We are so excited to announce the winners of January's Photo Contest! To learn more about what it takes to win, be sure to check out our blog on the contest details.
If you’d like to submit to the next monthly photo contest, VISIT THIS PAGE to submit your photos.
Want to see the rules and submission guidelines? VISIT THIS PAGE.
If you want to see all photo submissions, visit our Customer Photo Gallery. You can also search through all of the Winning Submissions here.
Let’s see the winners
ByAnnie Top Voted
WINNER: Ash N @ashleyjayde_handmade
PATTERN: iCases
THEIR STORY: After making myself an ICase for my work MacBook, I knew I had to make my 4 coworkers one too! I finished just in time for the holidays.
The organization I work for has a lightning bolt in it's logo, so the zipper pull is a play on that. My coworkers favorite color is purple, and she sometimes will sneak dinosaurs into our design work (for a good laugh). Because of all the little personal details in choosing the fabric and hardware, this one might be my favorite!
WHAT WE LOVED: Annie had this to say, "Ash's photography of the iCases she made really highlighted the Christmas spirit. I loved reading about how she personalized the cases for each person. That's such a joy and sure to mean so much to them."
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
Storyteller Award
WINNER: Karen B
PATTERN: Get Out of Town
THEIR STORY: My boyfriend requested a bag that would match his collectible 1968 car to use in the trunk/boot solely as a prop for car shows. The seats in the car are black vinyl with black and white Houndstooth inserts, and the carpet is red.
A Get Out of Town 2.0, we decided, would be perfect based on the style of the bag and the size of the boot. We had fun designing the bag together.
He wanted ‘something shiny’ to represent the old chrome, so the zipper, zipper pulls and hardware did just that. I chose this particular webbing for the straps to emulate the seatbelts, although they are actually black in the car.
I had the idea to embroider the car’s logo on black vinyl. I think it really adds a vintage look to the bag. I left out all the inner pockets, since it will only be used as a prop. He loves it! We can’t wait to see it in use at a car show!
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
Quilt Shop Highlight
WINNER: Old Town Quilt Shop
THEIR STORY: We have a class each month called B.A.G. Ladies. It stands for By Annie Groupies! This was our first class, and we made the Snuggle Pillow.
While not technically a By Annie pattern, it is on her site. With a group that varies from true beginners (I had a young teen) to experienced sewists, everyone finished their pillow top.
They had fun planning color placement, and it was a little different from the normal quilt making, or bag making, that most of them do. Everyone's personality could be seen in their fabric choices, and it was a fun class. They will all be snuggled up with their pillows this winter!
WHAT THEY WON: $50 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
WHERE IS THEIR SHOP: Orcutt, California
WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM ONLINE:
Website: https://www.oldtownquiltshoporcutt.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldtownquiltshop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldtownquiltshoporcutt/
SewPINK
WINNER: Brenda L
@brendaluxford
PATTERN: Bowl Me Over
THEIR STORY: A friend mentioned she wanted a bag to take to her Dr. appts / chemo etc. I wanted to make her bag as she has been so helpful in my quilting journey. I also wanted to make sure I did a nice job for her so this particular bag is my prototype. My practice run before the real thing.
I have to say this is my first bigger project I have done from byannie patterns and I am just over the moon how well it turned out! I didn't realize this fabric was directional until I was cutting it out (ugg!) but I persevered and it turned out fabulous! Things are all right side up and even matches in some areas. My binding was the best is has been ever been.
The pattern was truly easy to follow (thanks Annie for the helpful tip with the wet erase markers and page protectors!) and I had no problems at all. How often can you say that?:) Thanks to all at byannie that make such wonderful patterns. Now I can erase all my marks and start again on the 'real' bag I am planning to make my friend.
WHAT WE LOVED: Our team member Asa had this to say, "I think this is such a sweet way to support your friend, and I love stories like this."
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
Honorable Mention
WINNER: Chrissy M
@chrissy_creates_
PATTERN: A Place for Everything
THEIR STORY: I don’t know why I waited so long to make this as it wasn’t as hard as I was expecting, it just takes quite a bit of time to make.
I added some complexity by deciding to FPP the zipper strips a la the fabulous Nicole’s stitch 'n up. FPP was going to be my new technique to learn in 2024 but I figure January 25 was close enough 😆
I’m happy with how it turned out and now I can actually see my stash of threads which are now lying flat instead of stacked on their ends in a pouch. The FPP on the zipper panel in combination with ByAnnie's soft and stable makes the zipper panel very sturdy.
WHAT WE LOVED: Our team member Bee had this to say, "The coordination with the fabric and choice of zipper is amazing. The technique for the zipper strip adds to the complexity of a simple bag."
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
Honorable Mention
WINNER: Susan N
PATTERN: Drop Zone
THEIR STORY: I have an artist/quilting friend who manages to slip a gift into my retreat wagon around the holidays. I felt it was time to reciprocate. I remembered my friend has a fondness for Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics and I just so happened had a Cherrywood 8-step gradation bundle and a 4-step gradation medley in my stash.
I decided to make her a medium Drop Zone using these stash fabrics to hold her colored pencils. At the last retreat I was at I noticed her colored pencils were in a zip lock bag- she definitely needs an upgrade.
Making a bag from solids can be a little ho-hum so I decided to jazz up the exterior with some foundation paper piecing curved flying geese! The flying geese were time consuming to make but fun.
The good part: foundation paper pieced flying geese are quite eye-catching.
The bad part: foundation paper pieced flying geese mistakes are quite eye-catching. The sewing of the geese to the curved teal background stitching took several do-overs but I felt I had to get it right.
You know you have a successful bag when you want to keep it for yourself. It's tempting,- but this bag is for my friend.
WHAT WE LOVED: Annie had this to say, " I loved seeing the beautiful Drop Zones that Susan N made for her friend to hold her colored pencils. . . and reading her story. I chuckled at reading the good and bad of FPP borders!"
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
Honorable Mention
WINNER: Mary J
PATTERN: Sidekick
THEIR STORY: My Dad turned 96 on 1/27/25. He likes to pick up the mail using his walker. Now he has a place to put the mail while he returns to his apartment so he can use both hands on his walker.
I enjoyed reading and carefully following the directions and seeing the sidekick emerge from all the many pieces. My gift will be one week late BUT that gives Dad more days to enjoy his birthday! I hope he likes it!
A friend took this picture of me with Dad’s sidekick on her walker before I put Dad’s sidekick in the mail.
WHAT WE LOVED: Our team member Asa had this to say, "This project is a great mix of practical and heartfelt."
WHAT THEY WON: $15 coupon to use on ByAnnie.com
A special "thank you" to everyone who submitted to this photo contest. We had a wonderful time viewing submissions and reading your stories. We look forward to sharing as many of them as possible on our social media.
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January 2025 Photo Contest