Every now and then, I fall into a color mood — and last week it was all about citrus and patchwork. Yellow, green, and orange kept calling my name, so I pulled out a stack of scraps in those shades and let myself play. No rules, no plan, just color and curiosity.
The result? Three sweet, little citrus patchwork bags for my granddaughters, each one a little different and each one a joy to make.
The Bargello Zippered Bag
The first bag I made was a small, zippered pouch using a bargello‑style layout. Bargello is one of those techniques that looks complicated but is actually wonderfully rhythmic once you get going. This is citrus patchwork using scrap strips, and I loved watching the colors shift and blend as the strips came together — the yellows warming into oranges, the greens adding a fresh pop.
The inside is lined with a cheerful yellow polka dot fabric, because if you’re going to make a bag for a granddaughter, you might as well make it happy inside and out.
This one feels like sunshine in pouch form.
Two Easy Drawstring Bags (Summit Preview!)
The other two bags are simple drawstring bags — the same style I’ll be teaching for the Fast & Easy Quilt Summit this June. I’ve been refining my method for creating the drawstring casing, and I have to say… it works really well. Clean, neat, and easy to sew. I’m so glad I chose this citrus patchwork project for the summit. It will be bright and happy for participants, not just my grandies.
However, when I think of the grandies, I know these little bags are perfect for:
- treasures
- hair ties
- crayons
- tiny notebooks
- or whatever small magic granddaughters like to carry around
And, because they’re improv‑pieced from scraps, each one has its own personality.
Why Citrus Patchwork?
I didn’t plan it — the colors just felt right. You know, there’s something about the warmth of the yellows and oranges paired with the freshness of the greens made the whole process feel bright and energizing. Sometimes color leads the way, and all we have to do is follow. I just pulled what felt right in the moment.
Working with these shades reminded me how much joy there is in simple, playful sewing. No pressure. No perfection. Just making something useful and sweet.
A Little Sewing, A Lot of Joy
These bags were quick projects, but they filled my creative cup in the best way. Oh, the smiles from my granddaughters? Worth every stitch.
If you’re looking for a fun scrap project — or if you want to learn my easy drawstring method — keep an eye out for the summit details. I can’t wait to share this project with you.
And in case you missed it, you can find my latest YouTube video here. Also, if you’re interested in another way in which I play with color, this post is for you. Thanks for visiting!
