Friday, August 28, 2020

Fabric Buying Totes....Sew Your Bag Ladies


 I haven't been not sewing...but I have been neglecting this blog....  So, today the accomplishment in the tote lines will be two fabric buying totes.   The tweed fabric is actually a neoprene backed with tweed.  So I am quilting cute little ladies on the fronts of these two totes... I am freemotion quilting them with some little plastic forms I got-testing testing... and these are lite heatnbond applied and then overcast stitched around the ladies.  The fronts and backs will have this really cool vinyl from G    https://gstreetfabrics.com/

1.  heat and bond lite the ladies to the tweed fabric
2.  Overcast around the appliqued ladies
3.  Free motion quilt the ladies onto the tweed fabric
4.  cut through the top of the ladies applique so you can apply the trim at the top of the pocket.  I just used the leftover vinyl lining pieces.


  




Front pocket on this is for your quick grab items..



Added D Rings and a shoulder strap 

Note:  The handles are made of the same vinyl as the outside and Just top stitched after folding in so it has 4 layers for strength.  The Top-stitching stops where you want to attach to your tote bag and just open and fold bottom edge under so it can be topstitched in a square to your totebag.  -The lining is a smoother lighter weight vinyl.

I use number 16 or 18 sharp universal needles to sew through all the layers without bending the needle in my machine.



And a past tote Hamper.... Great for going to the laundry mat.... I can throw the things into the washer and do double rinse... throw them into my bag and go to the dryers and dump them in the dryer... and it has a shoulder strap..  so sooooo convenient..




sew the clear plastic onto the fabric to make it all together   (my design fabric)


Cut two vinyl circles the size you want your cylinder laundry hamper bag... One for the inside and one for the outside... 


Make a strap the length to be comfortable over your shoulder... But you can make it longer because it will be adjustable with your D rings




Take your vinyl and add enough for a seam of some kind and wrap around your circle that is your bottom to get the correct size...-use this to measure your clear plastic over fabric piece that is the outside of the hamper...  then for the lining sew a tube 
Attach the tube to the bottom circle



Looking inside the lining it will look like this



For the outside sew the tube of clear plastic covered fabric in a tube and sew it to the other circle, turn it so the beautiful side is outside and put the vinyl lining inside




lay the two on top of each other before putting the lining inside the outside to be sure they are the same size


You can put a lid on it if you want ... but I chose just the shoulder strap.



Put one inside the other... and I then took the lining and the top edge and folded it over the top like I do quilt binding... and top stitched...



I made small tabs like the strapping and put them through two D rings on each side and then slipped the strap through them


I REALLY love this tote and I needed a hamper.  Now since I am going to the laundromat it is perfect.  Now I can fill 3 totes to the laundromat at once.. The vinyl linings are great.



This one has tote handles, but I also added the adjustable shoulder strap.  Since it is all vinyl inside and clear plastic on outside it is great at Laundry or grocery.  Wipe clean.  

I added a vinyl bottom on this one so, it would be more durable.  It wasn't easy but I love this tote and I was wearing out the bottom because it was just the clear plastic..... sooooo   

The Reverse side is pretty too.   The vinyl and clear plastic came from G https://gstreetfabrics.com/  but the fabric you are seeing is really 4 placemats for 5.00 at the craft store.


Can Never Have too many totes.

Gotta get groceries and fabrics...

VERY IMPORTANT



Friday, June 5, 2020

Sewing A Tote Simply


This is a tote with matching gloves

The tote itself is simple, the case of this one I added clear plastic on top of the fabric and top stitched  around the edge and added the vinyl on the bottom edge so it worked like one big piece of fabric.

Vinyl bottom, clear plastic over fabric outside, vinyl handles and trim, plus vinyl inside.
  1.  pick fabric


2. cut the fabric and the clear plastic the same size... 

If you are making mask and gloves to match you can cut all out at the same time... sew you have cut  pin sewing stages for all three... and when you are finished...all three are finished.

3.

4. pick your vinyl too, so you have all your supplies laid out.  And make your gloves pattern.  I use gloves for the door handles, cart handles, Post office buttons and kiosk screens.They are washable like the masks.


decide which mask you want to match...Olson or drawstring, both have filter pockets

You can add string to the Olson Mask by making a string casing next to the elastic.  I call them hanger casings.

Drawstring Mask

6.  Cut all pieces.

Gloves and mask if you want them
the front and back fabric for the tote, the size that you want- and the clear plastic the same size as the printed fabric.
Pin the clear plastic on top of the printed fabric and sew all around the edge to keep in place and sew as if one piece of material, while making the bag.
From now on I am using the vinyl for the outside bottom to make the bags more durable as the clear plastic after a few years will crack at the crease on the bottom and I love my bags.
For the outside you need a piece of vinyl for the bottom and cut a piece for the top trim of the bag and 2 pieces for handle straps whatever size you want.   Another longer piece if you want to make a shoulder strap and for that you need two foldover tabs (rectangles) to hold the  4D rings on (2 Ds for each side).

You have folded your rectangular piece together wrong side out and sewn the side seams straight down
You have to sew across the bottom ends to create a squared bottom
Do this on both sides of ends and it will look like this

You can either cut a piece of vinyl the exact size of your original rectangle for the inside.

OR
Scraps sewn to the same size as outside rectangle
After sewing your vinyl scraps or just using vinyl you sew the same way as the outside and lay them side by side to make sure they are the same size.. the inside can be a smidgeon smaller but the edges after align at the top when you put them together


Turn the lining vinyl wrong side out and insert into the clear plastic bag with the vinyl bottom
Lining is bottom different then sides scrap vinyl

You cut a piece that is the width you need to cover the top-turn in for finished edge and then sew the ends together.. 
1.  Fold it over the top by stitching on the inside over the topstitching and then 

2.  foldover pin and stitch on top of the topstitching on the outside to give you this effect

pin straps folded in for strength and top stitch leaving the bottom open for flat attachement.

The length is determined by how wide you want the handle attachment.   If you are going to hold with your hand or want to put your arm through the handle.

Top stitch close to the edge of the strapping.  Fold under the edges of the open bottom and top stitch like you did the top band of the bag.  Then again you can use your topstitching as a guid for the attachment to the bag and just stitch over the top stitching.

Lay top stitched rectangle ends over the bag top and pin - then topstitch onto bag.
You can leave the ends of the rectangle open and you can use it as a pen holder and or business cards
OR
Using Poly or cotton straping you can do the support straping around the whole bag.  I am just two cheap to do all my bags that way, but you can see that style



with D rings

You can also choose to add a shoulder strap with two D rings on each side that can be adjusted and or removed.  Then you would need a piece the length of your should strap and two tab pieces to fold over the D rings to attach them to your bag sides at top.


Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Tote with a Matching Quillow

This Tote came first:

1.  Inside and trim and Handle is Vinyl

2.  Fabric on the outside is printed canvas which I printed on Spoonflower...my design and chose fabric to print it on


3.  Outside of the canvas fabric I covered with clear plastic


4.  Printed the same design on minky and made a quilt and put a pocket on the bottom to fold the quilt into-(Quillow)



5. Front and back is the same print on minky and inside is one layer of flat batting.

6.  This quillow I attached the pocket on the bottom center, whereas sometimes I put it on top of the bottom of the quillow. 

7.  Matching Lumbar and square toss in tote made with print on Velvet.  ALL Beautiful and washable!

Today I am working on a matching clothes hamper.



Wednesday, January 22, 2020

A Wild Tote-Backpack-Duffle Combo

From G Street Fabrics Home Decorating Department

www.gstreetfabrics.com    Just email customer service for these items or anything you see in the online store

The Animal Squares only-You Sew


Two loops on each side to strap as you want


Top Zipper Closure and inside loop for travel waist bag out of neoprene removeable

How wide straps can be versatile using parachute clips


Thursday, August 29, 2019

Beach Tote 2

Simple Tote Design, with netting pocket in corner and lined with vinyl pulled over to create trim and an extra piece of lining used to make the handle.  The starfish are Upholstery fabric covered with clear plastic Vinyl.

Everyone needs face totes to put there Face things in

There were three but one had to go with someone to the beach..haha

Vinyl on the outside and in... Straps from lining

Inside Vinyl and then Extra Became the straps


Sunday, August 11, 2019

Beach Tote

This is 4 placemats...2 on each side sewn together for the fabric and covered with our clear plastic by the yard... then sewn to shape the tote.... lining is vinyl and used the same vinyl for the handles... handle grips and then 2 D rings on each side and an adjustable strap to go through the Ds

The first of a set of 6 for luggage for beach trip
Swimsuits/Capris-tanks and Jackets/ Dresswear for Boardwalk and Dancing/Pants and Tanks/ Shorts and tops

www.sewtotes.com

Sew Many Ways to make a Tote

  This is my favorite tote for daily use.  I carry my necessities in it. It is vinyl lined so I can wipe it out.  I use it to stop and pick ...