Surprise!

     That is what I got when I arrived home after cardiac rehab on Wednesday. A box from the company that sells the tote bags I have been using for my comfort quilt packages. When I opened it, all 13 bags left in their inventory were in the box. Hooray! They generously donated them to me!

     Even funnier, is that the company is in the neighboring town from me. What are the odds? They are in an industrial park and I had no idea they were there or what they did.  I sent them a thank you card already. If you don't ask, you won't know if someone will help you.
     Prayer answered!

Quilts in search of bags

     The comfort quilts that I make and give on referrals are put into tote bags which hold the quilt, book, card, and pocket quilts. The quilt is washed, dried, put into the tote and the whole bag goes into a XL ziploc bag to keep it clean and fresh.
     A few years ago, someone gave me about 25 bags that are a vinyl canvas with side pockets that I have successfully used. The company went out of business, and I got the totes. I sewed a quilt block pocket over the logo pocket and that is where I put the book, card and pocket quilts.

     However, I am on my last two tote bags. The one pictured went out on Friday. I have looked all over the internet for them. I looked in the bag, found a company name and contacted them to see if I could buy some unprinted. They only had 13 in stock and the order is usually fifty. I offered to buy them and I received an email that they would donate them if I gave them company information. I am not a company, but a free service and I tried to explain that in a response and show them how I use the bag. I have not heard back from them, so I don't know if I qualified in their book. I would even buy them.

     The fact remains is that I need bags like this. If you know anywhere I could purchase these and that they are not prohibitively expensive, please let me know. The bag is an integral part of the package and it can be used to transport stuff for treatments. Waterbottles fit nicely in the side pockets.

Tuckaway totes and pocket scarf

     I bought this pattern a while ago from McKenna Linn and made some of these totes. I had some presents to give and I thought these totes would be wonderful. I used mine at the AQS Syracuse show and it was very useful. When it was folded I could use it for my water bottle and when I made purchases, I had a non plastic, very strong (and pretty) tote. I made two at a time and loved the way they turned out. I only sew flat things, so for me these were not difficult.

Choosing colors and sizes 

Tote opened full size 

All folded up

     I also kind of fabricated an infinity scarf with a zipper pocket so it can hold money, cards, etc. I looked at a lot of them online, and came up with a version that needs NO handsewing. I basted the zipper in the seam with scotch tape and it is not an ace job (Andrea will laugh), but I am a quilter, what do I know about zippers? It was also a gift and my friend really loved it. It was a smooth knit that looked like rayon batik. Wish I had one.

Doubled up to wear

The zipper pocket in the seam.

Tuckaway tote for present

     I have had this pattern for over six months. Really wanted to make it. Other things got in the way. One thing was I am terrible at is understanding written patterns. They make me sweat and feel idiotic. However, I went to a luncheon that was a birthday luncheon and did not get that part of the info. I went home, pulled out the pattern and some batik and set to work. Did a lot of head scratching and ripping but, pulled it off, put it in the mail and hopefully, it was well received, even if belatedly. I want to make some more, even one for myself. Here it is folded and unfolded.

Ria's Tote- Accomplished!

    After a great deal of thinking, ripping, more ripping, and even more ripping, Ria's tote bag is done. I had searched for a pattern and found one that had a zipper top that could fall inside when not used instead of zipping flush with the top (hard to zip when full). I wanted handles that attached not at the top because of the strain it puts on the top edge. I thought I found the ticket with a pattern from byAnnie (the Totally Trendy Tote). Nope. I wish that pattern sellers would show you the insides and more closeups in their promo pictures. This pattern did not have a separate lining so that you could have pockets on the inside (pockets on the inside of a tote such an unusual concept?). From the photo, it looked as though it had a solid color bottom and then patterned body, but no. It calls for one large pattern fabric piece with dark strips sewed over the sides- not real useful when the bag is set on dirty surfaces and a waste of patterned fabric. I asked a few purse maker friends for advice. Since they do this stuff all the time, it was helpful, but the nitty gritty that they do automatically left me wondering what was next and why it wasn't right. I tried cutting a paper pattern out, but paper was not helpful here. I ended up dividing the fabric with one piece for the bottom and lower sides (the dark), and 2 pieces of patterned for the sides. I did not sew strips over the beautiful flower fabric.

Bottom piece with 2 pieces of patterned fabric attached. Front pockets done.
I ended up quilting the flowers after this on the whole bag.

Zipper pinned wrong way. Unfortunately, I sewed it this way. And ripped it out.

   The straps were supposed to be sewn and turned inside out and webbing pulled through the inside. I did not think I could do that well without stretching the seams on the straps. So, I used the Soft and Stable stuff cut in strips, put inside the straps and then sewn shut with rows of topstitching. I think they are stiff enough. The Soft and Stable is spongy to sew and bunches the fabric. It gives good body and flexibility, but sews funny. 
   I was advised not to cut the rectangles in the bottom to make the boxed bottom as per directions because it weakens the fabric. I sewed a triangle across the seam after I sewed the side seams and did not trim the triangles off as I wanted to bottom of the bag to have some weight. I used the outside dimensions of the bag and cut a out a lining. I made inside pockets by using a long strip of fabric doubled in width so I could fold it over lengthwise and used Decor Bond interfacing to make the pockets stiff. I put a long pocket, 6" deep, on both sides of the bag. I made one light, and one dark so maybe putting things in them would be easier to remember which side pocket. I asked Ria how wide she wanted the divisions in the pockets, drew lines and then top stitched over them. 

Inside pockets and bag bottom removable piece

    On the byAnnie site was a video tutorial on the zipper. It was helpful, but did not show the last step in attaching the zipper pieces to the bag. So, it took three tries (rip, rip, rip) to get it, the lining and the bag attached. I used the glue binding method I learned on Sharon Schamber's site that I use on all my quilts, to attach the binding before sewing. I sewed the binding to the front top edge (glued first), and then ironed and glued the binding to the bag and top stitched in the ditch on the front with invisible YLI thread. Ah, it is done.

Bag without binding and zipper, lining about to be ripped out

Gluing the binding; zipper and lining basted in 1/8" from edge

Binding, lining and zipper attached

   Bottom line- I would not buy the pattern again. The directions and illustrations were not easy to follow. I would make a mockup bag smaller and get all the mistakes made on that. I still have not found a tote that is simple, has a zipper, and has pockets inside and out that I would use. The Soft and Stable made the tote firm, but not stiff, so I would use that again. I would not use buttons again as the purse feet as prescribed in the pattern. 

Sits well with Soft and Stable

With zipper shut

Finished!

   Now, I just have to get it to Ria. I would hate to crunch it up to mail it to her.