Totes Unique - Sunflower & Bee, A Sunshine Crossbody Bag

  

 Totes Unique - Sunflower & Bee, 

A Sunshine Cross Body Bag

 
Three needles (one a spectacular break), 4 different sewing feet, two x taking apart of machine to find out what the f*** was happening with the thread/stitching and 3 days later, it is done . . . phew!

(Three days? On top of everything else I've had Labrynthitis and it has been causing havoc so a lot more rest breaks than usual.)

 

I don't know what was going on, things started off well, I got the back done no problem at all but then things started going all to pot, I hit the zip on the front panel & broke the first needle, then the skipped stitching started & the thread was whipping up in big loops that caught under the needle causing the thread to break. I tried a walking foot, I tried a roller foot, I tried a teflon foot to see if they would make a difference . . . they didn't. In the end I decided to go and have a break from it and left it overnight all the while muttering under my breath, I thought the Fuffin' Puffin was bad . . . but this - sheesh!

The next day the covers & the gloves came off. I'd already had to take off the plates as thread had got jammed inside but this time the whole bobbin area was cleaned within an inch of its life and put back together. I changed needle again, went for a Microtex one this time and completely re-threaded the machine. Hooray, it worked, finished it!

So this is it, a Bagstock Designs (free) pattern "Sunshine Crossbody Pouch" which is the big sis to the "Sunshine Wristlet" I made last week. I've actually cut out another Wristlet in the Sunflower & Bees fabric when I cut the crossbody out and put it aside for when I feel up to it.

The exterior has main panels with Timeless Treasures "Sunflower & Bee Chalkboard" and side accents of Lime Green Cordura-type waterproof canvas interfaced with Decovil Light. Interior is a lime green cotton and the pockets are lined with Timeless Treasures "You Are My Sunshine - Bees".

The pattern indicates only one zipper tab on the main zip but if I make this again I will be using two as I think it makes for a neater finish. Not on the original pattern is the pair of card slots to the interior pocket that I thought may come in handy.

The hardware has a dark grey/black "Gun Metal" finish.

 

Exterior Zipped Pocket

Interior Zipped Pocket with 2 Card Slots

 

 

 

 

Totes Unique - Tartan Sunshine Wristlet

 

Totes Unique - Tartan Sunshine Wristlet

 

 Sunshine Wristlet Pattern by Bagstock Designs

 

I've seen many YouTube videos on making up the "Sunshine Wristlet" (free) pattern by Bagstock Designs so decided to give it a try.  I thought it would be useful to be able to have the tutorials on You Tube to refer to in case I needed reminder on putting it together.
 

I opted for a polyviscose "Grey Thomson" tartan fabric with black waxed side panels.

Instead of using foam interfacing on the outer panels I used Decovil Light and added a fusible fleece to the lining to give a light padded feeling and reduce the bulk on the seams..

 

  

Lined in 100% cotton fabric, using bright red helped give a "pop" of colour against the grey.

 

 

 Inside, there is a patch pocket as well as a zipped pocket.

 

The zipped pocket has a black lining.

 

Back

 

This bag can be made without "hardware" so as well as being a relatively simple pattern for a new bag maker to follow, there's no need to add to your stash to be able to make it.
As I didn't have any fancy pulls for my continuous zipper tape I opted to add a bee keyring with added tassels for decoration.

 

 

I will be going through my fabrics & making some more.  I also plan to give the larger crossbody version a try too.

 

Totes Unique - Walking the Dog

 

 

 

 

Walking the Dog - Dog Walking Bag

 

 

Waxed canvas dog walking bag with waterproof rip-stop nylon lining. 

Front patterned pocket, with grommit for dispensing disposal bags, is attached to main front pocket.  Main bag section has a further pocket.

The adjustable polypropylene webbing strap with side buckle fastenings allows the bag to be worn in a number of ways.

 

 Also available in black/multi 

 

 

Totes Unique - Cork Valet Tray

 

 

 

Cork Valet Tray

 

I'd seen a lot of cork being used as a faux leather in several online bag/purse/wallet making tutorials & decided to get some to try.

 

To see how it handled I decided to make a few simple Valet/Trinket trays, they came out rather well, in fact they were no sooner made than they had offers of new homes! In fact this lucky pair are now permanently on their hols . . . pity about the weather though!

Photo courtesy of Sandra

Can be customised with choice of snap colour(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totes Unique - Poppy Messenger

 

 

 

Poppy Messenger

 

During one of my YouTube-a-thons I came across the "Messenger" style of bag.  The messenger has a fold over top which, when you need more space, lifts up & can be carried either using the handles or the cross body strap.

I made this particular one for myself & it, and a matching face covering, goes with me whenever I go shopping.

The gorgeous John Louden's "Poppy" (Black) was used for the body & black waterproof canvas for the base.  I put in a letterbox zipped pocket at the front for my car keys (saves me rummaging provided darling son puts them back where he got them!). Inside is a further zip pocket and a side pocket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totes Unique - A Big Surprise

 

 

 A Big Surprise

I originally bought the Rose & Hubble Regal Lane Floral Berries Fabric to make some face coverings but when it arrived I really, really didn't like it so it was relegated to the back of the fabric cupboard.  Several weeks later, when I decided to try making a "proper" tote I ordered some Cordura waterproof canvas to make them with.  As it was a totes new experience for me I decided to do my usual staring at fabric before deciding to use some fabric I didn't like so that if it didn't work out there was nothing lost except some material.

I picked out some bright contrasting colours, from the florals in the pattern going for a lime green lining & cerise waterproof canvas base.  Considering how much I didn't like the florals when it arrived it came as a big surprise that by the time I'd finished it, I loved it!
 
Such was my surprise, I'm considering using the floral fabric for another tote.

Totes Unique - ReUsable Sandwich Bags

 

Reusable Sandwich bags

In an effort to be a bit more eco-friendly I decided to add re-usable sandwich bags to my bag making repetoire. 

I decided on a couple of designs: flip top and zip top.  Both types of bag have been French seamed and are lined with a food safe PUL.

I decided to use a waxed cotton for one version as I thought it should be ideal for packing a sandwich and/or nibbles into a pocket or rucksack when heading out on a hike.  I made these intended for use in the great outdoors, I thought that a flip top would be more durable than a zip for this version.  The red waxed cotton bag flip top was made with fabric from the Aldi EC-Aura "Summer Strawberry" FQs range.  It was insulated & quilted using Insul Bright Heat Insulating Fleece Wadding. The waxed cotton outer is spongeable & the inner washable.

The green waxed cotton, was a non-insulated version.  The flip top was made using a diamond patterned fabric I designed for making gizzit items for a South Atlantic Medal holders Facebook group & it is exclusive to them. 

The zip top version is in Rose & Hubble's   "Happy Adelie Penguins".  As it is 100% cotton & PUL it can be put through a normal cold wash cycle.  The flip top version can also be made with a cotton or polycotton outer.  I have some fabrics that would work great with this and be great for kids taking packed lunches to school.

 

Totes Unique - Fuffin' Puffins!

 

 Fuffin' Puffins!

I've slowly been getting into bag making, nothing spectacular, just a few totes & some smaller bags.  I spend my nights of insomnia watching YouTube tutorials & getting ideas from one to try with another, some work others don't.

Last February (2020) I had the brilliant idea to make my friend, who is partial to Puffins, a bag with some lovely Voyage Maison "Puffin" fabric I found.  It was a special birthday for her &, at that time, it was the most expensive fabric I'd bought.  It became known as the "Fuffin' Puffin" fabric, I was terrified to cut into it.  It took me nearly a year  to stop staring at it, find a design I really liked & pluck up the courage to dive in. It was finished in time for her next birthday & I'm pleased to say she was delighted with it. 

I teamed up the Puffin fabric with some black waxed cotton from Walker & Hawkes which is water resitant and will save the base of the bag from getting too scruffy.  The Puffin fabric was given a backing of Bosal "In-R-Form" for support & the lining colour was chosen to give a pop of colour which matched the colour of the puffin beaks.  Inside is a zippered dividing pocket with a small puffin patch pocket.  I opted for a chunky looking thick #5 resin toothed zip which was cut to size from tape & a slider added. The handles & cross body strap were made from cotton webbing.

 

Oh & as I'd taken so long, she managed to get more puffins for this year's birthday in the form of a "Fuffin' Puffin" cushion.

 

Next thing I know I'm roped into making another, larger, tote for another Puffin lover. I used the same fabrics but a  different bag design.  The outer was padded with Bosal foam and has a fleece padded, divided, pocket & inner zipped pocket. The bag is big enough to take a small laptop and pockets deep enough to take an Amazon Fire 8 Plus tablet.

 

Prior to making the first puffin bag I had a practice run for the dividing pocket technique using some other fabric.  This is was made in Lewis & Irene's "Small Things Country Creatures" "Otter" design.  The bag has a waterproof canvas (Cordura) base.