STITCH LINES...... Ramblings on life as a quilter, stitcher, traveler, photographer, gardener and lover of books, cats and fine chocolate....

Thursday, February 19, 2015

A New Totebag

Well, it's snowing again. The year I lived on the north end of Vancouver Island, it got to the point where I didn't bother looking out the windows in the morning, because I knew it would be raining. It rains all winter there (that's why I only stayed one year.) It's almost to that point here.. no point opening the blinds and gazing expectantly out to the new day - you just know you're going to see a whole lot of WHITE. The snow seems to be never-ending. And although today's forecast is only for 10-15 cm., we have another doozey of a storm coming on Sunday. Argghhhh!!
Lest you think I've just been hibernating from the nastiness of winter and eating bonbons, here is a small project I've just completed. Admittedly I have not been spending enough time at my machine, but I am getting back at it...
This totebag is a design by Pink Sand Beach Designs and is #124, the Fiji Tote. The pattern included very clear instructions, step by numbered step, with color photos  to illustrate. Now why can't all patterns do that? This is especially good for those who are "visual learners" but I think we ALL do better with accompanying photos - sure makes it easy to compare what yours looks like, with what it's supposed to look like... It is an easy pattern, nothing too difficult. It has a panel on each side of the interior, which is divided into three pockets, so six pockets in all. Of course you could divide them differently for more (smaller) or fewer (larger) pockets. The pocket panels have a contrasting band across the top, and I did the pockets in the gold fabric which contrasts well with the lining, for easy visibility.
One thing I liked about this pattern is that it suggests a layer of fusible Peltex™ in the bottom which really gives it a nice sturdy square bottom, and a fusible interfacing as well as the fusible fleece so the bag retains its shape well- no sagging! I also liked the way the bottom corners were done, a technique I had not seen before. The finished size is 16.5" wide by 12.5 " tall.
I know, I know, you're thinking "It doesn't look like her, it's not blue." Well fear not, I do have a FQ bundle of fabrics that I bought along with the pattern to make a second one... in blues/greens. But I loved these brown and black fabrics, and they're a nice change. And change can be good. Or at least refreshing. (Are you listening, Mother Nature?)

Piece!
Linda

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies." ~ Unknown

8 comments:

Country Gal said...

That is pretty ! I have a machine but never got into sewing I can sew a bit by hand Papa can do both and pretty well to and has from time to time lol. MY mum was a seamstress and made lots of different things for us when we were kids and did knitting and crotchet , me I never picked it all up though I really would like to learn how to sew on the machine and make aprons or pinny's as my mum called them . It is cold here another Extreme cold warning from the weather network but the sun has been shining so for me that's ok I can handle all the snow and cold with sun shining lol and I like to layer up and get out with my Miggs at least once a day for a bit . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Oh, Linda, the bag is so beautiful and elegant!
On my screen, the dark colour looked dark blue, not black, and I was thinking how well it fits with those brown shades. But black, of course, goes wonderfully with everything.
Don't even mention the word "snow"! :D

Jennifer said...

I love both those colourways! We're expecting rain later today, very welcome rain.....the past two years' rainfall has been well under average, and of course we don't get snow melt....there's a cyclone heading south, and we will be on the edge of the rain band coming with it.

Vee said...

It is beautiful! I am making some marble bags for the grands. If I do a good job, I'd like to try a tote bag. Clear instructions and pictures are very helpful!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

One can never have too many bags, especially this nice one you made. I like the colours and can imagine it would hold a number of books or other items for a specific purpose.

JennyPennyPoppy said...

Keep hearing about all the snow that's been dumping on you this winter. We haven't had a whole lot but I shouldn't speak too soon as there's still March to get through. Your bag looks beautiful and I love the colours.

Janet said...

When I first opened your blog my (slow) computer showed your header photo as just a photo of sparkly snow for the first twenty seconds or so. Very funny! I thought you had decided to just change your header photo to snow. I think it was just the background from the one photo that has snow in it displaying while my computer adjusted itself. Love your bag. I like nice sturdy bags too.

GailM. said...

Baahaa. the previous commenter was funny to think that you changed your header to snow!!!

I love this totebag. The colors are delish!!

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