Monday 28 January 2013

Dresden Plate Library Bag...


This is the 4th post in the Library Bag Tutorial series. Today I'll show you how to add a Dresden Plate to the basic Library Bag.

Dresden Plates are not as scary as they look. My first Dresden was incorporated into a Retro Flower Power Pillow. This is my second.


Materials:
  • 2 pieces 13" x 16" (33cm x 41cm) - main colour for the outside of the bag
  • 2 pieces 13" x 16" (33cm x 41cm) - contrast colour for the lining
  • 4 pieces 10.5" x 1.5" (26cm x 4cm) - main colour for the handles
  • 2 pieces 10.5" x 1.5" (26cm x 4cm) - sew in medium weight interfacing for the handles
  • 1 piece roughly 3" x .5" (7cm x 1cm) - tape for the name tag
  • Dresden Plate - with a finished diameter of 8"
  • 1 piece 13" x 16" (33cm x 41cm) - backing for the front of the bag. (This will be hidden.)

Instructions:

All seams are 3/8" (1cm), unless otherwise indicated. The seam allowance is not critical, as long as you are consistent throughout the project. The seam allowances for the Dresden plate, were .25" (.6cm).


Construct Dresden Plate
I used the Dresden Plate template from Quilter By Design, and also found the following sites helpful in the construction of the Dresden Plate:
The centre circle was made with a cardboard template as in the Ginger Quilts tutorial.

Attach Dresden Plate to front of Library Bag
I attached the blades of the plate and the circle, to the Library bag, by stitching a straight line very close to the edges. The tutorials above will show you other methods, as well.

Stitching around the Dresden Plate
Around the Dresden, I sewed 3 rows of stitching, eyeballing each one:
  1. Machine stitching
  2. Hand stitching - running stitch using 2 strands of cotton thread
  3. Running stitch with a 2nd row of stitching going under each of the running stitches.

To sew the 3rd row of stitching:
  • Securely not the end of the thread. 
  • With a running stitch, sew around the star using 2 strands of thread. I didn't measure. I just eyeballed it.
  • Make the stitches above the material, longer than the stitches underneath the material.
  • Securely knot the thread when you get to the end, or when you need more thread.
  • Cut 2 strands of black thread and knot securely.
  • Take the 2nd thread underneath each running stitch.
  • Knot securely to finish.
Add backing fabric
As there are a lot of threads on the wrong side, I basted backing fabric to the front of the bag, before I sewed the bag together.


To finish, follow the tutorial for the basic Library bag.

That's 8 Library bags so far. All of these Library bags will be packed up and distributed to disadvantaged children in Sydney. Before sending them off, I'll pop a book into each bag, courtesy of my Mum.

Over the next week or so, I'll be showing you variations and additions to the basic Library Bag tutorial;
To finish off the series, there will be a round up post with links to different styles of library bags. 

If you make a library bag using this tutorial, I'd love you to add it to the Threading My Way ~ Sewn by YOU Flickr group. Feel free to add any projects made with Threading My Way tutorials.

I'll be adding this Library Bag tutorial, to the 300+ bags already linked to the Bags and Totes link party, here at Threading My Way.


Today, I'm joining in the Dare to Dresden blog hop with my Dresden Plate Library Bag. Many thanks to:



If you'd like to see more Dresden Plates, each of the blogs below will have a Dare to Dresdon post scheduled for today.
A Reformed Heath'n      Blooming Where I am Planted
“that Other Blog”      Butjenter Quilter
Grammie Q’s      Bumbleberry Stitches
Sunshine Girl      Thimble Mouse & Spouse
Spiral      Stitch Duchess' Crazy & Sane Quilting World
Quilting Lodge      Life in the Scrapatch
Pretty Bobbins      In The Boon Docks
Sew Much and More      Pink Ribbon Quilts
Meadowbrook      The Tilted Quilt

For even more Dresden Plates, visit Quilt Monster in My Closet to see links to over 100 Dresden Plates.

... Pam



70 comments:

  1. What a lovely thing to do. I love that you include a book with the bags. I have looked and looked through the information pack that was sent home from the school and there is nothing in there about library bags or even about the library! I will be investigating this further, but I am sure I will be making Liam a library bag very soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is fantastic Pam, your charity sewing is inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a great idea ... adding a pretty dresden to a useful library bag! Thanks for sharing and for the tutorial on how to make ... :) Pat

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for sharing you Library Dresden bag! Great tutorial for a wonderful cause.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a cute bag! Of course love the Dresden.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great bag and for such a good cause - love the tutorial too. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very cute bag! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely bag, the stitching around the Dresden really sets it off beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  9. A great bag with the Dresden. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous work. Thank you for sharing such wonderful eye candy today.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very cute idea. Thanks for hopping along with us!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your library bag is cute.

    You should really add the list of everyone who is on today with you so that your 887 readers can go and visit them as well.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I should make one of these for my daughter! She just started a new job as a librarian!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Reading is very important and we have many, many, many illiterate folks in the world today. We forget how fortunate we are that we can read. What a wonderful project to make library bags and incorporate a love of quilting. I have two young grandsons that are learning to read. This would be a great gift to encourage them to go to the public library this summer between school years. Thank you for participating in the hop and being an inspiration to me.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great book bag! I love using quilt blocks on useful items. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your bag is very cute and is a great idea.Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love how you added the extra stitching around it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. How very pretty! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  19. yes retro you have it absolutely correct...the stitching is nice too

    ReplyDelete
  20. great bag....I like the contrast between the bag and the plate

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a cute bag and how neat to be giving the library bags to such a good organization!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a great Bag! Thanks for the Tute! and what a generous thing to do with the Kids! Hugs and Happy Hopping!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nice bag and even better with the dresden on it.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great tote for any occasion. Thanks for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Very pretty! I love how you jazzed up such a plain bag!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi!!! Great bag!!! Thanks for the tutorial!!! Love the idea of adding the book for children!! Thank You

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great bag. I like the stitching around the dresden. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I really like the library tote...I call those Mag Bags! Your dresden is so bright and cheery! GREAT JOB! Use it with PRIDE!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Very cute and thanks for the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love the library bag. we can't live without ours..Of course ours isn't as nice as yours with a dresden on it...So thank you for the incentive & inspiration. conn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great bag and for such a wonderful cause. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. Your Dresden came out great.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lovely bag and very pretty Dresden. That is a wonderful thing you are doing. And adding a book to each bag is the greatest.I think all children need books to read. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Very sweet dresden, thank you for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Another wonderful application of the Dresden - so creative and striking. Thank you from Judy C

    ReplyDelete
  35. A lovely retro bag. Good as a grocery bag too! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Here is a great idea....A Library bag. There are times I surely could use one of those. Thank you for sharing. You do beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete
  37. what a cute bag! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I like your bag. Very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Very nice Dresden tote, going to do good work! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  40. It's a great bag - someone is going to love this! blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  41. Rosemary B here: Fantastic, so colorful, lovely fabrics and easy to find.... and I bet a lot of heads will turn at the library! thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Cute bag, and thanks for showing the running stitch.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Cute bag. We must not use library bags over here in the US. At least my children never had them. However, if we call it a tote bag, it's just the ticket.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great way to make that library bag stand out from the rest! Thank you for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Cute and a great reminder of your blog hop participation! It turned out beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  46. What a great tutorial, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thank your for the tutorial, the bag turned out nice.

    ReplyDelete
  48. What a Special Lady you are!! Know it is a Blessing to those Kiddo's.

    Thanks for sharing your Tutorial too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. WOW! this is stupendous! Have to give the library bags a go!

    ReplyDelete
  50. What a cool bag. Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  51. They really are easier than they look, aren't they. I love the bag with your Dresden...very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  52. What an excellent idea and you did a very lovely job with the dresden block.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Thank you for tut. Your bag turned out so well and what a generous idea to make it (and so many others) for disadvantaged kids.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Really adorable project!! I love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Cute for a little girl's bag--looks kind of retro. Love all your bag tutorials. Thanks for sharing with us today!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I definitely need a library bag and while I'm making one I can make one more to give away. You showed me a nice way to dress it up the Dresden way. :)

    ReplyDelete
  57. Cute project! Thanks for sharing with us and the children.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Love the library bag! Pretty dresden.
    Thanks for the tut.

    ReplyDelete
  59. What a fun library bag! I really like the stitching around the dresden :)

    ReplyDelete
  60. Library bag! what a great place to put your dresden.

    ReplyDelete
  61. What an awesome idea. Your generosity is inspiring... thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Nice bag and lovely stitching. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  63. such a lovely bag Pam! The hand sewing really adds something to the design.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Hey Pam, I'm finally getting around to post a comment! I love your Dresden and the stitching looks fantastic! Thanks for participating and inspiring us!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Pam...a beautiful Dresden plate for your library bag. Thanks for the tutorial. I'm luv'n the parade of Dresden projects on this blog hop. Thanks for sharing yours, happy stitching, Pauline

    ReplyDelete
  66. Thanks for showing the bag with the Dresden. Very nice. Thanks for being part of the hop.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Great idea, thank you!
    Liebe Grüße
    Bente

    ReplyDelete
  68. Beautiful, beautiful just beautiful!!!!!
    Marisa.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Pam,
    Thanks for sharing this wonderful bag and tutorial at my Monday Makeover party! I've enjoyed every one of the lovely bags in your series.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I love reading your comments and try to reply to all of them via email. If you don't receive an email reply from me, check back here.