Episode 7: Final Episode – Making the Bestie Bag!
The final episode brings it all together as I assemble the bag step by step—adding the zipper, sewing the panels, constructing straps, and troubleshooting in real time (hello, seam ripper). I share finishing tips, show how to attach everything cleanly, and celebrate the completed 9 Patch Bestie Bag with a final reveal and the Jeff Test. It’s a satisfying, real-life finish to a detailed and joyful sewing journey.
Episode 6: Hand Quilting, Supplies How-To & Cutting the Pattern
In episode six, I cover everything you need to know about hand quilting—from tools like needles, thread, and thimbles to the techniques I use for stitching, securing threads, and finishing seams. I walk through marking, quilting, and prepping the panel for construction by cutting out the bag pieces. This episode is full of useful info and shows how slow stitching adds character and structure to the final piece.
Episode 5: Sandwiching, Basting & Tracing the Pattern
Episode five is all about prep work—layering the quilt sandwich, basting it securely, and tracing the bag pattern for precise cutting. I show how I align the mini quilt top with batting and backing, walk through different basting methods, and use the pattern pieces to mark the final shape. It’s a satisfying episode where everything starts feeling real and ready to become a bag.
Episode 4: Quilting Rulers & Sewing Order
In this episode, I go deep on how to use a quilting ruler for accurate cutting and share the step-by-step sewing order for piecing the bag's side panels. From trimming blocks to arranging the layout and assembling rows, I explain my logic for sequencing each step. If you’re interested in tools, technique, and the how-and-why of quilt construction, this is the episode for you.
Episode 3: Crisis + Drama, Choosing Background Color & Pattern Sizing
Things take a dramatic turn in episode three when I realize I need three times more patches than I originally planned. I share how I problem-solve in real time, choose a background fabric that balances the patchwork, and use the bag pattern as a sizing guide to plan layout and construction. This episode is a raw look at the messiness of the creative process and how sometimes the project asks more of you than expected.
Episode 2: Constructing the 2-Inch Nine Patch
In episode two, I begin sewing the tiny 2-inch nine patch blocks that form the foundation of the bag. I share my techniques for accurate piecing and pressing, along with tips for keeping seams aligned when working at a small scale. This episode focuses on the rhythm of patchwork—getting into the flow of cutting, sewing, and assembling with care.
Episode 1: Planning, Fabric Selection & Cutting
In the first episode of the 9 Patch Bestie Bag series, I introduce the project and walk you through the early stages of planning. You’ll see how I come up with the design concept, choose a color palette, and begin cutting fabric for the mini nine patch blocks. This episode sets the tone for the entire series, offering a look into my creative decision-making and how I approach starting a slow, intentional quilting project.