Well hello there, you sexy, slouchy Hourglass bag!  Sorry that I ever doubted you would turn out well.  My goodness, looks like you want to stay, flaunting your matching-my-space so beguilingly.   But, no, I will resist.  You belong to another.

Tempted to make your own?  Do it! This tutorial was easy enough to follow and to modify.  I made the body of the bag longer so that it would contain my patchwork square.  Be sure to cut the lining to the same size as your outer, and it'll all come together nicely!  The only tricky part is pulling the bag right side out through the smallish handle openings.  After that, you just sew the handles together and topstitch to finish!  There's no interfacing or quilting necessary, which is just what I wanted - a quick, no-fuss finish.

I did have trouble deciding whether to add the Essex linen to the bottom of the patchwork square as well as to the sides.  I decided to leave it off the bottom, allowing the curve of the bag to cut into the patchwork a bit.  I think it's fine, but I wish I could see it both ways.  I feared that making the bag even longer would throw off the proportions.

Ok, I'm going to have to do this again!  What a quick, no-fuss way to show off some patchwork.

Patchwork, patchwork for everyone!

p.s.  Curtain rods make great storage for quilt backs or tops awaiting your attention.  Keeps them on the mind.  I hope to begin quilting my Ice Parfait quilt this weekend.  Everyone have a good one!