20 Minute Tote

A few weeks ago I posted about some lovely fabrics I had just bought from www.fabric.com.

20 minute tote

I found a tutorial on the Purl bee website for making a tote in 20 minutes: http://www.purlbee.com/the-twenty-minute-tote.  Since their instructions are very easy to understand and follow, I’m not posting any of my steps or photos.  (The only exception is that I turned under 1/4″ on the top edge rather than doing a zig-zag stitch.)

I actually timed how long it took me to make the first tote–from cutting out the fabric right up until the final pressing.  34 minutes. Not quite a 20 minute tote but after the first one, I just set up my own little assembly line and made 8 more.  I’m sure I was whipping out the rest of them under the allotted time!

20 minute tote
9 cute little tote bags

The totes were easy and turned out quite nice.  I might make a few more but the weather has turned a degree or two cooler and I need to get the yard spruced up for our upcoming special event, so I’m back outside.  Lots to do in the next four weeks!

Lovely Fabrics

Fabric.com recently had Premier Prints material at 15% off.  Along with the 15% coupon that’s always on www.retailmenot.com and free shipping for anything over $35, I had to buy a few (or more) yards!

I’ve been using orange, gray, and yellow combo fabrics lately.  Go figure.  They were out of my favorite Ikat Domino Slub Chili Pepper that I’ve used in a few posts:

Premier Prints Ikat Domino Slub Chili Pepper

Since it was out of stock, obviously I’m not the only one that liked it.  But I did buy these three prints in my new favorite color combo:

Fabric.com
Blooms Slub Chili Pepper, Hippie Chick Slub Chili Pepper, and Paradara Slub Chili Pepper

I bought some more of this Indoor/Outdoor Polka Dot Blue Moon fabric for a settee and chair in a little nook on my deck.

Fabric.com

I’ve been admiring this paisley for quite some time but never could find a use for it.

Fabric.com
Paisley Chocolate

Since it was on sale and I needed something to put me over the $35 free shipping requirement, I bought it.  I was going for the chocolate and turquoise colors and didn’t even realize how much green was in it.  I’m not crazy about green.  So I’m plan to leave this lying around my house in various spots and draped over assorted chairs until I decide what to do with it.  If nothing else, it could make two or three pretty totes.

Fabric.com doesn’t pay me for mentioning their website  (darn). I use them because they are the cheapest, the quickest, the most reliable, and they have awesome customer service.

Wine Bottle Bag

I’ve been obsessed with creating bags and totes lately. And I’m trying to make each one a little easier. I have a big order coming up so I’ll probably get over this obsession as soon as I get that completed.

We were invited to a party last weekend and grabbed a bottle of wine to take along.  Then, I thought, I bet I could make a cool bag out of some of my scraps of fabric.  So, I went out to pinterest and did a search and there were a couple thousand ideas.  Love that pinterest!

This is the one I liked best:

Wine gift bag

and the instructions are here:  How To Make a Wine Bottle Gift Bag

But I also wanted to try a different method for putting a tote together, so combined that tutorial with this one:  Tutorial:  Fabric Scrap Basket

And I also wanted to use whatever I had on hand.  So I pulled out a bunch of scraps and found I had just enough trendy fabric from the last tote I made and just enough 1″ belting for the strap.  The original instructions call for very sturdy interfacing which I didn’t have so I used fleece.

Wine Bag Side: 11-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ (cut 4 fabric, 4 lining, 4 fleece)

Wine Bag Bottom: 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ (cut 1 fabric, 1 lining, 2 fleece)

Wine Bag Strap: 10-1/2″ of 1″ belting

Use 3/8″ seams throughout.

Let’s start with the lining.

Attach the right side of the bottom of the bag to the right side of the four sides leaving the 3/8″ side seam open on the bottom.   It will look like a big plus sign when you are finished.  This is the lining fabric:

Wine Bag 1

Next step was a little confusing for me.

Fold opposite corners of the plus-sign to each other (as pictured) and pin along outer edges. Right sides of fabric together. Stitch.

Wine bag 2

This is what it should look like after the above step.

Wine Bag 3

Just fold right sides together and stitch the remaining two edges.  Leave about a 6″ opening on one of the seams for turning later. Yeah, it’s confusing.

Now for the outer bag.

I used fusible fleece.  Iron the fleece onto the wrong sides of the outer fabric and follow the above steps.  Except do not leave that one side seam open.

Wine Bag

Wing Bag 4

Next, center the strap on two opposite sides on the right side of the outer fabric.  (Make sure it’s not twisted)

And stitch.  I stitched a few times within the seam allowance plus did a zigzag stitch, just to make sure the handle was securely attached.  But do this within the seam allowance so it doesn’t show when you are finished with the bag.

Wine Bag 5

Now it’s time to sew the lining and the outer bag together.  Your outer bag should be right-side out. Your lining should be wrong-side out.

Pin along the top, lining up the side seams. Sew along the top edge.

Pull the outer bag through the 6″ opening you left in the side seam of the lining.  Pin the opening together and sew close to the edge.

Stuff the lining into the bag.  Pin the lining in place and topstitch around the top of the bag.

Done.  Easy Peasy.  And so cute.

Wine Bag 6