Catch of the Day bag- The Guild Project for 2012
Catch of the Day Bag by Karen Miller
The Quilt Canada 2012 Organizing Committee thanks Karen Miller, Liverpool, Nova Scotia for this creative design!
Fabric:
- 1 fat qtr for the outer bag or background (e.g. Water fabric) – 18”x 21”
- 1 fat qtr of contrasting fabric for the lining – 18”x 20”
- 12” x 10” contrasting fabric for fish and casings. Cut 6” x 12” piece for the fish and 2 pieces 7 ½”x 1 ¾” for the casings.
- 6” x 12” fusible web for fish
- 2 -30” lengths of decorative braiding or ribbon for cording
Sewing Instructions:
Please read through instructions, before you start this project. Applique templates are included at the end of the pattern.
1) Choose your fish from the templates provided. Transfer the outline of the fish to the paper side of the fusible web. The templates are detailed but just trace the outer lines of your chosen fish – you can use the details such as scales and fins as inspiration for finishing details. Cut the fusible web roughly ¼” larger than the fish outline.
2) Fuse the web to the wrong side of the fish fabric. Cut out along the outline.
3) Fold the fat quarter of the background fabric in half, matching the shorter sides. The folded piece should measure approx. 10.5” wide and 18” long. Fuse the fish fabric onto the bag front, placing it either vertically or on an angle approximately 1.5 to 2 inches from the bottom of the bag.
4) Appliqué the fish template onto the bag front, using the method of your choice – a 2 mm satin stitch works well, but a machine blanket stitch or edge stitch will also do the trick. If you prefer, skip the fusing and hand appliqué the fish template to the bag. Be sure to sew the fish to only the front layer of the folded bag.
5) Now you can be creative, embellishing the fish as you wish. Bedazzle your fish with thread painting, beads, buttons, diamonds, rhinestones etc, and just have fun. You may want to label the bag Halifax 2012.
6) With right sides together sew 18 inch side seam and across the bottom for outer bag; then repeat the same process with the second fat quarter, folding the fabric and sewing the side and bottom seams to create the lining. You should now have 2 bags.
7) Turn the outer bag right side out and press. Leave lining wrong side out. Fit the lining bag inside the outer bag, wrong sides together. 
Fold the top edge of the outer bag over the lining and press well. Fold raw edge in, press and top stitch to secure the lining to the bag.
8) Casing: finish the short ends of both casings by folding ¼”, press, fold again ¼” and stitch to secure.Fold each lengthwise edge to wrong side ¼” and press.
Position a casing on each side of the bag, 2” down from the top edge of the bag, and centering from side to side. Stitch each edge of both casings through bag and lining lengthwise to secure.
9) Cording: Cut cording into two 30” lengths. Using a bodkin, feed one end through 1st casing, around to the back of the bag, feeding through the second casing. Tie ends together – see the photo below. Repeat this process for the opposite side of the bag. You might prefer to make your own cording, using leftover or contrasting fabric.
Press, voila, done! Send your finished bag to:
Anna Davison, P.O. Box 294, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia B0J 2E0
Happy Sewing – we can`t wait to see what your bags look like!
Hii, Any chance to copy this pattern and send to another budding quilter who doesn’t have computer. Thanks. Starting to save my nickels, dimes and quarters as well as aeromiles to attend this upcoming event in 2012. Hoping my dear friend , Pat Hook, will go with me and share a room at the University.
Do we need to use the templates of the cod, the haddock or the salmon or can we use a cute fish picture from a child’s book?? Just wondering!
Is it ok to use another fish template rather than the three suggested (cod, haddock, salmon)? Wanting to use fun fish template from children’s book???
Clearly the creative juices are flowing and there are lots of good ideas out there. For Quilt Canada, we’d like to see what you can do with one of the the templates provided – and we expect we’ll see some very interesting cod, salmon and haddock as a result!
The whole pattern prints fine on my computer EXCEPT for the templates! Frustrating so I will use my own. F. Smith
I have sent templates to you. Should anyone else have the same problem, please email me at marketingqc2012@gmail.com and I would be happy to send you the files.
I love the ‘Catch of the Day’, and will try this one. Thank you.
Hi Just printed the “Catch of the day Bag” I will make one . I think this is a great idea. Lookinf forward to making it. Thank you. Lorna St.Pierre Espanola Ontario.
HI – I have a few of the bags made by some members of my quilting group ready to send but can’t remember the deadline date???
Thanks for asking! The completed Catch of the Day bags should be sent to Anna Davison, P.O. Box 294, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia B0J 2E0 by April 24, 2012.
Don’t forget your Fat Quarters for the Fat Quarter exchange!
.Rosaleen Besler – Calgary, AB.
I just made 3 of these bags and I thoroughly enjoyed making them. The pattern was easy and clear, and it really gave me a chance to spread my creative wings. I sent them along and I hope they’re OK. Kind of wish I had time to make more They were a lot of fun.
Best wishes to all for a great show
I just made 3 of these bags and I thoroughly enjoyed making them. The pattern was easy and clear, and it really gave me a chance to spread my creative wings. I sent them along and I hope they’re OK. Kind of wish I had time to make more They were a lot of fun.
Best wishes to all for a great show
Rosaleen – We’re very pleased that you enjoyed making the bags and we’re looking forward to seeing the end result. Many thanks!