Plaid Venture Club - Patchwork Duffle -

Patchwork Duffle made from Plaid Venture Club Fabric Collection. Made by Tamara Darragh of Remi Vail Studio. Duffle sitting on stool. — Patchwork Duffle made and photographed by Tamara Darragh of Remi Vail Studio using the Plaid Venture Club fabric collection by Riley Blake Designs.

A Patchwork Duffle Inspired by Plaid Venture Club

Hi, Tamara here from Remi Vail Studio. I love starting a project by letting the fabric lead the way. The Plaid Venture Club fabric collection from Riley Blake Designs immediately invited play. Plaid, argyle, houndstooth, tiny dots, stripes, and even little dogs tucked in between. The mix feels nostalgic and fresh all at once, a little like a favorite plaid chore coat paired with a well-worn leather chair.

Plaid Venture Club Fabric Collection by Riley Blake Designs

For this project, I wanted to explore how several different prints could live together in one piece, balancing variation with cohesion. A patchwork duffle felt like the perfect canvas.

Choosing Fabric and Finding Balance

One of the joys of the Plaid Venture Club collection is the range of scale and pattern. I challenged myself to use as many prints as possible while still allowing the eye places to rest. Mixing multiple prints like this is always a process of testing, stepping back, and adjusting, letting the prints play and interact.

To help anchor the patchwork, I repeated fabrics thoughtfully and chose coordinating prints for the handles and binding. Even though they’re also patterned, keeping them consistent adds visual calm to the overall design.

A Practical Project with Personal Meaning

I adapted the Patchwork Duffle pattern by Knot and Thread for this project, adjusting the size just a bit, along with the patchwork layout and handles. The goal was a bag that felt sturdy, useful, and personal.

The exterior patchwork was created using quilt blocks from my upcoming MEL’s Quilt pattern which made this project especially meaningful. I love finding ways for quilt blocks to live beyond the quilt itself, continuing their story in new ways.

Quilt blocks from MEL's Quilt Pattern by Tamara Darragh of Remi Vail Studio spread out on the floor. The quilt blocks are made from a variety of fabric from the Plaid Venture Club collection by Riley Blake Designs.

Quilting with Variegated Thread

The exterior was quilted with variegated 50 weight thread from Aurifil, adding subtle texture and movement across the surface. Variegated thread has a way of quietly enhancing patchwork, with gentle shifts in color that echo the variety of fabrics without overpowering them. Thread colors used include 4649 and 4655.

Variegated 50 weight thread from Aurifil thread being held in a hand.

For added structure and durability, I used Soft and Stable foam from ByAnnie in place of batting, making this duffle ready for anything!

Making Through Curiosity

This project came together through curiosity and quiet problem solving. I wasn’t sure how the prints would work together, or how certain construction details would come together, especially where the sashing meets the zipper.

Working through those questions, adjusting along the way, and allowing the process to guide the final decisions is one of my favorite parts of making. It’s how a project slowly becomes your own.

A Bag Made To Be Used

This duffle was designed to be tossed in the car, carried back and forth everywhere, and filled with all the essentials. Projects like this are a reminder of why I love sewing, creating pieces that are beautiful, functional, and full of story.

I hope this project provides a little inspiration to create something of your own with the Plaid Venture Club fabric collection. For more sewing tutorials and quilt and bag patterns check out my website www.RemiVailStudio.com.

Happy quilting!
xo, Tamara