Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Work In Progress Bag pattern

Someday I am going to write a blog post about how hard pattern writing is. Today, I am going to celebrate the fact that I finished another one! The Work In Progress bag pattern is complete (YAY!!!) and it is available for purchase here. Phew!
I was inspired to make these bags after seeing a few different WIP bags around, coupled with the fact that I needed a decent way to keep my collection of 22 WIPs organized. The design for the bag is my own and it is something that I worked out through a lot of trial and error. (It took me 5 tries just to get the zipper install worked out!) I'm very pleased with the results and I LOVE how uniform my WIPs are now. Vinyl isn't scary to use at all, and I love that you can easily view the contents without opening the bag.
I've included instructions for an alternate zipper placement--toward one end rather than through the center--if that suits your tastes. (I think this bag might be my favorite!)
I've made 17 of these babies so far! I may have been a little zealous in my pattern development. Hahaha! Only a few more to go and all my WIPs will have their own bag. But, at this point, I think it's time to finish a few quilts! I MAY have had my fill of zippers for the time being. Can you imagine?

To celebrate the release of the pattern, I will be giving away 3 copies of the PDF pattern. If you would like a chance to win, please leave me a comment in this post. In your comment, I would like to hear about how many WIPs you have. (I know, that's kind of like asking a woman her age, but it's the subject of the day, so I kind of feel justified!) :) I'll pick the winners in a few days.

Edited to add: the giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all of you who entered!

465 comments:

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Lesley Gilbert said...

I recently finished making my 4th quilt and it's now waiting for some quilting lines. I'm itching to start something new so your bag pattern would be so handy to use with all the fabrics I have waiting to be cut. I love the cute fabrics you had used on your bags :)

The Domestic Intellectual said...

My life doesn't have much room for crafting and sewing right now, but if I count altered clothing and other needle work projects, I am hovering around 20 WIPs, which is a lot less than there used to be ;-)

Barb said...

I loved these the moment you posted them...I am afraid to count how many WIPs I have, let alone the ones in my head that should be sorted into bags! Great idea!!!!!

Erin Marie said...

I have 6. I know this because I have 6 WIP boxes. Uh... wait... 6 boxes, plus the t-shirt quilt for my BFF, plus a skirt and dress for my daughter that my mom cut out.

The UFOs/mending are stacked in the corner, but I don't think there are too many that I care about finishing. I figure in 6 months, I can toss half of it.

Pam McDonald said...

I have around 12 tops and various other projects in motion...so I would say, 20.

Hehe, love those cute little bags.

suzieq203 said...

I love the bags. The binding looks so cute on the vinyl:) I have probably about 5 projects that are unfinished at this time.

Monica @ Dandelion Stitching Co. said...

I have about 5 or 6 wips right now. This pattern looks great and super useful!

Lori said...

Your bags are fabulous! I have too many to count WIPs. My guess is in the 20-30 projects range. I'd love to get organized with your bags.

elnorac said...

Wow! Great bags! I would have to risk life and limb by getting a box down from the top of my bookcase to count the number of my WIPs, so I'm going to estimate that I have about seven or eight. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

Johanne said...

Hmm, 4 big quilts, 2 or 3 purses, a patchwork ball, two bags, and a few smaller blankets and quilts for different babies son to be born. I guess I've more WIP but let's stop here. ;-)
Lovely bags, perfect for smaller projects or my still unpieced quilts

Tinliz said...

Your WIP bags are a terrific idea. I keep mine in plastic shoe boxes, but they take up too much room. Thanks for the chance to win the pattern.

Peggy said...

I currently have 7 WIP! My youngest daughter is getting married February 28th and I hope to be able to get back to working on them after that. Love your bags!

leanne said...

so love these bags ! they look fabulous and unlike plastic shopping bags keep your projects dust free and secure ! added bonuses are that they look like they don't take up much space and are see-through !! I currently keep some of my UFOs in plastic bins, plastic shopping bags, and plastic baskets so I really need to make some of these !! as for my UFOs - I'm saying more than 30 but I have no idea - I just know that I have a problem !!!

Rachel said...

I'm obsessive about finishing projects so for a quilter I don't have many WIPs. I think I have about five. I love these little bags. They are perfect for projects. Thanks for the chance to win the pattern.

Diane said...

I love reading the comments. I'm pretty sure I have more than 50 unfinished projects. So if I win the pattern I'm going to buy a roll of vinyl! Your pattern is very cute and a large stack of them would look great in my sewing room.

Carolin said...

These bags are a great idea. I have some vinyl leftovers and now I know what I'm going to do with them. Thanks for sharing this!

Sandy B. said...

I have about 5 WIP. This year I have decided to NOT finish a project before starting a new one. In the past, I was a tad obsessed that I had to finish. Trying something new this year and would love this pattern. Thanks for a chance to win it!

Dolores said...

To straighten vinyl, why not sandwich it between a teflon sheet? One that's used with fusing interfacing onto fabric? Or would parchment paper work too?

susan said...

Well (blushing) I have 17 unfinished projects! I know it's really bad because right now I am living through a reno so the contents of my sewing room is piled into the living room with all the contents of my husbands music room and our bedroom and linen closet. Oh how I am itching to sew :(

Vicki H said...

I haven't counted in awhile, but am guessing 6 WIPs.

Figgy said...

I love these bags. I have about 8 or 9 wips at the moment.

Chris said...

I LOVE your bags! I have 8 WIP's ....I really need to finish up a few before starting a new project! Thanks for offering this giveaway!

The Spiritual Existential Nihilist said...

Great idea. I've gotta get some or make some myself. How many? Yowza. Too many.

nanajsews said...

I only have a couple WIP's. Wait, do you mean projects actually started or projects for which the fabric and supplies have been purchased/gathered and are waiting to be started? If this is the definition of a WIP, then I have six, or seven, or...! LOL

Emma said...

What a great pattern - they're so functional and cute! Thanks for the giveaway

Jeannine said...

Well, I'm doing a challenge this year - finish one UFO each month. I'm already behind as I haven't finished January's project yet and we're in mid-February. Yikes! Anyway, this challenge is working for me and I will get to the next project yet. So . . . I have 12 UFOs for the year. But, I really don't have just 12 :-)

Sharon said...

I have about 15 WIP's...I would love to have your bag pattern for them. Thanks for the chance to win, love your blog!

Leslie said...

I have 19 WIPs I love the bags.

Jacqueline Frances said...

Hi there Amanda Jean,
I am embarrassed to say that I have a multitude of WIP's…probably 40 or more! These also include projects I have started but never finished…and probably never will..due to having a problem of some sort develop!!!
Thanks!
Quilty Huggs,
Jacqueline in Pitt Meadows
Come check out my blog:
http://www.quilt-sewhappy.blogspot.com

willowpillow said...

I have about 10 WIP's

Jeanine said...

Love the bags! They look so fun to make. I have about 5 WIPs, so the bags would definitely be useful.

lnfol said...

Since I am not home right now...I traveled to Florida with my sewing machine! I have 2 quilt tops done and 1 cut out. That makes 3 works in progress, "on the road.!"

Mara said...

I'm looking at 3 and that is just the ones on my kitchen table 😁

cute 57 said...

Hi! I have made about 15 clear vinyl project bags, and have given several away as gifts to sewing friends. I love the see-throughness-(maybe not a word) of vinyl. I will try the Walmart brand, as I have only used the Joann brand. Thanks for the zipper tab tutorial. Just had unzipped a zipper, and had no end on it, so that was a lesson learned! I did purchase a teflon foot, but found that I can use my zipper foot for most of it without a problem. You are such an inspiration! Thanks!

cedacanthus said...

I'm interested in how you did the zips!
Hmm, as for WIPs... Purple star quilt, Mum's mini, the duck mini, rainbow strip and flip... Things that haven't been started or cut into don't count, right? If you're still in the gathering-materials stage it's fine, right...?

If so, 4! If not, uh... 9?

Sandy said...

These are amazing and kudos to you for coming up with the idea and executing it so beautifully that we all want to make them. I have so many WIP's and I may have to add a gusset to a couple when I make them up - sometimes I keep chosen FQ's with the project. Currently my WIP's are kind of spread all over - I can't wait to get them organised AND I will have to finish the pouches so that I can organise the WIP's (haha).

Shellie said...

Love your super cute bags! Currently sorting and organizing my closet so I can easily see the ufo's. There are more than 25...
Shellie. Quiltingbean1@msn.com

Unknown said...

I have about 5 WIP's that I'm working on. Looking forward to seeing the pattern release!

CyndyK said...

I love your WIP bags. How clever! I think I have 7 WIPs. There might be more that I've stuck away and can't remember. LOL Thanks! cknapp3626@sbcglobal.net

JudyD said...

Love these bags. How many WIPs do I have, YIKES....15 I believe, unless I have missed one or two.

Unknown said...

I am helping my mom learn to quilt. She's almost done with her first project. She told me she couldn't wait to finish so she could start something new. I laughed and told her she doesn't have to finish before starting a new project. She seemed relieved.
BTW I have 11 WIPS. Thanks for the chance to win!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

Love these bags! Near 50 for me counting all projects. Working on it though.

nstitches4u said...

Oh my! I didn't realize how many WIPs I have! I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I have 20 WIPs. I may have missed a few. lol I just keep finding new pattersn that I want to try. I recently got a new Crown Jewel long arm quilter. I'm not really very good with it yet, but each thing I do looks a little better. Thanks for the chance to win your great pattern.

Trepmom said...

Love the wip bags, Amanda Jean. I have 10 works in progress - all in varying stages of completion. And a million in my head I want to start (do those count)? Thanks for the chance to win your pattern!

Unknown said...

Yikes I have about 10 WIPs. Would love making yours # 11. Great project.

Patty said...

I have at least 12 wip. But I have lots more fabric bought that I haven't cut into yet. So I'm not counting that as a wip!!

Vicky P said...

Love these bags. I do have about 8 wip that I need to organize better. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I LOVE these bags!!! I have 5 WIPs.

Shirley JB said...

I'm not sure how many WIP I have...5-10? Thank you for the opportunity to win your pattern!

Vicki Lou said...

Amanda Jean,
Thanks for another new storage idea. I believe I have 12 WIPs and I'm proud to say that Yesterday I had 13. I finished one today.
Hope I win a pattern.
Vicki

klstitches said...

Love your pattern! I admit it, I am a bag-a-holic! I love tote bags, project bags, little bags, big bags, need I say more..... This pattern is a practical and beautiful at the same time. Thank you for the thoughts on vinyls, it was very helpful. I have more WIP's than I care to admit, how about a dozen or so.... Ekk, but I finished 3 just this week!

Unknown said...

I think my list was well over 50 at last glance. TOO MANY!!

Quilt Knightly said...

I have been thinking about making bags for packing kids clothes in outfits when we travel. This pattern would be perfect! As for WIP? A dozen, maybe. :)

Debby said...

I don't have any works in progress right now! We are in the middle of a move and my sewing room is all packed up.

cathy said...

I am trying to thoughtfully clean out my sewing/everything room and when I am done I will have an accurate count. Right now I would guess about 2 dozen that I really want to finish and an equal number to pass along to someone else to enjoy. Your bags could help me organize my chaos.

Carolin said...

I have about 10 wips which sometimes i think is pretty good, sometimes i think its Way too much. These bags are a great idea to keep it tidy

Aunt TC said...

I would guess 92 and that's just because I started counting a few years ago and was in the 70s but hadn't found all the UFOs. Since then I have taken several workshops. I will count sometime this year. My guild is having another UFO challenge and I'd like to do at least one a month. I love the project bags.

Dresses and Spurs said...

I'd love to win a copy of the wip bag pattern.
I have about 10 wip and many others I'm always thinking about.

Christy said...

I have a lot of WIPs. Probably at least 20, but of those, only about 6 or so are kind of active. I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse!

Cute bags; I love all the prints you used on the edges!

Jones50(at)purdue(dot)edu

AHouseFullofThread said...

Up until a few weeks ago I had 17 (mainly sat in the cupboard half finished). Then I decided to have a purge and finish them up before starting more, and have ticked 4 off the list with 2 more nearly finished with just the binding to go! Very satisfying! I haven't told my husband how many I have on the go though...

These bags are gorgeous - loving the binding so much 😊

Unknown said...

I make costumes rather than quilts. I've got at least 3 projects on the go at the moment, plus another 2 that I started and will probably never get around to finishing. I've got 2 that are made but need fixing up and minor alterations. Never mind the fact that I have a million other plans and I want to do some smaller sewing projects as well!
These bags will definitely come in useful xD Going to make some as soon as I have a chance =)

Cheryl said...

I have not counted them but being a fairly new quilter, I think that the number is less than 10.

Mary Ellen said...

A great pattern - We all have works in progress, but if I do actually win this, I will put those on hold to make these cute bags! Thank you so much.

Terry Johnson said...

I love this idea, that its see thru, and it takes up less room than Sterilite boxes. I would greatly appreciate the chance to win you PDF pattern.

ittehgaps said...

I have 41 currently kept on a list in my phone (easy to update progress). Plus ideas for future quilts with yardage notes because my brain gets overwhelmed when I walk into a shop or show. Seems to be working for me at the moment. Cindy/ bluemoonstencils@yahoo.com

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