For the next 26 weeks, you’ll be introduced to a new Sewing With Nancy program—one show a week! Since ’82, I’ve had the honor of teaching on Public TV, DVD, and also online.
I begin this season with a 3-part series, Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares. I address one of the most common comments that I hear from viewers, I like to sew but I really don’t have the time. To change the way you look at the sewing process, I designed projects that are exclusively cut from fabric rectangles and squares.
The Travel Trio
During this first episode, learn how to create a weekender tote, cosmetic bag, and luggage saddlebag. This travel trio is made using comparable sewing steps, straight stitching, and double-sided quilted fabrics.
Cosmetic Bag
Even if you’ve never sewn before, you can stitch this bag!
Weekender Tote
After learning how to make a simple cosmetic bag, apply many of the same sewing steps to create a Weekender Tote. It’s a super-sized cosmetic bag with the addition of sturdy straps and double pockets.
Luggage Saddle Bag
For ease of travel, make a saddlebag for your carry-on luggage or rolling case. Two sizes of bags are attached with connector straps.
When not using this handy accessory on your luggage, zipper the bags together and it’s a handy shoulder tote.
Sewing With Nancy Trivia—This photo was quickly taken on the Sewing With Nancy set. Notice the tape on the floor? Those are the positioning marks for my chair in the Nancy’s Corner area. We had to move the chair in order to take the photo. Now you see how we keep all our props and furniture in the right place!
Watch Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares (Part One, Part Two, and Part Three) on Sewing With Nancy.
Sewing With Nancy on Public TV
We have the great fortune of having Sewing With Nancy air on 91% of all Public TV markets. Your local PBS programmer, determines when the new season will begin. Often, the new programming begins later on TV. Check your local Public TV and/or Create TV listing for the new season, which begins with Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares.
12 Complete Projects in Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares
All the projects featured in the 3-part series, plus a bonus, are included in the book, Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares.
Bye for now,
Nancy Zieman—author, pattern designer, businesswomen, producer, and national sewing authority—is the host of the popular show Sewing With Nancy®, which appears exclusively on public television stations across the United States and Canada. Follow Nancy’s Blog at NancyZieman.com/Blog and sign up to receive Nancy’s E-News for the latest news in Sewing, Quilting, & Creating.
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I just saw the first program in the series this afternoon. I really like the techniques and details used in the cosmetic bag. That’s what I will make first, then I will alter the rectangle size to make a travel shoe bag.
Nancy, I love all three of the bags. I already made the make up bag and almost finished with the Saddle Bag. Thank you so much. I love your show. Thank you.
I know how to make gussets on tote bags, but this one with the pocket, I couldn’t understand how to sew it . I don’t think you sew down the side, but not understanding this technique with the pocket. thanks.
I LOVE the luggage saddlebag. What a brilliant idea.
I liked the Luggage Saddlebag – a unique and handy idea! I love simple ways to sew.
The weekender tote but I really need to make one to take my cutting mat and craft supplies for classes.
My favorite is the luggage sadle bags.
I like the weekender tote and would have to make a matching makeup bag, of course!!
Thanks for the new shows I had watched all your other ones many times. Stopped sewing altogether! But now fresh programming and new things!,,, love it! Thks
Really like the tote boxes, what a grand idea esp the one that hangs on the wall…..
Thanks for all you do Nancy!
Ronda in Bend
I like all of them but really like the baskets with the grommets. What a great idea. I am planning on making some & the cosmetic bags for Christmas gifts.
I like the saddle bag!
I am going to make the travel trio- just what I need for flying and the best is the saddle bag- it makes sense for carry on items.
I love the Weekender Tote. I love watching you on your TV show, thank you so very much for sharing your talents with us every week.
ncjeepster@aol.com
the saddle bag is unique…can’t wait to order the patterns
The saddle tote would be so useful on my 5 lb. dog’s wheeled carrier to tote his toys, food, etc.
I love all your bag designs and make most of them. Can’t wait to try these!
I am in need of a new makeup bag (my ziploc bag is getting holes), so that would be my first project.
I love the cosmetic bag style and I am sure each of my five granddaughters would love one. The saddlebag tote is really cute and I would use it mostly for quilting classes. Thanks Nancy, for all the great ideas.
I love the different uses of the saddle tote. I am always attracted to multi-use items.
I like the weekend tote!
Love all of your projects. Weekender tote would be my pick. Thanks for all you do.
Love all of your programs. The weekender tote would be my pick. Thanks for all you do!
I like the saddle bag. I always seem to have totes on top of luggage or on my sewing machine case. It also looks like something that I could put on my dog!
I am new to sewing and would like to learn! I love the weekender tote!!
I really like the weekender tote. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I like the Weekender Tote the best.
the weekender tote has been my favorite.
I really like the cosmetic bag, with the zip placed on the side and the tabs. It’s perfect!
I really like the cosmetic bag, eith the zip placed on the side and the tabs. It’s perfect!
All these projects are great! But the Luggage Saddle Bag caught my eye, it’s very clever and handy! Nice group of travel items to make for keeping and giving!
I like all of the projects, but I love the Weekender Tote. Thanks!
I am such a Tote “Addict”…lol…LOOOOVE the Weekender Tote!! Love the Grommet Boxes too..coool to make for my Sewin’ Spot!
Saw Lotsa great projects in this book!!!
I like the saddlebag and it’s diversity.
Love the weekender tote.
I like the instructions on zipper, I am not always clear on how to set up for correct sewing
the saddle bag would work great with my power wheelchair i could easily put it over the arm of the chair
thanks for the great ideas pat
All the projects are enticing. Personally, I find the saddlebag to be quite clever in its usefulness. When I was teaching school, I could have put small items which were needed quickly such as my pencil pouch. “Look Ma, one hand!”
The weekend bag would be the most useful for me.
I like the weekend tote. Very cute fabrics!
Such great ideas! I’d begin with the Weekender Tote only because I’m a ‘tote person’.
Luggage Saddlebag is my favorite! Attach it to my rolling suitcase and I’m not carrying any weight! Yay! Brilliant idea!
Love the weekender tote!
I think that the weekender bag would make a perfect diaper bag for my niece who is expecting in October.
I really like the cosmetic bag. Simple to construct and very practical. All your other ideas are also great. Thanks!
Love your site but was hoping you get the APP for Android users too, not just iOS. Any thoughts?
Love the cosmetic bag! What a great idea and a wonderful place to start for all the projects in the book!
For me Luggage Saddle Bag. Only do a carry-on when flying and this is perfect.
The saddlebag is so unique. It’s my favorite.
I love that Weekender tote!
Love the luggage saddlebag,it would make traveling so much easier.
The weekender tote can be my work go to tote since my papers can fit nicely with my books and tablet!
Lots of ideas. Thanks so much.
That saddlebag is a great idea! I would start my projects with that item.
I love the versitility of the Luggage Saddle Bag…
I just love them all! I’d start with the makeup bag!!!
Love the Weekender Tote! I could also use it to carry my computer during the week! Can’t wait to make one.
I love the trio and will be traveling in style, but the weekender tote is my FAVORITE. These projects have holiday gifts written all over them. Thanks for the awesome instructions. : )
That saddlebag would really help with keeping track of boarding passes and hand work for the flight!
My favorite would be the luggage saddle bags. Bonus being able to zip together to make a shoulder tote bag is great! I mostly travel w/ my elderly mom who has many items she needs. This will make it easier to travel with all her all her necessities. Thx!
Since all of Nancy’s pattern are great it is extremely hard to choose one over another – but I find myself really excited about making and using the Weekender Tote. It would look fantastic in the basket of my scooter!
All are great but I think it would have to be the saddlebag!
I can’t decide – I love the saddle bag but I can see I will get lots of use out of the weekender bag too
The Weekender Bag! Love totes, but sturdy ones usually only come in boring colors. But this one? It’s the best: stylish, easy to construct and 180 degrees from boring! The pieces are pretty, especially the print (this from one who hasn’t worn or owned anything pink in over a decade). What a cheerful, upbeat beginning of this season’s Sewing With Nancy!
Oh my goodness!! Love the weekender bag and the fabric bins. Every thing looks great!!
I love the saddle bags! What a clever idea!
Love the luggage saddle bag. Anytime I don’t physically have to carry extra things is great.
I like the weekender tote!
I pick the large tote as my favorite. It looks roomy. I like the saddlebag idea, but I know I would use the tote more.
I have small shoulders so any bag that you can use as a cross over bag is one I am interested in. Really wonderful to see that you have a new season of shows.
I enjoy making purses and just love the “Weekender Tote”!!
Woo hoo!!!! 26 more shows
my favorite show of the season? All of them. Can’t wait to watch.
I love the weekender bag. It’d be great for an oversized tote for meetings.
I liked the serger program. It help me a lot with my new serger.
Beautiful! Love the Saddle Bag!
I really like the idea of the “saddle bag” and how it easily converts to a hand bag.
I would love to make that cosmetic bag. The one I use now I actually made over 15 years ago. Ha. It is sooo time for a new bag.
IIRR I was watching a shop at home channel the other night and they were selling a very nice set of carry-on bags that included a combination tote and saddle bag. For a 100 bucks. Yeah right you are. That makes me just feel delicious! Knowing I could crank out probably four or five sets for that . I really appreciate all you do for us Nancy, and I’m looking forward to the new season.
I really love the luggage saddlebag. I wish I had had one of those on the last flight I took!
What a wonderful series. Love the saddlebag! Fabrics used are awesome. Always look forward to the new series. Will be ordering the book & dvd.
The makeup bag is my favorite. I always need a compact way to transport those items “I can’t live without.” Thanks again Nancy for all the great ideas.
Wow!! Thanks Nancy for another great tutorial – love the fabric and the zipper hints!
Wow! Nancy you have simplified the zipper process, and the “pull tabs” are not only functional, but add a cute feature! Thanks for sharing another great tutorial!!!
Love them all. I can see the weekender as a quilt bag when going to guild for show & share or to take to quilt shows for all the goodies available. So intrigued by the saddle bag & can see it carrying my tools, etc. to group sew alongs or classes. I can see so many uses for the cosmetic bag, especially in the size you show. Fantastic.
These bags are awesome! The Luggage Saddle Bag is much better than trying to keep a tote on the shoulder.
I love the fabric boxes with the grommets.
I like the Weekender tote.
I like the weekender tote. I’ve not seen a gusset formed that way. Terrific!
Love the saddle bag to strap to the rolling luggage!
I love totes because I never seem to have enough room for all of my ‘stuff’ I need to lug around with me.
I like the wall pocket
I have some wall’s that need a little organization! Need to clear off the tables ! Great ideas in this series. Hope I get a copy!
Thanks
I like the jewelry caddie, but I’d use it to take my make up with me when traveling. I’m looking forward to the new season and new ideas!
My New Years resolution, was to learn something new about sewing each day. That is so easy to do watching Nancy’s videos. She is such a great sewing teacher. Yes, I have learned something new EVERY day
My New Years resolution was to learn something new every day about sewing. That is so easy to do watching Nancy’s videos. She is such a great sewing teacher.
My favorite is the weekender tote, because I would use a bag like that. I love the idea of the luggage saddle bag, but don’t have any traditional luggage on which to use it. Perhaps I could adapt it to my musical instrument cases, though — always need room to carry “stuff” when we’re loading saxes and trumpets.
My favorite is definitely the weekend tote!
I LOVE this set! So happy you are continuing to make new shows Nancy! I watch every week. I even like the reruns…
My favorite is the Luggage Saddle Bag, but they would all be useful.
Love the saddle bag tote idea. Can’t wait to try it out.
I love the weekend tote and the fabric boxes would help me organize my sewing room. Sure would like to win this. Thanks.
I like quick and simple projects that make practical gifts. I would make wristlet bags for the girls in my family. They all like small bags to keep their stuff organized.
OMG, do I ever need to organize!! The closet organizer would be my favorite!
Love the saddle bag tote as well as the fabric, but I would make all three of them, but the saddle bag tote has me drooling. Got fingers crossed. Can hardly wait for your new season to begin. Hope it is this Saturday morning. My husband loves your show too, and buys items from your show for me. Love it and all you do for us out here. God bless.
I like the saddle bag
What a great gift idea for a bridal shower; honeymooners can always use new luggage items! I posted this question on Facebook, but I think you’re more likely to see it here. Q: Is there a supply list for these items? I can’t seem to find one. It’s mostly the yardage I’m looking for. The zippers and ribbons I can figure out. Otherwise, I have to add up all the dimensions. Thank you for such a great idea!
Hi Robbin, You’ll find the supply list and complete instructions in the book that accompanies the program. Here’s the link: http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/sew+simple+with+rectangles+and+squares+book.do?extid=fbnz&code=NNOADV-1310
I like the saddle bag, I always need an extra bag when traveling. I would like to make them for my daughters for Christmas.
I love the luggage saddle bag’s. This would be brest when traveling
I just answered my own question and found the episode! Am watching it now!
My grandchildren need weekend bags for when they come visit
My favorite is the fabric boxes with the grommets. Always looking for fun storage!
I’m hard pressed to choose just one because I need them all (that saddle bag is GENIUS!), but I’d have to say I’d make the weekender tote first. I’m looking for your program here in Dallas but am having trouble finding it. Will we be able to view your shows online? (I’m new to your website though not new to sewing.)
Like the saddle bag idea. love the fabrics too!
The weekender tote! Thanks for the great ideas!
I can see the travel ote as a project bag to take when going to a day or two of sewing with friends. Maybe I would need to make more than one!!!
Where do you come up with these ideas? Saddle bags for your luggage. I’ve been lugging a big tote over my shoulder while I pull my luggage. It always slips off my shoulder and I fumble around for it. With this bag no more fumbling!
I like the weekender bag. It would be the perfect bag for those quick visits to see my daughters and grandsons, or day road trips.
The Saddle bag, who says I use it for travel, I would attach it to my sports bag for workouts.
I think the cleverest idea is the saddlebag for your carry-on luggage or rolling case.
I like the all, however, I love totes so I will start with the tote then do the saddle bags since it has more uses. The small bag will then be made for Christmas gifts for my granddaughter and daughter-in-laws. Thank you for all you have taught me over the years.
I really don’t see how I can choose just ONE…maybe start with the cosmetic, then immediately advance to the next, to the next, then start all over again.
Thanks Nancy!
It would have to be the weekend tote. I would make several for my granddaughters, daughters then friends.. LOL I may even break down and make me one !LOL
Thanks for the chance to win (and use it as a teaching aid to teach my granddaughters)
My daughter has been bugging me to make the luggage saddle bag for her since she travels a lot. We both love the idea of this.
I think the saddle bag is great. I am going to watch and make one to use on the “wheelie” I take to classes, like Quilt Expo!
I think I am going to make the saddle bag, what a great idea
Weekender tote!
I love the versatility of the weekender tote.
Having made several trips overseas, let me tell you-organization and easy access are essential!I think the over the carry-on is genius! It’s the first thing I am going to make for the next trip!
I really like the luggage saddle bag. I love how it is so versatile. The idea of being able to use it as a luggage attachment to hold extras and then be able to zip it together for a shoulder tote is awesome!
Weekender Tote!
I want to make that makeup bag, been needing a new one and this one looks perfect….beautiful and easy to make!!!
I love all three of the bags. I have been making your other cosmetic bags and curling iron cover for years. They are great gifts and quick to make. I would love to make the new ones.
The weekender bag looks great for stuffing with small hand quilting projects while you are traveling.
I like the saddle luggage bag. I enjoy watching your shows, I’ve bought your patterns and templates. You are a very talented person.
I love the idea of making all three, I always need gift ideas and these are certainly great ideas.
Loved all your techniques! the cosmetic bags starts the simple sewing construction Love it!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love these bags. I would like to make them all. Would love the book and dvd for directions.
I would like to do the weekender bag. I do a lot of short trips and it would be very handy to have.
I love the weekender bag but I’m just so sew excited about 26 weeks of new shows. I love Nancy and Sewing with Nancy is the best. It’s the only show that I never miss and can watch over and over again. Thanks for doing this, and so looking forward to the next 25 weeks.
I really want to make a cosmetic bag and this will really help me to start the project. Thanks for a chance to win!
The bags are beautiful. You are such a blessing to the people who follow your show and can order from your catalog. Sometimes people don’t live in an area where shopping is not so good and especially for older people who find a long day shopping is stressful. Thank you for all you do. God bless you.
Love the versatility of the saddlebag
I like the tote.
How simple. I loved the idea/process for the zipper. I would like a change to win.
Thanks for all that you do!! Love your projects.
I’m ready to try the saddle bag! Much in part thanks to your show! Big smile.
I like the cosmetic bag since it can be use to hold just about anything when traveling or not. Great little gifts to make for friends as well!
I like all three but I think I will try the weekender tote first. I can always use another bag. Can’t wait to watch the episodes.
I love the saddle bag!!! It will be so helpful when traveling. It will make it easier when taking items to and from hotels. I also love the fact that it can also be used as a tote. When traveling I love having items that have multiple uses.
Really like the weekender bag
I would love to win the Sew Simple with rectangles and squares. I can see making many of the projects for my family and friends! Shoulder hand bag looks like a great lap top carrier.
Love the weekender bag! So excited for your new series–I’ve been watching the show for years! Read your book too. Thanks for all you do!
I really like the weekender bag. Looks very versatile.
I would love to make the saddle bag, it is something that I have never thought of making. Love the fabric choices. The set would be awesome for travel. Most of my family lives in Ohio and I am in Alabama so we have to make that trip occasionally. Sure would be nice to have this lovely set for those occasions.
I would like to make all of these as Christmas gifts for family members who travel!
I love all of these. Since I travel frequently to visit my daughter either/all would be wonderful. I would love to be able to sew the saddle bag for my carry on luggage. That’s a great idea!
I’ve been watching your show for at least twenty years and love it.
Thanks for having a great show and great products in your catalog!
My favorite is the Luggage Saddle Bag! But I’d love to make them all! We purchased a camper a couple of months ago and would be able to use them all!♡