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Teacups in the Garden

18th Century Virginia Musings

Sewing Tote Bags Galore from Pastels to Black and Blue
Sewing Vintage Flair

Sewing Tote Bags Galore from Pastels to Black and Blue

July 31, 2018

In July my fabric-stash-busting turned to a various assortment of tote bags!

Since I will be moving in the next year or two, I want to reduce my fabric stash, and the extra bags will help me to pack and store things.

Using various patterns, I created unique bags of my own design.

Since this beloved yellow fabric with florals of pink and blue was quite large, I had enough to cut out both a backpack and a tote bag.

BACKPACK

Floral Backpack

After I inserted grommets from my stash, I threaded ribbon from my massive fabric stash through the grommets.

Floral Backpack

It’s holding up rather well, but then I only use this lightly.

Even so, when the ribbon wears out, I have others I can use.

For the straps in the back, I used metal clips from a much loved back pack that was worn out.

YELLOW AND BLUE FLORAL TOTE BAG

The first was made with this lovely yellow and blue fabric from the stash.

Since I had trouble with the handles, I once again dug through my ribbon stash, where I found some blue taffeta ribbon.

2018-8-24 Totebag_Vintage Flair

GREEN AND WHITE TOILE TOTE BAG

The second tote bag I sewed was with this lovely toile from the stash, which has outer and inner pockets.

Green Toile Totebag
Green Toile Totebag

ZIPPERED YELLOW FLORAL TOTE BAG

Tote bag number 3 is my piece de resistance!

Using the same fabric as the back pack, yellow with florals of pink and blue, I sewed a zipper into this one, which also has an outer pocket on this side…

Yellow Floral Totebag with Zipper

Oh, here’s the bottom…

Yellow Floral Totebag with Zipper

Side pockets…yes, on each side!

Yellow Floral Totebag with Zipper

And the inside!

Yellow Floral Totebag with Zipper

The tote bags are many, but will coordinate well with various outfits when I’m out and about in a more leisurely manner than hiking.

DUFFEL BAGS

Inspiration to sew these tote bags came from my previous forays into sewing duffel bags.

My first tote bags were for my kids’ to use on vacation.

I sewed duffel bags for my kids

When my son attended college, he designed some that he asked me to sew for his laundry lugging.

Blue ticking laundry bags my son designed for me to sew for college

SMALL ZIPPER BAGS

Inspiration to sew the zipper in the totebag, came from a project from a few years ago when I sewed a few zipper bags, of which this black and white version was my favorite.

White on black paisley and polka dot zipper bag
White on black paisley and polka dot zipper bag

After sewing the backpack and totebags this month, I sewed a few more zipper bags.

2018-9-14 yellow blue floral_zipper bag
2018-9-21 red green floral_zipper bag

For more photos, check my Flickr set.

POT POURRI

  • Sewing a Breezy White Blouse in Embroidery of PinkWearing my new blouse and hat at Rosewell Plantation in Gloucester
    Date
    October 14, 2018
  • Sewing Colorful Duffel Bags for our Colorado Trip
    Date
    August 16, 2007
  • A Breezy Red and White Striped Dress for a Summery DayFeeling like Anne of Green Gables at the Purcellville train station on the W&OD Trail
    Date
    August 20, 2018

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A former homeschool mom who sees the world through the lens of 18th century Virginia…and discovers Lafayette everywhere she turns.

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