Travel On...With Quilted Tote Bags and More

It's that time again to plan your summer travels and if you are thinking of stitching up a travel bag or two, you'll find several perfect patterns in my pattern store at www.crafsty.com. One of my travel bag patterns is selling up a storm right now. My Quilted Travel Tote is a wonderful bag tote with lots of room and plenty of pockets and is a wonderful carry-on bag and it's my topseller right now. It's designed so you can use it as an open-top tote, too. When you unzip, the zipper panel drops down inside. One of the outside pockets also has hidden zipper for security and there's an inside zipped pocket too! Directions are included for quilting your own fabric so you can make this bag reflect your own taste rather than settling for what's available in quilted double-sided fabric.

The Terrific Travel Tote

For a similarly styled travel tote made from unquilted fabric, check out The Terrific Travel Tote. It's really lightweight when sewn in outdoor fabric, or super stylish in tapestry or a decorator print like the one shown on the pattern cover. It has the same pockets and zip-top as the Quilted Travel Tote, making it a lighter version of the quilted one. Great to fold flat and pack in your baggage and then to tote all your goodies home from your trip.

It's Beach Time!

Travel to the beach in style and comfort with my Sew 'n' Go BeachMat Tote & Pillow. Unzip it at the sides and out it folds to a quilted mat. There's a matching pillow that fits inside the zipped tote for your comfort, whether you're lounging in the sand or poolside at your hotel. And there's plenty of room for other beachside accouterments. An outside pocket is perfect for small items!

Get Organized!

Use the three small bags in my latest pattern to pack and organize small items in your carry-on or your sewing tools for sewing and quilting classes. The Iron Caddy opens to reveal an insulated pressing mat that's the perfect size to keep by your sewing machine for quick pressing jobs with your mini iron or tacking iron.

Carry Me Tote with Handles

Ditty Bag

Iron Caddy /Pressing Mat

Pressing Mat with Mini-Iron

 

Happy Summer Sewing...

And remember that almost any tote bag you make can double as a travel companion. Check out my other tote bag designs and my quilt and other patterns in my Craftsy pattern store at:http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store

Have fun sewing for your travel time and keep on sewing and smiling!

Until next time,

Barbara

Sew Pretty Sew Easy Tote Bag--Great for Gifting

Sew Pretty Sew Easy Quilted Tote Bag

I wanted to design something pretty and practical and this little tote bag was the result. It's a great "scrap buster" project--each of the four fabrics required for the piecing and the lining require 1/2 yard or less. Add a bit of lace--three yards will be more than enough--and some polyester fleece and you have a finished bag in no time. It has simple square corners and two side seams that are bound for a neat finish inside and out. A hanging pocket inside is the perfect place for your phone, a pencil or other small items to keep close at hand.

The sewing is fast and easy. Polyester fleece between the two fabric layers adds just the right amount of body and requires only minimal quilting. I did a simple grid of squares in the center panel only, plus the stitching that holds the trim bands in place adds straight lines to anchor the pieced panel to the fleece and the lining. All pieces are cut across the width of the fabric so there is no bottom seam. It really couldn't get any easier to make it.

Sized at 15" tall and 13-1/2" wide, the tote is the perfect bag for book club meetings, quick errands--or even to hold a small knitting project. With Christmas coming, this is the perfect for anyone on your list who loves bags. You can make several in one sitting--and you might just have the makings for all of them in your fabric stash. I made mine in just a few hours, once I had the design finalized. While I love floral prints and lace, other fabrics will work too. Go bold with a bright modern print and eliminate the lace for an entirely different look.

Like all of my patterns, you'll find this one in my Craftsy pattern store at: http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store

I'm headed back to the machine to whip up some Christmas-themed mug rugs. I had such fun making the ones for Halloween, that I just had to get back to designing them. I'm getting pretty good at designing appliques in Electric Quilt--I don't do well with pen and paper, but EQ has made an "artist" out of me! Read my previous posts to see my "ghoulishly easy" Halloween mug rugs.

Hope you're having fun getting ready for Christmas--my favorite Holiday. I'm ready to start sewing gifts--after I finish a set of mug rugs!

Have fun sewing, quilting, and crafting.
Until next time,
Keep on sewing and smiling!
Barbara

Mug Rugs...I'm Not Done Yet!

My sewing room is a mess, my sewing machine needs to go to the Dr. (the bobbin won't come out--maybe it's just too tired!), and I need to start a new tote bag pattern. I'm tidying up today, but there are more mug rug designs on the drawing board for sure!  I made two more this weekend and posted them to my http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store. And now I'm cleaning up the studio so I can begin another sewing "mess."

The Witch's Best Bonnet Mug Rug

First, I thought my first witch-themed mug rug needed a companion so here's her hat: The Witch's Best Bonnet. As you can see, the ribbon on her hat coordinates with the skirt in the companion, The Witch's Ruby Red Slippers. I think she needs a black cat (designed, but not stitched yet), and maybe a broom or a cauldron (yet to be designed).

The Witch's Ruby Red Slippers

"Owl" Always Love You!

I also made "Owl Always Love You!. He's a sweet little owl who wears his heart on his chest for all to see. Don't know why he looks so sad--maybe his sweetie left him? Change his eyes and his "look" will change, too

He's made in fall colors, but could be done in a multitude of color schemes.

I hope you will check out all my other mug rug patterns at http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store
as well as my totes, accessories, and quilts.



Until next time,
Keep on sewing and quilting and crafting!
Barbara

On the Leader Board at Craftsy

Hearts Entwined

I've been selling my patterns at www.craftsy.com for over a year now, and it thrills me no end when I go to their site and find one of my patterns on their Top Twenty Leader Board. When my pattern store on the Craftsy site first opened, two of my patterns appeared on the Leader Board day after day after day for months. The exposure to my patterns has been fabulous. The first to make it there was my Hearts Entwined Quilt Pattern and it still pops up on the board with some frequency. It combines traditional piecing with paper piecing for perfect diamond points. Several who have purchased the pattern said they made it as a wedding gift.

                                                                                   

 

Best-Seller

In quick succession, my best-selling tote pattern, The Quilted Carryall climbed to the top of the board. A year later, it still shows up on the board almost every week and has held the #1 spot many times. This week was no exception! I've been hearing from sewers and quilters who have made the Quilted Carryall, and have received photos of their completed bags, too. In a previous post, I shared photos of the totes Joan Wium of South Africa made from the pattern for a contest sponsored by Hatched in Africa. Her embroidered tote took the prize in her category and deserves sharing again. Mary Mc of Whidbey Island also shared photos of her Quilted Carryall. Kudos to both of them for making such beautiful bags. Their workmanship is impeccable, too!                                                                

Winning Totes by Joan Wium of South Africa

Quilted Carryall by Mary Mc of Whidbey Island

If you have used any of my tote (or quilt) patterns, please send jpgs so I can share them with readers. It's always fun to see your fabric choices and embellishments! Your comments and questions about my patterns are always welcome, too.

You can see all of my tote and quilt patterns in my pattern store on Craftsy:
http://www.craftsy.com/user/153303/pattern-store

Seeing my patterns on the Leader Board at Craftsy is always exciting, but even more wonderful are the quilters and sewers from all over the world who have honored me by purchasing them. It's a great vote of confidence! Thank you to every one!

Until next time...

Keep on sewing and smiling,

Barbara