At the end of last year I got busy making some Christmas presents for the grandchildren. If truth be told I did start them for Xmas 2016 but ran out of time so they got other things instead!
I started with a bag I made probably 20 years ago, a survivor from my children’s growing up years. The one below was one of the girls’ ones.
I took the basic measurements and then drew up a pattern. Very simple, a rectangle and a circle!
The pattern is above and is folded up at one end because I had just cut the nylon lining which is a bit shorter than the outer layer of fabric.
The base is a simple circle. So the bag is essentially a cylinder with a base.
The part I did get done in 2016 was the detail that I feel made the bags special. I asked what each child’s favourite animal or character was and found some free colouring in images online. I bought some fabric markers and used them to make a patch for each bag. The pens worked well.
One thing I would like to make is a light box. It would make tracing images a lot easier. I used the good old-fashioned method of taping the fabric over the drawing on a window and going over the lines in pencil. I then carefully went over them with the marker pens.
I think they turned out pretty well! To add strength I placed a layer of white calico behind the natural coloured calico the pictures are on. I also thought this would block any of the patterns on the outer fabric of the bags showing through the calico.
I used some left over self-made bias binding to create a channel for the cord to go through. The boys ones were all different but the girls binding was the same as there was more of it left over. In the photo above I’m placing the picture mid-front on the bag. I did this on the outer layer only. I hoped this would retain some of the waterproof qualities of the nylon inner.
I basted the two layers of the bases together so they would be easier to manage when pinned and stitched to the main cylinder of the bag.
Stitching Sunshine’s picture to her bag.
The loop for the cord to go through. I stitched it to the bag before I joined the base on.
Stitching the base to the bag. Lots of pins. I love these glass head pins. I know I’ve said it before and no doubt I’ll say it again!
The inside of the bag. A bit wrinkled as I didn’t think to take a photo at the time and this bag has been used by Mr Magoo as it is his. Here you can see how I made the lining slightly smaller than the outer layer.
Front of Mr Magoo’s bag.
Back and cords of the bag
Mr Magoo modelling his bag. The bags are quite big on the wee ones just now but I made them to last a few years. Old habits die hard!
Mr Magoo turned 5 recently and had a pool party with his cousins and friends so I took the opportunity to take a photo of the girls bags, partly as I had none and also to show that they hold quite a bit.
Moneypenny told me she has washed the girls’ bags quite a few times. I was very pleased to see the pictures do not look as though they have faded at all.
The grandbabies were all happy with their swim bags and they have come in handy for their school swimming lessons or trips to the pool.