moments! Skipped stitches happen. I do think that bag making requires special skills-which apparently I do not possess.
You did it beautifully and the bottom stiffening is a great idea!! I know what you mean about the straps/handles. Sometimes we can make them “too well” and then a ‘fix’ is needed. Your remedy takes on a very professional look for the bag. Don’t give up on such…….you’re good at it!!! Hugs………
Thanks for the encouragement Doreen. It sure takes a lot to make a bag though. I keep on thinking “I could be quilting now”!
I have a question I am making this Bailey Island hobo bag the small one and I don’t understand in the directions where it says once you’ve sewn your rectangle together it should measure 7“ x 42 long and then it says for the small bag only cut this rectangle in half so you’ll have two rectangles 7 x 22“ and zigzag stitch those two together I don’t understand what that means cutting them in half and sewing them back together in the same place? Any insight would be really helpful.
Sorry I can’t help you Michelle. I’ve never made that pattern myself and I haven’t a clue. Sorry!
I think it’s an awesome bag!!! Well done!! And, I too seem to make things more difficult than they need be! Not sure why, but always seems to be that way!!! Have a lovely weekend and thanks for sharing, love the bag!!!
Thansk you Martha. What is with the making things more difficult issue?I guess we think we have a more creative way to do it and then we have to make our own path. Hope you have a great weekend too!
Hey Jenny,
Love your bag! It’s gorgeous! The colors… Wow!
The stitches on the green ribbon in the handle. How’d you do them? They look like tiny, tiny, perfect hand stitching. Yes? If not, how’d you get the spaces between the stitches?
Maggie
Thank you Maggie! So I giggled-I’m not nearly as skilled as you think I am. The tiny perfect stitches on the ribbon were woven in-perfect hand quilter I am not! I attached it with invisible thread, hence the look. Guess I’m more clever than I am skilled, giggle!
Hi Jenny. The name of your bag caught my eye as I used to live on Bailey Island as a kid. I lived in Portland for many years as a adult. The bag is really great and I love to start a pattern and make it my own by changing it up a bit, just like you did here.
Just a note:
I don’t think the Casco Bay mailboat goes by Bailey Island as Bailey’s is too far away. I believe the mail boat goes to Peaks, Chebeague and a few nearby islands. There was a boat trip called the Calendar Island tour that would have stopped at Bailey Island. It’s called the Calendar Island trip because there are 365 islands in Casco Bay.
Sorry Marsha, just got to this. What delightful information about Casco Bay! My son is like an encyclopedia of knowledge and did not mention the 365 island trip. There are just so many islands that I wasn’t sure if we went by Bailey. Lucky you to have lived there!
I am interested in the Large Baily Island Hobo shown on the front of the pattern Aunties Two Patterns. Colors are pink, green- ect…. I can text you a copy of the pic if you would like.
Thank you!
Nancy Armstrong
(334) 797-4728
I purchased the pattern for the hobo bag and
I am having a hard time following it. Can you help?
Hi Isabella; I replied via email. Thanks!