I bought this pattern (The Weekender by Amy Butler) sooo long ago. Like 3+ years ago. I love this bag design, but it’s a bigger project and a lot of the reviews I read said that it takes a long time to make. So it sat in a basket of patterns for years. Recently (last fall) I noticed a bunch of quilters making them on Instagram and fell in love all over again. The Quilt as you go Method is very popular and looks awesome! I’m not sure who did the quilt as you go method first, maybe Elizabeth of Oh Fransson, and I’m pretty sure there is a post on someone’s? blog that shows a how to.

Anyway. I started mine before Christmas. Set it aside and decided to push through to finish it right  before we left for our trip to Miami last week (9 year anniversary trip: can you believe that?). I went with the quilt as you go method using my stash of selvedges I’ve been saving forever.

I cut the pattern pieces from white canvas, then a layer of batting, then I sewed the selvedges on top of the batting.  In hindsight I could have done without the batting. It adds nice thickness, but those seams around the bottom with all the selvedge fabric coming together were exceptionally brutal to sew through as they are super thick.

I didn’t waste selvedges on the inside of the pockets and used mainly a white and gray polka dot, but also used some of this lovely fruit fabric I love so much. The inside of the bag is the same white and gray polka dot.  I also used this awesome grass green canvas from Joann’s for the top zipper placket and the straps. I wanted to break up the selvedges a little bit and thought this made it look modern and fun.

This bag is HUGE. I was wondering as the side pieces don’t feel that big as your cutting them out. But once you get to the sides and bottom on it is so big. Bigger than my diaper bag, which is saying a lot. :)

Below it is holding a couple books, a magazine, a couple notebooks, a bag with my instax, the bigger bag with a knitting project, and the oilcloth bag with snacks, and there is still sooo much room left in it.

There are a couple things I would do differently than the pattern and what I did this time. I would use thicker cording, I went with the prepackaged cording from Joann’s to save time and because it’s thinner, the pattern calls for 1/4″ (I think) and that would probably have been perfect. It’s not as crisp as some I’ve seen and doesn’t hold it’s shape as nicely with the thinner cord. I also would (maybe will) sew the straps down right below the cording. I am not sure why the pattern calls for the first tack down to be a couple inches down the bag, and maybe it would be fine with thicker cord, but I think mine would be better with the straps tacked down higher up. Oh and in hindsight of my trip I should have taken a small purse to carry when I didn’t need it as carry-on or to tote beach towels around because it’s huge.  But  that’s it! I love it, especially all the selvedges, and the size, and the green. This is definitely my go to carry-on/big bag now. I think I may need to make another one that is plain. I love this bag by lbg Studio and I think these colors would make a fabulous Weekender.

Have you made a Weekender? Please share a link I would love to check it out. And if you haven’t, please go make one. :)

Thanks for stopping by!