Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Modern Japanese Rice Bag

One of the ways our guild has tried to stay connected during this stay-home time - in addition to our online meetings and sew-ins, and our group hashtag, #seattlemqgsewathome - is with a swap! The basic rules were to use supplies you had at home, and to make whatever YOU wanted to make. Then, of course, your swap gift would be sent off to your assigned (secret) recipient.


It took me SO long to decide what to make my secret swap partner, David Owen Hasting, our guild president. Talk about pressure! David is a very gifted contemporary print + textile artist, and I must say making something for him was a tad intimidating. And unfortunately, handmade guy gifts aren't my forte. But after a while it came to me that David's passion for all things Japanese might lend a cue and I settled on making him a Modern Japanese Rice Bag using the pattern by @kzstevens.


The bag could be made with one piece of fabric, but I of course, chose to piece the front with a variety of fabrics and substrates, and in looking through my stash for a suitable lining, I happened upon a lovely piece by Yoshiko Jinzenji, Rose Petals - neutrals on gray, and it immediately helped solidify my vision for the project.

 
 
Dare I say, this was really fun - first pulling together fabrics, and then adding two small patches and stitching with #8 perle cotton. I made the original version of the pattern, which basically is a 6" cube. That doesn't sound very big, but it's actually a really nice, practical size.


I used some cording that I had on hand for the handles. I love that the view from each side of the bag is a little different, showing off the various fabrics and stitching details.


So swaps can be a little stressful, with trying to make something your partner will really like, but I think I did ok this time - once I decided what to make! And I'm glad to have finally tried this pattern. I already have some ideas for another.


See #seattlemqgscrappygiftswap for more of the swap happenings!

10 comments:

  1. It looks like you nailed the construction, and I definitely enjoy the scrappy aesthetic of the exterior and how each side is unique. Puzzling over what to make is definitely the hardest part in a swap for me as well, and I'm glad you got nice affirmation along the way as you made more choices.

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  2. Super finish! The hand stitching is great. Thanks for the link to KZ Stevens, I hadn't seen her work before.
    Don't apologize for your work, it ain't trash no how!

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  3. I've had this pattern for ages and have been a little reluctant to make one as 3D objects are not my forte. But yours looks so great I'm energized to set those worries aside and make one or ten. This will surely be well received.

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  4. what a great bag and your fabric choices are spot on! bet he loves it

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  5. The detail on this is amazing. Love that you took the time to hand stitch the patches, and as always your fabric choices are spot on. Its such a great bag design!

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  6. Your bag is so nice, Debbie! It was just the reason for you to pull together a great combination of fabrics - you have such a good eye for that - and add that perfect stitching (Kantha? Boro?). It's really a good-looking bag, and after reading the recipient's comments about it, I can safely say you made a home run. Great job!

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  7. Wow! Beautiful bag! Very inspiring!

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  8. It is fun to see a bag with four different looking sides. Something I would never have concidered but it really works! Hope the recipient loves it :) xo Melanie

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  9. I have made this bag and I love it! I highly recommend it and other KZ Stevens patterns. I used denim and cottons with embroidery, big stitch quilting, and Sashiko designs. I keep my quilting tools in it (scissors, needles, pins, etc.).

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  10. I'm going to two day retreats in the next month. I just convinced a friend to try a tote pattern with me and I think I might have to convince her to try this one. I just bought the pattern. Do you think the 8" is large enough to use as a purse?

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