My Finished Aeroplane Bag

I am so happy to say that I have finished my Aeroplane bag! I started working on it on the 10th with my awesome friend Kristan, and I finished it last night at almost midnight.

The fabrics I used are a bunch of blue and grey scraps from my Marcelle Medallion quilt. Mostly Lizzy House Constellations & Pearl Bracelets with a couple Tula Pink Birds & Bees prints. The grey is a canvas that I picked up at Joann's.

I used the quilt as you go technique to piece the main panels of the bag an I really love how they turned out. I used this post from Oh, Fransson! as a reference. What I didn't love was the amount of time it took to make each panel (probably 2-3 hours for each, if I factored in cutting and obsessing about where to place fabrics).

I quilted the panels with a gorgeous blue Aurifil Thread #4140 it blended just enough with the darker fabrics, and stands out beautifully on the lighter ones.

If I make the bag again I think I will try and do the zipper a different way. I'm not a huge fan of how it goes into one side and isn't centered.

This bag is huge! (dimensions from the pattern: Long 18-1/2” x 14-1/2” tall x 8-1/2” deep) I could easily use it for a long weekend getaway, and I can even fit my sewing machine inside with all her goodies. I already know I want to use this for the HMQG retreat in May.

I added a magnetic snap pocket to one side of the bag and I am so proud of myself haha. I have never used a magnetic snap before and I was worried it was going to be difficult to install but it wasn't. Also I fussy cut some cuteness for this bag... just check out that adorable fox up by the zipper.

What was difficult was the darn zipper. I don't even want to begin to tell you the number of expletives that were spewed while sewing that bad boy in. I'm just happy little William was asleep while I was cursing up a storm.

But don't let my zipper woes deter you from making this bag yourself, I caused the hardship because I chose a zipper that was 24" instead of 26" so the ends didn't hit at quite the right place. I just couldn't resist the awesome metal zipper :)

The lining is a gorgeous DS Quilts print that I picked up at my local Joann's. I love using light colored fabrics for bag linings because I find it easier to find things in the bottom of the bag.

The pattern calls for 2 zippered pockets on the inside, but I ended up only putting one. I toyed with putting normal slip pockets but I decided against it because I was tired last night and just wanted to get this baby finished!

I think I might go back and tack the lining to the corners of the bag because it is a bit droopy on the inside, but that could be because I also skipped interfacing the lining because I ran out of Shapeflex.

One of my favorite parts about the bag is this little star that I pieced for one of the panels. It finishes at 3" square and it was fun but difficult to make. Those 1.5" unfinished wonky star points were interesting to say the least.

Final thoughts on the Aeroplane Bag pattern:

• Easy to follow and great for a confident beginner
• The zipper installation is going to feel wrong, but it works in the end. 
• There are lots of pictures and detailed instructions for every step. 
• The long size is huge!

If you have been looking for an awesome bag to make I definitely recommend making this one, and if you do I would love to see it!

This was part of my Q1 FAL List