Check Out These Great Schlep Bags

Earlier this year, I made a cute schlep bag I found on Sentimental Stitches.  My friend, Leslie,  liked the pattern and has made these six gorgeous bags for all the girls at a family reunion which she and her family won't be able to attend this year.  Wouldn't you be thrilled to be gifted with one of these beauties?  The fabric she used is perfect and I just love the black handles and probably lining in most of them.  Beautiful job, Leslie! 

If you would like to check out Sentimental Stitches (lots of free stuff there) then click on the following link--

http://www.sentimentalstitches.com/

and for the pattern for the bag click on--
http://sentimentalstitches.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/so-sew-easy-schlep-bag.pdf

(Click to enlarge)

Schlep Bag

Some time ago I found the pattern for this bag on http://sentimentalstitches.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/so-sew-easy-schlep-bag.pdf and about a month ago I found some coordinating batiks and made it.  It isn't interfaced - I think you can do that if you wish.  The bag is made of 12 squares and 4 triangles.  Click on the address of the site and check out the pattern.  The fun of this bag is being able to fold it up, stash it in your purse and pull if out to tote any items that you might, for instance, purchase on a shop hop. 

Here it is lying on the floor and

now it's folded with the bottom up.  It could be made larger or smaller by varying the size of the squares you use and it is easy and relatively quick.  I have a piece of red and white ticking that I thought I might use to make another one.  It would be considerably stiffer - mentions the fact that you can use decorator fabrics,too. Could be for a gym bag - lots of possibilities.  Sentimental Stitches, the website, has lots of free patterns and also ones for sale.  That is the site I found the Nancy Page Vine quilt that I want to use as an idea for my hexies.  Lots to see there.  (Click to enlarge)

The Totebag

Here it is - the completed bag from the class a couple of weeks ago.  Just put the straps on and topped each strap with a pretty button I got at the local quilt shop.  Tried a yoyo but it didn't look good.  The largest covered button would have probably been pretty but I didn't think the shank on those would work as well.  I do like the way the bag turned out.  We will all bring them to the guild meeting Tuesday night for show and tell.  Will take pictures.  (Click to enlarge) 

Wave Totebag

On Thursday of last week, I took the class for making a wave bag or totebag.  As noted in an earlier post, I left my homework until the last day and it took quite a bit of time but I did finally get most of it done.  I really do like the bag, shown above not finished yet, but I must say it was not a very relaxing project to make.   With all the bias binding, there is a lot of hand sewing.  The top of the bag was just handsewn in the sections that needed to be seamed together.  Should not take too long to finish that part.  This morning I put the bottom in the bag and that was a wrestling match.  It's in and the bias is sewn around and now needs to be handstitched down.  The handles will be a breeze.  I also have in mind to make some yoyo flowers or other fabric 3d flowers and leaves with maybe some covered buttons for centers to spice this up.  The great thing about this pattern is that there are four nice big pockets formed when you put the two identical bags one inside the other and stitch down the middle of the front and also the back.  Lots of room.  I have been  athinkin' about how to do away with the bottom hassle and figure that by making it four or five inches longer and then doing the sewing across the ends bit to make a flat bottom it would be so much easier.  I probably will give that a try since this looks like it might make a good totebag for a new mommy maybe in some Dr. Seuss fabric!  What do you think?  (Click to enlarge)

Waited til the Last Minute

I am getting so good at waiting until the last minute to work on things.  Tomorrow is a class to make a totebag and there is the homework of making two quilted pieces for the body of the bag.  I should have done that before but here I am working on it today.  I think I'll make it!  Better get back to the basement and press the second part I pieced and then get to quilting them.  Also have to round up all the stuff to take with me.  And my spacebar is sticking!  Woe is me!  Good thing is the sun is shining, the snow is melting, so it ain't all that bad!  And I actually kind of like the piece I am making - and am using fabric I had so didn't purchase any new.  Stay tuned. (Click to enlarge)

My Fluffy Ruffles Batik Bag

Here is the bag that I finished this afternoon. It turned out really well and I would only change one thing about it. The handles seem to be pretty skimpy. I am thinking maybe I can find some plastic handles - rings or something - and make loops out of part of these handles and attach new ones. Will think on this. It does have a fabric loop to go over an old button so it will stay closed. I lined it with the larger print fabric and put a good sized pocket on each side. This would be darling done in denim with some Aunt Gracie fabrics for ruffles---no end of possibilities. Would make sturdier handles on the next one. (Click to enlarge)

Another Totebag

Another one of the big totebags - this one will be going to Bill's Ann in KC. I didn't get it done before Christmas but it is all ready now except for a button which is

this pretty old thing that seems to go just great with the batiks in the bag. Only decision I have to make now is whether I will make a buttonhole in the flap or sew on some velcro. I will make a sample buttonhole and see how I like it and then decide. These bags are pretty easy to make and they are really big. I plan to make two or three more totes but different patterns.

(Click to enlarge)

Making Totebags

Totebags have been underway this past week and a half or so. The first one is the same pattern as the paper pieced one I did a little earlier only much faster using strips of batiks and I think just as pretty. The bag is a nice size and went together easily.

This is an oriental fabric version of the big one I did last spring in batiks and it is equally as pretty. I still have to find a button for the flap. I am thinking of covering a large button form and using that. It's just for pretty since there is velcro holding the flap down. I still want to make one more bag but I can do that a little later. Have to finish a little shopping and get things wrapped up to get on the way to people I love! (Click to enlarge)

The Tote Bag

The "icicles" totebag is finished and hung on the knob of the old chest of drawers to have it's picture taken. (When I enlarged the picture, I could see that the old drawer pull is loose and I need to get a screwdriver and tighten the screw!) It went together pretty well although I would not ever do the lining again as they instructed. It was different than the usual way of making the lining and the bag, taking the darts in the bottoms of each, sewing the tops together with the bag inside the lining and tucking the lining in the bag. Of course, top stitching comes after that. They had you take the whole flat bag and flat lining and sew across the top, then open it out, fold in half and sew the three sides, leaving a space for turning. The darts had to be made before turning. That was the awkward part. After the paperpiecing was done, I stitched in the ditch around each icicle and just the wavy running lines on the bands. Also made a bottom for the inside by covering some rigid cardboard with the lining fabric. I am very happy with it. (Click to enlarge)

Icicle Totebag

This is a pattern I found on the RJR fabric company website that I thought was pretty cute. I have one side paperpieced and the other ready to go. Using oriental fabrics that I already have.

This is what it will look like - when I printed out the pattern I did it on draft so the color isn't good but you can still see what it is. I needed to start something else, right? You can find this pattern at http://www.rjrfabrics.com/patterns/patterns_search.cfm. All of the fabric companies have lots of pretty free patterns that you can download. Moda, Hoffman, etc. all offer lots of great projects. And Moda Bake Shop is another really cool website. (Click to enlarge)

My Totebag

Some time ago, the guild sponsored a class taught by Melissa, one of our talented members. We were to give her pictures that we would like to have on a totebag and she had them put on transfers which we later transferred to fabric.

You will probably recognize all of these pictures except maybe the one above which I don't believe I have posted before. It's a sweet picture of Nan, my mom.

This is one side of the bag. I used old lace, buttons and other trim to embellish my piece.

The other side of the bag. I don't think I did the bottom quite right as it sags, but that's okay - it works anyway. Here is a close look at the fabric, old buttons and lace. A fun bag to do - however, I don't carry it anywhere since it is kind of special and I want to preserve it. (Click to enlarge)

The Totebag

All done except for a hook and loop closing and either an antique button or a big covered button on the flap.

It's big - would be a great bag for a shophop. I put a pocket on each side of the lining for keys, phone, etc. Otherwise you would be fumbling around in the bottom of the bag looking for those things. It was fun to make and the instructions in the magazine are good. (Click to enlarge)

The April McCall's Quilting Came Today

and in it are the directions for this cute tote bag. I don't have enough projects started (ha!) so I went downstairs and cut about 50 5" squares of batiks. The front and back are sewn together and next step is cutting and fusing fusible fleece (of which I have enough), making the lining (which is fused to fleece also), the handles and tab. Supposed to be a sturdy, big bag. I'm giving it a try and will post a picture when I get it done. (Click to enlarge)