One Last Christmas Gift

I actually have a few more gifts to make but they will have to wait until I take my Bernina in for a tune-up. They are all garment projects and I am fussier about how they turn out. While I love all the doo-dads on the Kenmore 1802 (buttonhole attachment, design cams, monogrammer) the plain ol' straight and zig zag stitches are a little unreliable. I think this particular machine has lived a rough life.

So here it is, my version of the Burda Charlie Bag. This is a market bag that stores in its own pocket (which lives inside), in your purse, and can come in quite handy when you are at the check-out counter and realize you left all your reusable grocery bags in your trunk.

This bag is destined to be a Christmas gift but I will definitely be sewing more of them. The directions call for using a serger. I still haven't made friends with mine. Besides, a shopping bag needs to be sturdy. I opted to use bias tape along the handle edges and French seams on all the inside seams.

When I sew them I want them to stay sewn! I didn't have quite enough of the print fabric so added some solid black to the bottom. It looks like I meant to do that, doesn't it? I attached one of my labels as a finishing touch.

And here it is, all tucked into the little storage bag.