I love making special items for my grandchildren. As soon as I saw this pattern for the Patchwork Duffle Bag I knew I would be making several of these. While on my quilt trail for the Missouri Shop Hop I visited a store in Hannibal that I absolutely fell in love with. It was called Hickory Stick Quilt Shop.

I new I wanted to make this bag for my oldest granddaughter, but wanted to find a fabric that wasn't too girly and something that she might still like for a few years so she would get plenty of use out of it. My target completion was to finish by Christmas, but because I was spending Thanksgiving with my family, I had to have it done by then as we would celebrate Christmas early so that I could see them open their presents in person as opposed through a screen on a phone.

The fabric line used for this project is called,  EMMA, by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda Fabrics. I used the same fabric line for the patchwork as well as the handles and the lining. I used my accuquilt to cut perfect 2 1/2" squares from my layer cake, which then had to be sewn into rows, which were then attached to complete the body of the bag. The end pieces were 3x4 rows and a 3x3 row, which was used to create pockets on each end. Once all was complete, I added a Nana made label to finish it off. I also purchased the fabric to make myself one, but who knows when that will be completed.

Pattern Cover