MicroMod Tote Bags

My latest acquisition in fabric was a couple of prints from the MicroMod collection for Cloud9 fabrics.  I was only able to get a few of the prints and only a limited amount but I knew I wanted to make totes with them.  It was fun mixing and matching the fabrics.

I just love the 241Tote pattern by Noodle Head!  I bought several of her patterns and they are really well written and you don't have to be an expert to sew them.  Making each bag look different is easy.

I also just finished a Super Tote.  This fabric was called Zombie and I thought it was pretty appropriately named.

With this bag I made several adjustments to the pattern.  For starters I added an adjustable strap to the bag instead of the two handles the pattern originally called for.  This is the first time I've ever attempted an adjustable strap.  Something that has been on my to learn list for a long time.  I was surprised out how easy it was to do.  I learned a few things too and plan on making up a tutorial for adjustable straps and how to add them to almost any bag pattern.

The second adjustment I made was the inner pocket.  The pattern called for a gathered pocket that can be divided up to make smaller pockets.  I wanted something a little more structured with a cleaner look.

So I made a lined pocket with homemade piping using some scraps of black crosshatch Architextures fabric.  LOVE!  Oh! and the Geekly Chic Glasses!!! Perfect for a book bag ;)

I would love to hear about your favorite bag pattern hacks.  What changes do you make to bag patterns?

Quilted Leaf Potholder ~ A Tutorial

Materials:

• fabric scraps in Fall colors at least 5.5 inches in length
• fabric for backing at least 6" x 9"
• fabric for loop 1.5" x 4"
•  bias binding 2" x 24" long
• cotton batting at least 6" x 9"
• Insul-Bright at least 6" x 9"
• thread
• leaf template Click here to download template

Directions:
1. Download and print leaf template.  Make sure template is set to print at actual size. Cut out leaf and cut in half along dotted line. Set aside

2.  Cut strips of fabric 5.5 inches long and in various widths ranging from 1" to 2.5" wide.  There wider the strips the less you need.  Layout your strips and arrange them to your liking.

3. Sew the strips together using a scant 1/4" seam allowance (the seams will get crowded if it's too wide).  Sew on strips until you get a piece at least 8.5" long. Iron seams to one side. 

 4. Take the right side of the leaf template and lay it on your pieced strips at an angle tilted to the right. Cut out the shape. Save the left overs to make another potholder. I don't now exactly what angle I cut this on but it was less than a 45° angle... maybe around a 30° angle.

 5. Repeat steps 2 thru 3 for the left side of the leaf.  This time when you lay your template on the fabric it should be angled to the left.  This will allow for the seams to meet at a downward angle when sewn together. 

 6. Sew your left and right sides of the leaf together and press the seam open.

 7. Sandwich your batting and Insul-Bright between the backing fabric and your leaf.

 

 8.  Quilt your leaf as desired.  Trim the excess fabric from your leaf.

9. Sew bias binding to the leaf starting from the bottom of the leaf.  When you get to the top point of the leaf backstitch and cut threads.  Fold bias binding up at an angle (similar to what you would do when sewing binding at the corner of a quilt).

*** To make my own bias binding I cut a fat quarter in half on a 45° then cut a strip 2" wide the full length of the bias cut then pressed the strip in half long sides together.

 Fold bias binding back over to go down the other side.

 Then continue sewing the binding to the rest of the leaf.  Stop just before you get to the very bottom to insert your loop.  

To make loop: use the 1.5" x 4" piece of fabric.  Fold in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold long edges to meet in the middle, press, fold in half again, press. Stitch folded edges togther.

 Lay the loop with raw edges matching the leaf raw edge.  Place bias binding over loop and continue sewing.  Backstitch over loop to secure.

10.  Using a ladder stitch hand sew the binding to the back of the leaf.  At the bottom of the leaf I just tucked and folded the raw edge of the fabric in until all raw edges were covered and stitched them down (there may be a better method but doing it this way worked just fine).  I also put a few stitches through the loop to make it stick out away from the leaf.  

You should be able to get two potholders  out of your pieced fabric.  You can vary the size by enlarging or shrinking the template.  Varying the width of the strips would also give a different effect.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!  

I would love to see what you come up!! 

Fabric Sale!

This is just a quick post to say that I'm running a coupon over in my Etsy Shop.

I was having a little fun with some new fonts I just downloaded :)

I've got a lot of good basic fabrics in the shop right now and need to make room for all the lovely new collections about to come out.

 

I've been working on a few projects that I'm excited to share with you soon!

Rainbow Plus Quilt

This past weekend I wanted to do a project that was simple and quick.  Also with fabric I already had on hand.  I had enough batting for a small baby quilt so baby quilt it was.  I have really been wanting to make a quilt with Riley Blake's Tone on Tone Dots for awhile and thought this would be the perfect project.

My supply for the Pink was running low so I just left it out which worked out well for the pattern I used.  Speaking of the pattern I used the Inside Out Quilt pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew.  It really is two patterns in one with the plus quilt being the other pattern.

The cutting instructions are for charm packs or a layer cake but I just cut 5" stripes and then cut the required size of fabric from there.  Pretty simple!  The piecing went by really fast.  I love chain piecing!!

I chose a Medium Rainbow Chevron for the back.  I kinda wished I had the large chevron but Medium will do. I struggled a little on how to quit it.  I tried a few different things at first but ended up pulling it out and opting for straight straigtish stitching.  Straight line quilting is like the little black dress...you can never go wrong with it on a quilt.

The rainbow dot fabric was perfect for the binding.  I love how bright and fun this quilt is.  It stitched up quick and with out any headaches.  A huge Plus in my book! I also put the quilt in my shop and can be purchased here Rainbow Plus Quilt

I think next I will do the Inside Out Pattern with these 

Happy Quilting
~Alician