Crazy Boho Bag

Through the month of April, Island Batik Ambassadors are celebrating Aurifil thread combined with a crazy quilt. Aurifil sent each ambassador a set of their new 2022 Colour Builders in celebration of their variegated thread.

Our challenge was to show off the thread from our colour builder set in a crazy quilt style project. We were encouraged to try out different blocks, different machine stitches and basically just have fun playing with this classic quilting technique.


I decided that I wanted to make a crazy boho style bag. I used to have a handbag (about a thousand years ago) in which the front was made in a crazy quilt technique using different coloured pieces of leather (or more likely, faux leather). I wonder whatever happened to that bag... no matter, it was time to make my own boho bag.


I received the Golden Trumpet Colour Builder Set (colours include 2123 – 3910 – 4658 in 50wt thread).



When it came to fabrics, I wanted to make sure that they weren't too busy and that they'd allow the beautiful varieagated threads to shine. I decided on some leftover scraps from my first ever Island Batik project; my Startburst in Teal Quilt. You can read all about it here. I received the Tantalising Teal gradations bundle for that challenge and absolutely love these colours.



To begin with, I searched for videos on YouTube, tutorials and printable bag designs online. I decided to work with the free pattern on the Very Purple Person blog. Here's the link. I traced it out on some very thin polyester batting, gathered my scrap fabrics and headed to my sewing machine. Putting together the crazy section of the bag was fun and I had to stop myself from going further up into the handles as I wanted to make them and the rest of the bag in black which would highlight the front section of the bag.



Once this front section was complete, I changed my machine foot, stitch plate and got to play with a section of my sewing machine that I usually don't wander into... the decorative stitches.



I don't know the names of these stitches (or if they have a name?) but gosh it was fun choosing the designs and watching them come to life with the beautiful variegated thread. The stitch above looks like a cross stitch type design and this one below almost looks like an orange peel design.



I love how this fan type stitch turned out. My mum used to have a top with this sort of stitch around the collar. She was a woman who was never afraid to play with the decorative stitches on her sewing machine.



All in all, I'm very pleased with how this bag turned out. It's a great size and very lightweight as I didn't add extra batting or quilting. 



Creating a crazy quilt style boho bag was such fun and I encourage everyone to have a go at making one. Choose some beautiful Aurifil threads and have a play around with the fancy stitches on your sewing machine for the extra unique touch.


Once again, thank you to Island Batik for setting another challenge which was new to me and out of my comfort zone. Who knew my machine could be so decorative!


A big thank you also to industry partner Aurifil for providing the colour builder sets with large spools of 50wt thread. Aurifil is my absolute favourite thread and I use it as often as possible.

Schmetz Microtex needles which are my favourite for sewing batik fabrics. They're super sharp and excellent for gliding through the tightly woven fabric.


Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts

Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts

Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com

Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

19 comments

  1. Renee Atkinson4/15/23, 5:41 PM

    Beautifully done!!! :)

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  2. Your bag is so pretty, the decorative stitching looks wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Gretchen. It was fun to play with the machine stitches.

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  3. Love it! I need to break into my Tantalizing Teal strip pack! Have a great day.

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    1. Oooh luck lady that you still have a pack to work with. I've only got some small scraps left, but I'll keep them for incase I can use them in something else.

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  4. I love all those stitches - now this is a bag that I might actually try to make! I see pretty ones but always know that I would mess them up - Did you have a pattern for the bag or did you make it up?

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    1. Hi Karen, I actually linked up the bag pattern in the blog post. There's also a video on YouTube (by Mr Domestic) where he makes the bag and gives some tips. I'm looking forward to seeing your bag and happy sewing!

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  5. This is a great bag, Anorina! I love all the pretty stitches you used, as well as those Tantalizing Teals!!

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  6. Great idea...the bag worked out so well...
    Hugz

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    1. Thanks Fiona. I'm pleased with how it turned out :)

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  7. Nice work on the bag...it looks a good size and best of all lightweight.

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    1. Thanks Karen. It turned out better than expected and has already been claimed by my daughter's friend. I am yet to have a go at making your bag, but am keen to give it a go soon.

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  8. What a great bag! I enjoy doing crazy patchwork and it is fun to go exploring through the little used decorative stitches our machines have stored away. I'm inspired - thank you! :-)

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  9. Hi Anorina wow I love this bag ,your beautiful fancy stitch made this bag so pretty,well done on your beautiful new bag 🌹🤍🌹

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  10. That turned out Ah!!mazing!!! I love the colors and the style!!! you could be bringing boho back!! ( okay maybe it never left, but I am fashion challenged!) LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors - so pretty!!!

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