I have taught my MYOB (Make Your Own Bag) Workshops several times now, but it ‘s always a little different. The goal is re-use, and for that reason a varied assortment of thrifted materials makes for a fresh class every time! For the Squam Art Workshops, I decided to focus on my new obsession: pillowcases.
I spent a lot of time beforehand developing some new bag styles. This one is self lined and uses ever last bit of one standard size pillowcase. No waste! It’s a bit of an origami mind bender…
This version is a simpler construction (more of a sling? Not sure what to call the shape) with inverted pleats and bias binding.
The third bag I demonstrated was super simple for folks that were brand new to sewing. Great style for a trip to the library for some summer reading.
So I packed up my little pillowcase bags and headed to Squam. Ahhh…are you tired of hearing about Squam? 🙂
Dory, shown here working away on her sling shaped bag, had practiced her pillowcase-refashioning skills before coming to Squam using my apron tutorial. She even wore it to class to show me. 🙂 Her striped bag turned out great. I love the finished look of bias binding, so I enjoyed showing people how to apply it to this bag.
Kathy went for the origami brain challenge…which, considering that all of us were exhausted on this last day of classes, is saying a lot. Even the teacher (ahem) who was reading her own notes (yup) had trouble on a couple of steps. Honestly, it’s not that hard…and look how cute it turned out!
This bright and wonderful bag was constructed in a completely different way and uses extra scrap material that was donated to the class. I love it when participants make it their own!
Another origami+ extras…love the combo! (I apologize for spacing on your names! 🙁 )
Here’s the dining hall “gallery”, showing an assortment of pillowcase bags, plus a few T-shirt bags that we started off with at the beginning of class. Ali made that teeny weeny pink one out of her daughter’s outgrown onesie! How cute is that?
And a few more from the day. I think everyone enjoyed their bag making, I sure did. Thanks to everyone that attended! Your creativity and enthusiasm made teaching a delight.
And one more heartfelt thank you to the lovey women of the Nirvana cabin. I miss our late night chats, camaraderie and giggles. Hold on to that feeling until next year! (watch this video if you’d like a little of that feeling for yourself!)
Oh, and one more thing, I hope to make the above set of bag designs one of the first patterns available in my Make New or Make Do™ sewing pattern line. Hopefully this summer!
Where do you find your cute pillow cases? Any ones I see are very worn or faded. And the new ones are always in a set. – Mary
I love your skirt. :)) And the bags of course. 🙂
Yes the bags are super fantastic… but I’m also wondering about that outrageous apple skirt! Did you make that too?!
Oh yes! The adorable apple skirt steals the show again. 🙂
Handmade, but not by me:
http://www.madewithlovebyhannah.com/apples.html
I have the sheet for one of the pillowcase bags shown in the picture. I’m not ready to take scissors to it yet, but these were great ideas and I’ll be on the lookout for used pillowcases now!
These are great!
so cute! i really like the sling bag… i had a great time at your MYOB workshop @ spool and use my t-shirt bag all the time.
Aw, a onesie bag?! Love it! (And love your skirt, too, Betz!)
I really like the sling bag! I would love that pattern!
Oh, I have a sheet that matches your first bag shown. I need a smallish laundry bag and that style looks perfect.
What a privilege it was to meet you, Betz, and make a bag at Squam. I thoroughly enjoyed my morning of turning and folding and sewing a pillowcase into something I can stash my knitting in. ~Kathy
Boy, I love that top one! I’ll think of this next time I see a cute pillowcase!
Oh I LOVED that video! My college daughter was looking over my shoulder taking photos with her new SLR, and we both want to go to the cabins where you all were. And the musicians were soooo good in their singing and playing. The fox caught in image….images of them in the mountains of Idaho.
I’m feeling very 60’s now….thank you for the video.
Christine
Thanks, Christine! Just FYI…all of the video was shot in NH where the workshops were. 🙂
Do I recognize the adorable Lizzy House in that lineup? I love her blog. And there’s an orange paisley sheet I recognize too from my sister’s thrift shopping. Her’s smelled of maple syrup and would never wash out. Yours?
That third bag is so cute, the fabric and ric rac hit the nail on the head for me! I am very excited about your new organic fabrics too, I have been getting into sewing with them recently!
Okay, love those bags!
Years ago I made a top out of a pillowcase. Of course now I don’t remember how I did it. lol
totally awesome..
The video is awesome!!! I hope I will be able to attend the workshop next time. RDC is awesome place to be and being able to be crafty there is even better:) Love your work Betz!