One last Olympic/Vancouverage mention. TWO actually. First… I can’t thank everyone enough for all the kind and enthusiastic comments on my Vancouver post! I wanted to email everyone back and thank them, but I messed up my in-box juggling between my laptop and my desktop (a common occurrence in my little corner of chaos). A special thank you to my Canadian commenters… THANK YOU and I was so deeply touched!
Second. Did anyone else drink the Curling Kool-aid? I went nuts over it. NUTS I tell you… NUTS! I even found myself shouting “hard hard hard hard…” as I was Swiffering my kitchen the other day. There’s just something about curling that appeals to me so much.
1. There’s strategy (though I prefer strategery).
2. There’s skill and teamwork involved.
3. You get to play with friends and chit-chat while playing.
4. You get to yell things like “hard, hard, hard, hard…”.
5. Dazzling team uniforms!!!
I got swept up in the Norwegian Men’s Curling team pants… The Pants. Who knew obnoxious golf pants could be cool!
Photo credit: Associated Press/Yahoo Sports
I decided I wanted a piece of the Loudmouth pie - and made a Norwegian Curling Pants Market Bag. I used my Better Homes & Gardens - Quilts and More Fall 2008 “To Market, To Market” bag pattern (page 50 if you have the issue) with a few minor modifications.
The To Market, To Market pattern is available online free at BHG’s All People Quilt. I don’t know if you have to sign up to be a member first… but you’ll want to be a member anyway!
I used Moda’s new Minick & Simpson’s Bar Harbor layer cake “slices” to make my outer bag as well as the liner. I used some yardage from my stash for the casing and strap - which just so happened was some Minick & Simpson Prairie Paisley. Who knew Laurie and Polly’s Americana could also be so Norwegian-ishy… Norwegiacana… Norde-cana.
Grab the pattern/instructions at BH&G’s All People Quilt here.
Modify the 19″ x 15″ x 5″ bag pattern instructions to make a 20″ x 16″x 5″ bag.
+-+-+-+-+-+- Modifications are in bold.-+-+-+-+-+-+
Casings
ORIGINAL:
From blue polka dot, cut:
2) 3½ x 39½” strips
MODIFICATION:
From tan print, cut:
2) 3½ x 41½” strips
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Strap
ORIG:
From brown print, cut:
2) 3 x 26½” strips
MOD:
From tan print, cut:
1) 3½ x 42″ strip
—————-
Outer Bag
ORIG:
From red print, cut:
2) 20½” squares
MOD:
Follow materials needed, cutting and piecing
directions below to make two 21½” quilted bag units.
—————-
Liner
ORIG:
From muslin, cut:
2) 20½” squares
MOD:
Follow materials needed, cutting and piecing
directions below to make two 21½” liner units.
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MATERIALS:
6 RED PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for bag)
7 BLUE PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for bag)
8 TAN PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for bag)
10 ASSORTED PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares (for liner)
⅜ yard WHITE SOLID
½ yard TAN PRINT
25 x 25″ BATTING (I used Warm & White)
CUTTING:
From 6 RED PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares, cut:
24) 3½” squares
From 7 BLUE PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares, cut:
26) 3½” squares
From 8 TAN PRINT layer cakes/10″ squares, cut:
16) 3½” squares
8) 3⅞” squares - cut diagonally once
1) 4¼” square - cut diagonally twice
From ⅜ yard WHITE SOLID, cut:
16) 3½” squares
8) 3⅞” squares - cut diagonally once
1) 4¼” square - cut diagonally twice
ASSEMBLY:
Assemble pieces as per illustration to make outer bag unit. Make 2.
I quilted in-the-ditch directly on to my batting (with no backing), and then trimmed off excess batting.
LINING
Cut:
8) 10″ squares
8) 10″ x 2½” strips
2) 2½ squares from left over scraps
Make 2 “9-patch” units (as per photo).
A modification from the original pattern, I made the strap shorter so it’s “invisible” and tucked in quietly inside the casing. Just enough room from grabbing as you fill your bag.
Uff da!