Goody Goody Binding Kit

Its been many, many months since I have made anything, which is why I've not blogged for a long while.  I'm sure all crafters know what it is like to lose your crafting mojo, I do go through phases of not making anything, this comes down to a whole host of issues, most recently being very busy at work with a new role and a huge restructure taking place leaving very little energy for crafting, or even thinking about making anything.

I've just had 2 weeks annual leave from work and I was hoping to make some lovely stuff.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to make, I've bought more fat quarters to expand the quilt I made for my bedroom back in February so it is a better size for covering my bed. I had fabric to make a runner for the dinning room table, fabric to make a bag and a crochet blanket to finish.

Yesterday I finally got round to making something.  I follow the Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber Blog and on Tuesday they posted a blog about a Goody Goody Binding Bag.  The bag is designed by Vanessa Goertzen from Lella Boutique.  This inspired me to make one to give to my Mum.  I liked the idea that it was a quick project (I could finish it that day) it would be useful to my Mum who makes all sorts of things including quilts. 

This is my completed binding bag, made for my mum.

I used Just Sew Fat Quarters designed by Victoria Louise and made by the Craft Cotton Co.  I purchased this fat quarter bundle from Hobbycraft for £8.  I thought this was a fantastic price for 6 fat quarters.  I knew I would use these to make something for my Mum who has always loved to sew.  As she has always told us "my only O-level is in Needlework".  Therefore she and my Nan are responsible for my love of making things.

So you can see the folded up version of the binding kit.  This is it opened out.

I'm not very good at zips and this is the first zip I've attempted for about 15 years. I managed to get the zip in quite easily but when I finished the design it ended up with a wonk to it.  This is quite usual for me, I claim to have a natural wonk and most things I make are nearly always slightly off centre.  I got the zip for this binding bag from Emporia Fabric and Craft, it was the great price of £1 and matches the green on the rose fabric perfectly.  I used a scrap of cotton wadding leftover from a quilt I made.  The wadding also came from Emporia Fabric and Craft. The button was one I had in my sewing box, I always collect the spare buttons you get with new clothes and put them in sewing box.  I've got many buttons this way, but I no longer own the clothes. I made one change to the pattern, I made a small 9 patch pocket instead of making a strawberry pocket to hold the scissors.

I'm just waiting for more binding clips to arrive to fill up the zipped pocket, to get my Mum some thread for the thread holder and then it will be ready to give her.  

Have you tried making this?  Did you enjoy it? I know if I make this again it would be better, so no fabric cut the wrong way round for the pattern, no wonky zip, but then it's always a learning curve making things.