Quilted Tote Bag

Hello,

It's a bit late for this post, but I just want to write it down here on the blog. Last month, I went to Singapore for a few days. As usual, before I travel, I always have this urge to make a new bag! 

I dug into my fabric stash and found this patchwork print cotton twill fabric I bought from Nippori. Now to decide what kind of bag is another dilemma. I was in two minds between this Batik Bag and the woollen bag (which is my fave). 

I decided to go with the tote bag like the woollen bag. It has gussets on the sides and bottom. I used light denim for the gusset. The colour matched perfectly with the fabric. For the main front and back panels, I just did straight-line quilting around 3/8" apart. And for the gusset, I did curvy lines, just eyeballed them as I go.  On the lining, I used light indigo colour block print cotton fabric that I have in my stash. I added all-purpose fusible woven interfacing to make the bag more structured. 

The tote bag turned out slightly slimmer than the woollen bag.  It still can hold quite a lot of stuff. I did not follow any pattern here, I just made up the bag measurements based on the fabric. I only have a fat quarter and after making the bag, only a few inches left, I am thinking of making a matching mini sling bag. 

I added a key ring on the front handle to hold a small keychain wallet. Although I can actually also use the side D-ring :D. Anyway, the keychain wallet has proven very handy to keep my hotel room key, transport card and small change during my stay in Singapore. 

Here's what the inside look like. The bag has 2 slip pockets for my phone and my reading glasses. It also has a zipper pocket. As shown in the picture below, it can hold my safari passport wallet, the triple zippered bag and more. I sewed a long lanyard inside the bag to keep small pouches so that I could retrieve them quickly. 

Mini pouch to keep my spare camera battery & earphones 

I added D-rings on the sides so that I could attach a long strap and use it as a crossbody bag when I roamed around the city and just remove the strap when I am on the plane. I am quite happy with the size as it's not too big for me. 

That's all for today. Thank you so much for stopping by. 

Have a nice day!

Elvira

Linking up to this wonderful BLOGS

VIDEO TUTORIAL - making scrappy mini pouch

 

Hello,

Working with scraps is always satisfying. I made these mini pouches using scrap from my wallets and other bigger projects. These mini pouches are really quick and easy to make. They also make a great gift for your family and friends. 

Blue Patchwork Pouch

The finished size is about 5" x 3.5" (13 x 8.5 cm). Just perfect for carrying small items, like chapstick, lipstick, small change or even AirPods and a phone charger. 

Here's the material you need: 

Templates - 6" W x 4.5" H (15.5 W x 11.5 H CM)

The box corners - 1" x 1" (2.5 x 2.5 cm)

Fabric strips in various widths 1" ~ 1.5" wide (2.5 ~ 4 cm) X  5.5" long (14 cm ) 

(the strip should be enough to make 2 patchwork panels measure 7" x 5.5" (18 x 14 cm)

Lining Fabric ( cut 2)  : 6" W x 4.5" H (15.5 W x 11.5 H cm)

Lightweight interfacing ( cut 2) 7" x 5.5" (18 x 14 cm)

Scrap Batting ( cut 2) 

All-purpose zipper #3 - 6" long  (you can use scrap zipper) 

0.5" D-ring 

D-ring tab - 2" x 2" (5 x 5 cm)

Keyring (optional)

Pink Patchwork Pouch

Green Patchwork Pouch

If you have many favourite scraps, this could be just the perfect project. Quick turnaround and satisfying project to make. 

Do let me know in the comment if you have any questions, I'll be glad to help. 

Resources: 

FABRIC SCRAPS

ZIPPERS And INTERFACING

LINKING UP TO THESE WONDERFUL BLOGS

Thank you for stopping by today!

Happy Sewing!

Elvira

Scrappy Patchwork Pouch

Another scrappy patchwork but this time it's a flat pouch!! I made few quilt as you go pouch few weeks ago from the scrap bag I keep near my sewing machine. The bag is overflowing with my recent scraps now and waiting to be sorted out. 

I took out a bunch and started playing with it for fun. I made 4 scrappy blocks and each is around 5" squares. And since I got new faux leather sheets, I decided to try to combine it. 

I use cotton batting, a scrap batting from my flying geese quilt and quilt it around 1/4" apart. I really love the effect of dense quilting on the pouch. I used high grade faux leather here. The color is almost salmon pink, a bit darker.

I added small slip pocket inside. I love the cute bear print lining. I found it in my stash! So glad to finally use it. 

I added this pretty pouch in the SHOP in case you want it ^^. The pouch dimension is 8.5" W x 5.5" H.

Working with patchwork is really fun, especially scrappy one. If you have orphan block lying around and want to try your hand on making patchwork bag, you might want to try THIS PATTERN.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing,

- Elvira - 

****

Scrappy Patchwork Zipper Bag

Hello,

Patchwork Zipper Pouch

Autumn is here, though we don't have the colorful leaves but the weather is very pleasant. I made few stuff last week, aside from few custom orders. Well, sometimes we have to make time for fun sewing, right?

One was this quilted zipper pouch which I made from scraps. I bought the scraps from Indonesia and the scraps are quite small, around 6" x 18" and some of them are uneven cuts. I cut few of them into 2.5" squares (my fave size) and choosing few dark, medium and light value from the squares. 

Work in Progress

I really love working with small scraps of fabrics and I promised myself that I will make more scrappy projects for myself and also to share with the world :D

I used fun apple print cotton fabric for the lining. It really brighten up the pouch. 

I was going to do the regular zipper top closure, but I want something to zest it up a bit. I have many bias binding from making passport wallets, zipper with binding is the obvious choice! There are 2 ways of attaching the binding that I did. The one like in THIS pouch or THIS one where I attach the binding strip to the main fabric before attaching the zipper.  On this pouch though,  I sewed the zipper first then attach the binding with machine on one side and then finish it with hand sewing. Insha Allah I will make a tutorial when I am working on the next one. 

I did simple diagonal quilting here with the help of  washi tape! Well, I usually just eyeball it though :D. On the other side, I used floral print and quilt it in the same manner. And if you're wondering about the tag which I attached on the side, it was not intentional. The fact is I forgot to attach D ring and had to make an improvisation here. 

 Please let me know what you think in the comment below. Thank you for spending time reading my post, I hope I can inspire you in a small way ^_^.

Happy Sewing,

Elvira

Scrappy Patchwork Pouch

Few weeks ago I made few scrappy log cabin blocks and share it in my Instagram. I was cleaning my sewing room and sorting out my scraps and instead of finish my cleaning, I sat down and started making a few blocks.

I really really love scrappy blocks and log cabin is just the easiest. The no rule log cabin blocks!  Since I completed my log cabin quilt I really want to make another one. 

These blocks are 6.5 x 6.5 inches and I really don't have any particular plan. So a few days ago, I made this pouch. Simple flat pouch.

I added a scrap denim which I have in my blue scrap bucket. I love using lightweight fusible interfacing and batting for quilted pouch. They are a perfect combo if you don't have fusible batting. I used fleece batting here. Really, you can use any batting like foam, flannel or even your old fleece blanket. Re-purpose or up cycle is always a good idea!

I used metal zipper this time. I really love the look of it. You can check my IGTV where I show you how to install metal zipper pull. Once you learn the technique, you will love it! 

I made a time lapse video :) I really want to make a proper tutorial video but it needs a lot of preparations and set up. Hopefully later on I can start sharing a better videos. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this one. (don't forget to share and subscribe :D ) 

The pouch size is 6" x 8" which is a really great size. Just big enough to carry your phone and few stuff. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Happy Sewing!

- Elvira - 

Linky Party
Handmade Monday
Moving it Forward

Wool Quilt Bag

"Learn to use other’s success as inspiration. Instead of focusing on our failure, we can see their achievement as something to motivate us ~ Twitter "

This is the continuation from my previous Post about the Kits! This wool quilt bag I finished in March. I bought the kits from Country Quilt Market shop in Tokyo.

This patchwork wool bag came with a pre cut wool squares of different textures. The kit didn't include the batting or interfacing and lining. So you have to figure it out yourself. I use a lightweight fusible and add batting for this tote bag.

Since there was no instructions for the lining, I just made it up myself. I added slip pocket and zipper pocket. I thought of using snap button closure as per the pattern but decided to go with zipper. 

Here I learned how to do the bottom and so glad that it lined up beautifully! Working with wool and different textures and weight of fabrics was a challenge. Most of Japanese quilt bags are hand quilted and I was too excited to finish this one. So, I only did quilt in the ditch, just to be on the safe side :D.

And that's me with the bag when I went to Shillong with my SIL in March! 

Now it's my fave tote bag! Nothing like carrying handmade bag ^_^.

What about you? Do you like to buy kits? 

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a nice day,

Elvira

A Kaleidoscope Bag and a Matching Wallet

The best thing about being bag maker is that you can make your dream bag! You can decide every details of the bag, whether you're using your self draft pattern or bought pattern from indie designers. 

In my case, I finally found the bag that is perfect for  me. The Luisa bag pattern from Sotak Handmade. I made the indigo block print bag last week, you can see it HERE and yesterday, I made this Kaleidoscope patchwork version.

I am so in love with this one that I parade it around the house. Today the weather was nice and bright just the perfect time to click few pictures. This patchwork version has different design on each side. 

My BFF Winda gave me the kaleidoscope block kit, I made this pouch earlier and have lots of fabrics left enough to make few more blocks.  

The kaleidoscope pocket is slightly higher than the original pattern but it turned out to be a perfect depth. 

  

As for the front of the bag, I have this panel fat quarter fabric. I forgot where I got it from but the color is just perfect for it. I must say, this bag is the fastest bag I made, in terms of choosing the fabrics. The grey fabric was also from Winda and the contrast red fabric was a gift from Mbak Tia when she went to Seoul last year. Thank you, girls <3 

And of course I have to make a matching wallet, right? 

A slim and minimalist wallet with 8 card slots and 4 slip pockets. It's based on the Passport Cover Pattern. No zipper pocket though. Now, both are ready for the trip and I better finish my packing! Japan, bring it on!! 

PS: Follow my Instagram for behind the scene stories ;) 

Thank you for stopping by,

Happy Sewing,

~ Elvira~

Linking up to : Show Off Saturday

Patchwork Quilted Cross Body Bag

Hello,

When I went home to Indonesia last July, I bought fabric scraps and lots of them. Hubby and my mom were wondering what I am going to do with the extra baggage. Well, I could not just leave those pretty prints behind, right? 

I've been wanting to make another quilted sling bag after the previous ones, HERE, HERE and HERE

Yesterday, I started to take out my floral scraps and got down to work.  I cut the strip 1" wide and piecing them on my Jack machine. The finished tiny strip blocks are 2 1/8" square. 

I always excited to work with small blocks!! 

The plan was to make 2 big pieces for front and back. Then I changed my mind because I want an exterior pocket. 

Because exterior pocket is always handy, right? I thought of  using magnetic snap as closure but on second thought, it's better using zipper closure. 

On the back is the full patchwork panel! I really love this full panel look! Well, it's always nice to have 2 pretty sides! 

For the side gusset I use the same plain linen as the front panel one. For the sides I just did wavy lines quilting and one the main panels, I did grid quilting. 

When in doubt, grid quilting is always the best choice.

This time, instead of top zipper closure, I did recessed zipper and I am happy that I did! 

I added interior zip pocket too. I thought of adding slip pocket, but after using many sling bags, I found that slip pocket is not really useful (at least for me). I always prefer a simple interior in bags. 

The bag finished at 8"W x 9.5" H x 2" D 

A perfect size for travel cross body bag, right? It can easily fit in the passport covers, wallet, mobile phone and pocket camera.

What do you think?

Thank you for stopping by,

Have a nice day

~ Elvira~ 

Linking up:
Oh Scrap!
Moving it Forward
Handmade Monday
Midweek Makers

TGIFF @ Storied Quilts
Finished or Not Friday