sewjustinesew: Hadley's Simple Tote Tutorial

So here she is the lovely Hadley with the first Team Simply Solids tutorial! All photo's are courtesy of Hadley..........

When Justine, oh she of fab tattoos, cute kids and an awesome online fabric store, asked if I would like to be part of the Simply Solids Blogging Team, I said yes, no hesitation; do I look daft?!

So here I am, and really excited to show you what I got up to with the lovely bundle of Pearl Bracelets that Justine sent me to play with.

First up I made something that had been on my 'want to make' list for a long time, a Tallahassee block mini quilt. The paper piecing templates are free to download from the awesome resource that is Quilter's Cache.

I supplemented the Pearl Bracelet bundle with a few more Kona solids and a little Sketch, all available from Simply Solids, and got stitching.

These have to be the easiest paper-piecing blocks in the world, and they came together so beautifully.

I used a couple more solids for the back, and Kona Ash to bind it, and I love how this little (18") mini turned out.

Now all those lovely prints cut into small pieces look great, but I also wanted to showcase a larger piece, with whole bracelets, and what better way than a simple tote bag?

Here's how I made mine...

Cut...

2 x 13.5 x 6,5" Pearl Bracelets

2 x 13.5 x 5" Essex Linen - natural (a)

2 x 11" x 3.5" Essex Linen - natural (b)

2 x 13" x 2" Essex Linen - natural (c)

2 x 13" x 1" cotton webbing

2 x 13" fusible hemming web

2 x 11" x 10.5" Kona in Sprout

2 x 14" x 12" cotton batting

Make the lining by joining the linen panels (b) to the Kona Sprout, press seams to the linen and top stitch close to the seam. Repeat.

Place the two lining pieces right side together, matching the seams at the sides; stitch 1/4" round 3 sides, leaving the top edge open, and a 4" gap in the bottom for turning. Clip the corners.

Join the long side of a Pearl Bracelets panel to the long side of one large linen pieces (a); repeat for the other panel, but reverse the placement so the Bracelets are on the opposite side of the linen to the first panel. Press seams to the linen side.

Place each panel onto a piece of wadding, press, it will help hold it in place. Top stitch 1/8" and 1/2" on the linen side of the seam.

Top stitch c. 1/8" round the edge to secure in place, then trim the wadding to the same size as the panel.

To make the handles, press the linen pieces (c) in lengthwise 1/2" along both sides to the middle. Place the hemming web between the linen and the webbing and fuse with a hot iron. Top stitch to secure c. 1/4" along each long edge.

Pin the handles to the top edges of the bag panels, c. 4" apart; make sure to measure 2" equally from the centre of the panel, remembering the panel seam is off centre; and make sure they are aligned so the handles are both exactly the same length. Secure with a couple of rows of stitches 1/8" from the edge.

Place the panels right sides together and join using 1/4"seam around 3 sides, leaving the top open, and then clip the corners.

Turn the lining right side out, press and then place into the bag outer so the right sides are together, side seams aligned and the handles are tucked inside. Pin or clip in place and stitch around the top edge with a 1/2" seam.

Turn out through the gap in the lining, stitch the gap closed by your preferred method, then press the tote before finally top stitching 3/8" around the top opening.

I think these instructions took longer to write than the tote took to make, so this really is a quick make, ideal for an emergency gift or just a feel good bit of sewing.

Thank you Justine for letting me play; I am looking forward to coming back again later in the year. xxx

So if you liked this tutorial please do pop over to Hadley's blog and say hello wont you?