627handworks

I’m on a roll this weekend!  Found this tutorial from Craft Buds and really wanted to make one. I had some leftover canvas from the chair I re-covered and enough leftover linen from a top to make a tote!

The tutorial was easy to follow and I ended up adding a pocket (with another cute little pocket on top of it) and an interior zipper.   My measurements were different, I had enough fabric to add a few inches to the width, so mine is larger on the horizontal.

Since the interior fabric was linen, I added 3 inches of the canvas to the top of the liner so it would be a little sturdier.  Linen tends to stretch and I didn’t want it all wonky at the top.   Plus, I like how it looks.   All I had to do was sew a few inches of canvas to the top of my linen pieces before measuring and cutting the interior.

I was thisclose to adding an exterior pocket or zipper but now I’m kind of glad I kept it simple on the outside.  My favorite part of this was using up leftover fabric that I had no idea what to do with.  Especially the linen since it was kind of pricey to begin with.

Sewing up the sides and bottom was a little tricky – had to make sure I grabbed the lining with the exterior fabric as it’s sewn.  The overall effect is a sturdy little constructed tote.  We’re heading to Mexico in less than two weeks (YAY) and I think bag this will come along for the ride.

See the zipper on the opposite side of the pockets?  I couldn’t place it in the linen because it would eventually rip out, so I stuck it in the canvas part.  I was nervous because I had ZERO extra canvas if I messed this up and I’m not very familiar with zipper construction.  It’s a 14″ zipper so I love the length and how deep I could make it.  The pocket itself is nestled between the exterior and interior fabrics and lined in white cotton.

The linen pocket. I love it for some reason. I added some canvas to the top and it’s double thick.  I’m hoping this will make it stronger and less likely to stretch out all over the place.   I don’t know what the baby pocket can be used for but I like how it looks!

We’ve going to the pool a lot and I wanted to make a bag that I could throw a few towels and bottles of lotion into.    I ended up combining some tutorials I saw online and made this reversible tote.  It’s perfect for rolling up 2 towels, sunscreen and a book.

I added slip pockets, a zipper and a few fobs to clip keys or whatever onto.   It actually looks ok with the pocket area on the inside or outside.

Since I was too impatient to wait for a decor weight fabric (which is what I think most traditional totes are made of), I decided to use 4 fat quarters I had purchased from Sew Lux. Once I knew I would be using regular fabric, that’s when I decided to make it reversible.  Then I wouldn’t have to worry about interfacing and it would be lined in fun fabric.

Besides the 4 fat quarters I used a scrap of white material and a zipper I had.  I didn’t use any interfacing and it turned into a nice light-weight bag.

This is actually the first bag I’ve attempted to make – now that I have more knowledge of how they are put together I’m not so scared!

Front

Back

Side
I made mine mix-matchy but this would look great to keep the same color panels on the outside, and the matching panels on the reverse as well.

Interior

Reversed
See.  I don’t even think it looks that bad with the pockets/zipper on the outside.  Next time I may try heavier weight fabric and make the slip pockets on the outside all the way down to the bottom seam. Maybe.

The fabric is from the Sugar Pop collection by Liz Scott for Moda:

• Mod Flowers Cream Aqua
• Mod Trees Chartreuse
• Summer Flowers Chartreuse Aqua
• Andrea Floral Chartreuse

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS:

BAG:

1. Cut the fabric squares roughly 18×18 leaving about a 4″ piece the width of the fabric.
2. Put the four 4″ pieces aside for straps
3. I cut my 18×18″ panels in half and sewed them back together.  You could also leave them whole.
4. Sew the liner together on 3 sides (right side facing)
5. Sew the exterior together on 3 sides (right side facing)
6. Box your corners
7. If you want – Add your pockets/zippers to the lining at this time
8. Place your exterior inside your interior – RIGHT SIDES FACING (so it’s inside out)
9. Pin in your straps  between the two layers a few inches from the seams (just shove the extra down in there so you don’t sew over them)
10. ALL RAW EDGES SHOULD BE TOGETHER
11. Sew 1/2″ allowance all the way around leaving a 4″ opening for turning
12. Turn, iron or pin the hole, and top stitch 1/4″ all the way around

STRAPS

1. Take 2 of your 4″ pieces and sew together so you have a long strap.
2. Fold in half lengthwise and iron all the way down
3. Open and fold in the sides and iron all the way down -then fold together.
4. Should be about 1″ wide.  Topstitch 1/8″ all the way down both sides
5. Mine are about 30″ long – the extra’s I cut I added the little keyfob tabs

This Emmeline apron by Sew Liberated is my very first pattern project! I made it a few months ago and it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  I love the pattern, love that it’s reversible and think I’ll probably make more. It also prompted me to try a few other patterns as well.

Because I thought I did so well with the Emmeline pattern (and I loved all of the examples of this on flickr) I made a SchoolHouse Tunic.  Will DEFINITELY be making many more of these. I opted for the short version but will be willing to try the longer one. The fabric is a light weight, textured pattern from my local fabric store. Super comfy too.

These two were made using Butterick pattern 5217 . I still haven’t hemmed the black shirt, and to be honest – the whole thing was kind of a nightmare. It was so slippery and impossible to pin.  Plus, I couldn’t iron it or it would burn!  I’m going to stick to cottons.   The linen example wasn’t as bad, but again, I think I’ll stick to cottons.  Linen = too much serging of cut lines.   I’d also like to make the sleeveless version of these in a knit. Just the bottom part in a knit.. the top in a fun printed cotton.  Hmm…

And finally….  the kitchen towel.  This is actually my favorite of everything in this post. Kinda wonky and scrappy.  I was trying to figure out how to use up some of my scraps and decided on this.  I’m also a complete textile addict and kitchen towels are one of my big weaknesses.  So I just took a Martha’s flour sack (leftover from my embroidery phase) and some scraps and voila!  I forgot how HUGE these are and I think I’ll probably cut the next one in half.  Because there will be a next one.  Quick, instantly gratifying projects are the best.