This big tote bag traveled back to Missouri this week for my Mom’s birthday celebration. Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.
I used a 4 1/2″ finished block for the top row and 1 1/2″ finished blocks for the second row. The fabrics are a combination of new and vintage cottons. The bottom fabric is a heavy canvas with fantastically graphic Japanese newspaper ads. I’ve started linking all my photos to a larger image so click on the picture to see more detail. My favorite is the cat with those large, exaggerated eyes.
The construction is standard tote bag design, one big rectangle that gets folded in half, sewn up the sides and then ends sewn across to form the bottom. Here’s a peek inside:
I’m forever trying to figure out ways to add structure to tote bags so they stand up on their own. For this one I made a quilt sandwich (the outside fabric, a layer of Dream Cotton and the inside fabric all safety pinned together). I did simple back and forth lines on the bottom canvas and a triangle design on the pieced areas. Hopefully you can see that in the photo above. I used a walking foot. I serged the raw edges that show on the inside of the bag.
The inside canvas fabric is a mistake that turned good. I purchased 5 yards from the bargain table for Caitlin’s Jedi Robe for Halloween. When I proudly displayed my ‘find’ the resident Star Wars experts in my house (basically everyone but me) gave me the thumbs down, no way, too stiff. I added it to the pile of misfit fabrics. I’ve since experimented with using it as an interfacing for a purse and on this tote, as a lining fabric. I’m still not sure what it is but it doesn’t shrink when I steam iron it, my guess is cotton treated with some type of stiffener.
Another new thing I tried was the handle design. I cut 1 yard lengths of standard canvas tape. I then sewed the vintage yellow woven ribbon on top wrapping about an inch extra over the raw end of the canvas tape to the backside. I tacked the ends of the ribbon towards the middle so they would be hidden when the handles were attached. I like this design, it solves several issues I struggle with on totes. No raw edges on the canvas tape. The handle strength is provided for very inexpensively. The ribbon adds the color and design detail. And most importantly for me, at this point in a tote bag’s life I don’t really feel like making my own handles.
Thanks for the visit to my little corner of blog world. I’d visit here often anyway, there’s something about your style of crafting that appeals a lot to me. The bag is fabulous, as always – lucky people who are getting all these presents.
wow! great job!
Very nice! I really like it. I love your construction ideas, too. Especially for the handles. I hate making handles. Rather, I hate turning them right side out after I make them!
Amanda, you said it much better than I did! When I re-read my post I thought, duh, I’m making them so that statement doesn’t make much sense. I’m glad someone got it
You describe perfectly my sentiments about turning fabric at the end of a project.
Kathy, I used my tote bag for the first time today. Dad and I went with a bus group (yes, we have finally reached that age) to the Missouri Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit. When I stepped on the bus, the ladies noticed my bag and were complimenting me on it, and I replied, “My daughter made it”. I wish you could have been here to hear the wonderful things that were said about your creation. I love you. Mom
That does it! I’m adding you to my favorites. You have a way of combining fabrics in the way I would if I could. Beautiful bag…I love it!
You have such a great eye for color, I just shake my head in amazement. Love the japanese print. What a lucky mom you have!!