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

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Shabby Chic love

I always love shabby chic style

with soft pastel colors and ribbons

After making my iPad sleeve, I was in the mood of making another one with pastel colors and maybe a little handle, which you can carry around and can fit in your iPad with smart cover, wallet and an iPhone

and here it is: 

I used fleece and as batting. Fleece is nice to quilt since it doesn't move, so for small projects I don't need to pin them

again I quilted it with my fave decorative stitch

this time I lengthen the stitch a little bit

The grey fabric was from my fave Bombay dyeing. It's linen cotton for men's shirt. 

It's difficult to get a linen here, so when I see one I pick up. Though it's a bit expensive but it's worth it

the back side is plain grey and I love how the quilting turned out

simplicity is always the best, imho ^_^

This bag is listed in my Etsy Shop and is ready to ship

Until then,

Vigbyor Tote for a swap

Last August we at Desi Quilter had this Tote'lly Bag Swap. It was kind of mystery swap. We knew whom to send but we didn't know who will be our sender. Plus, each participant posted their mood board as a guidance.

The tough part is to get that 'aha' moments. I have to make tote for Nikhat and she posted this mood board:

The moment I saw her board, rainbow came to my mind. I browsed a lot of rainbow bags and quilt looking for inspiration but nothing click. I wanted something not too gaudy where she can tote it around. Looked into my fabric stash n settled for my Bali batiks. Using the method of "tour around the world" block I made this tote.

Size: 18" x 16"

Well, once I started sitting in my sewing machine, ideas started flowing. I used what's left to make a little detachable zip pouch {for small change or maybe lipstick ^^}

I quilted it using decorative stitch which I love to do so much :D

 

hmm look at the vibrant colors of the batik again. I simply love these bundles!

Now, DH cousin and aunt wanted the same thing ..hmm guess everyone loves a huge tote. 

Until then...

 Happy Sewing