Perfect Quilted Tote

I"ve been wanting a tote bag big enough to take my laptop to work for so long.  I really should have gotten around to making it before now, but it kept falling down the list while I thought about what pattern? what fabrics? just how big?

Front

I saw Di's wide tote when we met up for a day in York last summer and knew that it was about the perfect size.  Her bag was made from the Elizabeth Hartman Perfect Pleated Tote pattern.  In the end I decided to go with the tall tote version so I can sling it over my shoulder and it is a perfect fit for the Macbook Air I use at the office.

Back

Of course, it's way too pretty to use only for work so I'm quite sure it will get plenty of other outings too!  I chose to work up the QAYG panels from my Bonnie & Camille scraps and paired them with some Essex Linen in denim.  I just love the combo!

If you are looking for a pattern for a QAYG tote this is another good one to choose.  Although the instructions are in what seems like a rather overwhelming 80 steps, each step is detailed and very well explained and importantly, supported by photos you can helpfully refer to.  The double pocketed lining in the pic above was a cinch to whip up with such clear instructions.

My only area for concern is the topstitching on the very top seam of the bag.   With the placement of the magnetic snap so high on the facing, it was almost impossible for me to get a good line around the snap with my machine and if I were to show you, you'd see a very jagged and wonky topstitched seam.  It kind of bugs me, to be honest, but since the stitches blended in quite well to the textured weave of the Essex linen I don't think anyone else will notice.  Might have been quite different if I'd used another solid to add the contrast to the QAYG.  Next time, I think I would fit the magnetic snap lower down on the lining fabric instead to avoid this issue.  Other than that it was a great pattern with nice easy steps to follow.

So, that's my second bag done and dusted.  Thanks for the inspiration of your gorgeous version Di.

New Bag for the Summer

I do love to have a new bag for the summer, don't you?  With a man-free zone chez Sew Me this weekend, I planned to tackle such a new bag as a diversion from all the FAL finishes and quilts of late.  Yes, I know I have still got two unfinished items on my FAL list and that time is running out, but I won't tell Katy that I wandered off track this weekend if you don't ;-)

Getting prepared, I started to stitch up my QAYG panels last week.  Round and round and round with lines and lines of stitching (in spite of an errant walking foot!) all in my favourite Bonnie and Camille scraps.  Yum!

I mentioned in a previous post that I had already decided to make Judith's Quilt As You Go Handbag/Shopper Pattern as one of my bags this summer.  It's a very generously proportioned QAYG tote, ideal for summer days out (tons of room for a beach towel, sunnies, some high spf, a good book and bottle of water) or in my case for long car journeys and ferry trips where all sorts of distractions (my book, a little crochet, the ipad, bags of jelly babies and raspberry ruffles for the car journey ...) can be stowed away to occupy a few hours and take my mind off feeling seasick.  It also occurred to me that this would be a very useful number for, say, a soon to happen quilting retreat in the big smoke - imagine all that QAYG in your fave designers' fabric scrappy strips.  Just sayin'. . .

Pic with sewing machine for scale

See how big it is?

QAYG was a technique I've never really had a go at before and I do like how much structure it helps to give your bag.

One of the reasons I wanted to make this bag was to learn how to make a recessed zippered opening.  Judith's pattern instructions really demystified this process for me making it all very straightforward actually.  I do love my pretty lining fabric (from Scrumptious) and it was a toss up between an orange and a red zip for contrast.  As you can see, red won this time.

See all that room inside?

 Pockets are not included on the bag pattern but adding a wee slip pocket is a very simple thing to do.

Never having made an internal zippered pocket for a bag, I was keen to include one on this bag and add another new skill to my repertoire.

With the help of this free Craftsy tutorial I succeeded in creating a useful zippy pocket for my essentials - keys, phone, chocolate ...

So, there you have it, my super scrappy summer tote.  I'm off to stroke my lovely fabric bag and work out how many choccy bars fit in that pocket!

Check out more fab versions of Judith's bag if you need further convincing that this is one worth making.

Bit of a Dilemma!

I mentioned yesterday that my recent fabric purchases have presented me with a bit of a dilemma.  So here's why -

I've been thinking for a few weeks that I haven't made any bags for a little while and that I would really like to make a couple for this summer - one larger bag for air travel hand luggage and another large tote for taking all my junk on hols.

I've been tempted by so many bag patterns but have settled, I think, on making an Aeroplane Bag (to make the most of cabin baggage allowance) and on Judith's Quilt As You Go Bag (so many lovelies have appeared on her blog lately, not least Shannon's GORGEOUS version).

It will be a little while before I can clear some of my continuing projects and make a start on the bags but for now I am contenting myself with making some fabric choices.  For the QAYG bag I'm thinking lots of Bonnie and Camille strippy scrap left overs - no brainer for me really.  However, making my mind up on the aeroplane bag is not so easy.

First of all, I ordered some Kate Spain fabrics from the Super Sale at Pink Castle Fabrics

and I really thought these would become my aeroplane bag in due course.  I love orange and these prints make me smile!

But then, before the Pink Castle order arrived, I bought a little bit of teal square stitch fabric and when I was putting it away in my stash drawer I noticed how yummy it was with an Amy Butler print that I've held on to for a long time. It started shouting "aeroplane bag" at me, see?

So, I picked up a wee piece of contrasting lining fabric and sighed a happy sigh that I'd got my fabrics together.

However, now that the Kate Spain Sunnysides have arrived, I am soooooo torn.  I love both options and don't know how to choose!

Eeeekk!

Guess I can mull it over while I handstitch the binding to my medallion quilt ...