Totes!

I have been on a tote bag kick lately. They are such quick and satisfying projects.

The first one I want to share with you is the Noodlehead Super Tote. I'm sure you've all seen some one's version of it by now, it's so popular, but here is mine.

 Fabric: Art Gallery Coquette floral and Comma Slate Chalk Swing. Lining is Kona Eggplant.

Because I cannot leave well enough alone with a pattern, I made some minor changes:

• Instead of a layer of SF101 and 808 Craft Fuse, I did 2 layers of SF101 on all exterior pieces, and 1 layer on the exterior pocket. I also added a single layer of SF101 to the recessed zipper pieces and the top pieces of the interior to give it more stability. 
• I shortened the elastic interior pockets by 1" because they felt too floppy, though they still seem a bit floppy and I think dividing them into 3 pockets rather than 2 would help with that more. And I wish I had added in a hidden pocket.
• I love the recessed zipper closure, but it makes the opening a lot smaller than it could be. The bag is big enough you could put a laptop in it, but the opening is too small. You could do a separating zipper, or leave off the recessed zipper closure and do velcro or some sort of snap instead. 

I think the bag is really cute, and I really like the weight and feel of it with the SF101 layers rather than Craft Fuse. The lining feels to shifty to me, and I don't really like those elastic interior pockets like I thought I would. I had plans of using this as a zoo bag, putting drinks in the elastic interior pockets, but I'd probably just fine it annoying to carry, and it is far too big for a purse. 

I think it would be great for toting things to work, or even as a carryon bag for travel. 

Now onto less glamorous bags, but ones I love even more - probably because of their extreme simplicity. =)

First up a little library tote for my Katy. She is a major horse lover and asks us at least every other day if we can get a horse, and is always making plans for the huge farm she'll own when she is grown up so she can have a horse. So when I got my hands on some of Heather Ross's adorable fabric, I knew something needed to be made for Katy.
I used one of the large hardback picture books we were borrowing from the library as a size guide. To give the tote some structure, I pressed the edges to square up the tote, and stitched down the sides about 1/16" from the edge. I used canvas belting for the handles, though I which I had capped off the bottoms, they aren't very pretty.

Because I loved the library tote so much I decided to make myself a couple as well.

I made 2 totes using Anna Maria Horner's Ghost Wing linen from the Field Study line, again using belting as straps, though this time I sewed them to the inside. I made these exactly the same as the library tote, it's just a great size. I plan on using this as ecofriendly shopping bags, esp this week as I go Shop Hoping!
I love the single layer of heavy weight linen fabric for the totes, and that there is no need for a lining. I see a lot more simple totes in my future, esp because Bryn still needs one, we are just awaiting delivery of the fabric I selected for her.

One final quick share. A TARDIS quilt block from the Doctor Who Along I'm not doing the whole quilt-a-long, but couldn't resist this block. It's going to be part of something awesome to be shared at a later date. =)