Calico Plover pouches

by Linda Theil 

I bought Lori Holt's "Calico Home Decor Zippy Bags 2 Project Panel" in 2021 because the panel was printed on canvas instead of quilt cotton, and I thought that was an interesting innovation. 

Although the idea of project panels was not new -- books, aprons, oven mitts, and placemat panels had been available for decades -- but bags! That was new and interesting, especially on a heavier substrate. 

I  recently pulled the Lori Holt panel from my stash when I was looking for inspiration for a welcome gift, but I thought the "Calico" panel was much too elaborate for the simple zipped pouch as featured on the panel, so I searched for a pattern that would make the most of the intricate designs. 

It turned out the large bags on the panel perfectly fit the front and back pattern pieces of the large-sized "Plover Pouch" by Noodlehead; and I could make a "Calico" duo by using the small-sized bag from the panel for a coordinating baby "Plover".

I used coordinating fabric strips from the panel for the inset zipper placket featured on the "Plover Pouch",  and cut the bottom and sides of the gusset from a pale gray, faux waxed-canvas available from Sally Tomato. I was able to add the jaunty tags featured on the panel to my pouches. I rummaged through my vintage buttons to find the perfect accents to attach the zipper tabs to the gusset -- a signature feature of the Plover pattern.

I quilted the front and back panels of the large, 12x8x4-inch, pouch, but did not quilt the small 10x7x3-inch bag. The large bag has an interior zippered pocket and slip pocket. Both bags were drop-in lined with an aqua Confetti Cottons Songbird solid, and topstitched by hand.

Large "Plover" interior

Exterior rear view of small "Plover Pouch"