CHEZVIES: how to make patchwork bag

When Tina Katwal asked me if I'd like to make a quilted pouch tutorial for our Desi Quilters group, I immediately said yes. I was thinking of making one with handloom fabrics as the 7th of this month was National Handloom Day! So it was like serendipity.

So, I decided to make this pouch or bag using my fave precut - mini charms (2.5" x 25" pieces). To make this bag, you don't need much.

Materials you need:

20 pieces mini charms of your choice

(40 pieces if you make a patchwork of both sides)

A few Fat Eighth or FQs for Back Panel and lining

Batting (fleece or cotton)

#5 Zipper at least 10" long

(you can use #3 zipper if you wish)

Non-Woven Lightweight Interfacing

Finished Size 9.5" x 8" (approx)

This patchwork pouch tutorial is for the Love and Healing Swap in our Desi Quilters Group on Facebook. The pattern is for using mini charms but you can easily adapt it using any kind of block or orphan blocks that you have in your UFO baskets. The key is to make the patchwork piece the same size as the interfacing.

The interfacing will give a perfect finish for the quilted pouch or bag, no matter what batting you're using. I made many patchwork quilted bags and I found this combo is the best.

Working with handloom fabrics is pretty challenging. If you decided to make one using handloom fabrics, consider prewashing your fabric first. I normally don't ;). As handloom tends to shrink and become out of shame from frequent ironing. Spray starch also helps.