It’s been 7 days since the end of the Studio Fabric Shop giveaway and we have a winner! It took us a few extra days to find someone who qualified, but I’m happy to announce that entry #2 has won!
Fran commented: “I really like the Mod Dot in Nude by Alexander Henry.” Congratulations to Fran… and great choice I like the polka dots too!
Here’s a reminder of the lovely fabrics available at Studio Fabric Shop (and what Fran has won).
Don’t be sad if you haven’t won… there’s another giveaway going on and it’s over tonight (Friday 13, 2013) at 5pm PST – so hurry and enter! You could win this cute Mini Tote bag made by me!
I have had the inclination to call this a “Tote-torial” all day, but it wouldn’t help anyone find it on Google – so I have resisted the urge. If you haven’t been introduced to this Mini Tote yet you can check the previous post for more information and enter win it! This tote is part of the 11th Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day. There are giveaways being hosted all over the world!
Since today is also Made by Me Monday – I’m posting a tutorial for this lovely fully-lined little tote! It is quick to stitch up and is a wonderful and easy-to-sew gift. I love that the trim embellishment on the front can make a plain tote into something much more fun!
Ready to make one?
You will need:
2 pieces of outer fabric – 14″x14″
2 pieces medium fusible interfacing – 14″x14″
2 pieces of lining fabric – 14″ wide by 13″ tall
2 pieces handle fabric – 3″ wide by 20″
2 pieces medium fusible interfacing – 3″ x 20″
15″ long piece(s) of sequin trim, or trim as desired
Optional: 1/4″ cording for the handles – 2 pieces 18″ long
your general sewing gear
Here we go!
Step 1:Interface the outer fabric and handles with your medium fusible interfacing by following the manufacturer’s directions.
Step 2: Make the handles. There are two options for the handles – with or without cording. I used a piece of cording to make my handles stiffer and so they had a rounder shape. They would look great (and be a lot faster!) without it as well. Follow whichever you’d like then continue on with Step 3.
Without cording: (a) Fold each handle in half lengthwise & press. (b) Unfold and fold each lengthwise edge to the middle (pressed) fold line. (c) Fold the whole handle in half again. (d) Top-stitch close to both handle edges. Set the handles aside.
With cording:(e) Fold each handle in half lengthwise & press. (f) Unfold and fold each lengthwise edge to the middle (pressed) fold line. (g) Fold the whole handle in half again. (h) Centre the cording lengthwise on the handle, it should be 1″ from either end. (i) Fold each handle over and push the cording toward the folded edge. Pin along the length of the handle. Top-stitch each handle on the open edge, making sure the two folded edges match up as you go. (You can use a zipper foot to make this easier) (j) Push the cording toward the newly-stitched edge (away from the folded edge), pin and top-stitch the second side of each handle. (k) Done! Set the handles aside.
Step 3: Cut & Sew the Outer and Lining Bottom Seam. (a) Cut out 2 1/4″ squares from the BOTTOM right and left corners of your 2 outer and 2 lining pieces. (Make sure to cut the lining correctly – it is 14″ across and 13″ high.)(b) Pin and stitch your trim on as desired. I used 2 1″ cream sequin stripes on either side of a 2″ tan stripe. (c) Line up the outer and lining pieces right sides together. Pin across the bottom of the outer pieces. Pin the lining as well, but leave a 3″ opening in the centre of the seam. Stitch across the bottom of the outer pieces with a 3/8″ seam allowance. Stitch across the lining with a 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving the 3″ gap open. (d) Press the outer seam open if desired. Press the lining seam back on itself along the opening area. This makes it easier to line up once it is turned as per this trick.
Step 4: Sew the Outer and Lining Corners and Side Seams. (a) Match the outer right sides together, pin and stitch the side seams with a 3/8″ seam allowance. (b) Match the lining right sides together, pin and stitch the side seams with a 1/2″ seam allowance. (c) Match up the bottom and side seams at each outer and lining corner, pin and stitch with a 3/8″ seam allowance for the outer and a 1/2″ seam allowance for the lining. (d) Turn the outer right side out.
Step 5: Stitch the Top of the Bag and Attach the Handles. (a) Place the outer inside the lining with right sides together. (b) Mark each side of the lining (front and back) at 3 1/2″ from the edge. (c) Pin the handles (1 handle per side) where the marks are. Use 2 pins each to make sure they will be sewn on straight. (d) Pin the lining and outer together, matching side seams. Stitch with a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Step 6: Finishing Up! (a) Turn the bag right side out through the hole in the lining. (b) Line up the edges of the opening in the lining. Pin and stitch close to the edge or hand-stitch closed. (c) Push the lining into the outer and down into the bottom of the bag. Make sure the outer folds 1/2″ down into the inner bag. Measure and pin around the top of the bag. (d) Stitch around the top of the bag 1/8″ away from the top edge of the lining. I chose not to stitch over the trim – so I began and ended the stitching on either side of it.
All done! Take some fun photos and post them with the hashtag #alongforthreadride!I’d love to hear your thoughts on the tutorial and how your tote turned out.
Happy Monday to You! Today marks the beginning of the 11th Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day and I’m excited to be participating this year. I took some time over the weekend to make up a cute mini tote bag! It’s handmade by me and I would love to keep it… but I love giveaways and appreciate my readers even more (Thank You!) so I’m giving it away! And… even if you don’t win, you can make one too because I will be posting the tutorial for it later on today for Made By Me Monday. *Update: The Mini Tote tutorial is here.
About the prize: (Just picture a lovely lady’s voice from the Shopping Channel…) This lovely mini tote is made using camel-toned fabric with a chocolate velour floral print. It has a stunning sequined stripe on the front and gold corded dupioni silk handles. The lining is made from Rashida Coleman-Hale’s Koi fabric line – Pennants Waving in the Ivory colour-way. It is 9″ wide, 10.5″ tall and 4″ deep. The handle drop (from top of handle to the bag) is 8″. This bag is perfect for that quick trip to the grocery store or fancy enough to dress up a visit to the mall with a friend. Holding all of your necessities and more, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it!
Okay, I am half kidding, but it got the information across and hopefully made you smile. (yes?!)
Here are the details: This giveaway is open internationally (hooray!), and will close at 5pm PST (8pm EST) on Friday, December 13th. The winner will be chosen randomly and I will be posting their name by Dec 15th and shipping the tote bag to the lucky recipient by December 20th.
Here’s how you win:
Comment on this post and let me know what your favorite holiday memory is. That’s all there is to it!
Thanks for entering. If you are interested in more handmade giveaways you can visit Sew Mama Sew for the other giveaways being held this week. If this is your first time visiting – Welcome, thanks for dropping by! If you like what you see you can get more Thread Riding Hood by following on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Bloglovin’, Feedly or by RSS feed. If you like to sew, be sure to come back to check out the free tote bag tutorial! *Update: The Mini Tote tutorial is here.
I’ve decided to introduce a new feature – a survey (almost) every Saturday. I don’t know about you, but I love statistics, and I have things I would love to know about all of you! Namely – what do you think of a survey every Saturday?! Good idea, boring idea, kinda-good but needs work? Let’s see if this thing flies. We’ll try it for a few weeks and keep it if you like it. Just click to answer the survey – then you can check out the votes and see what everyone else thinks! Community at it’s best. And be sure to let me know if you have a Survey Question you’d love to know the answer to.
Each poll will be open from Saturday to the following Friday. The next day (Saturday again, go figure!) I will include the results and comments regarding the topic and a new question for the upcoming week. Please feel free to comment if you want to explain your vote – or provide knowledge from your experiences with the topic.
Ready, Set… Go! (You can do it – it only takes 2 clicks. One to vote and one to check the tally!)
Just a quick reminder that the Studio Fabric Shop giveaway and discount code end Friday night (Dec. 6th)!
Devorah has made an amazing giveaway bundle from Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner, Heather Bailey and Liberty fabrics! Wouldn’t it be fun to get these 10 fat quarters in your mailbox as a surprise Christmas gift?! Make sure you enter the contest on this post using the Rafflecopter widget. Aren’t they pretty? And, just in case you don’t win – be sure to use the discount code “taketen” to save 10% on any fabric you might want to buy (discount ends Dec 6th too). Happy stashing!
