Another 241 Tote Bag with hexagons

I signed up for another one of Lia's Handmades Secret Tote Bag Swaps. This time everyone is making the Noodlehead 241 Tote. It is a great pattern that is fast, fun and easy to make! My partner wrote in her profile that she loves hexagons but has never made a hexagon quilt! I decided to make her a bag that is embellished with hexagons. I started with a dark taupe fabric that has a linen look about it; I rough cut it larger than the pattern piece, layered it on t80/20 batting and quilted with free form quilting.

Side A

Side B

My next step was to trace the  pattern on the front of my quilted panels so that I could accurately place my hexagons. They were hand appliqued in place. Once the applique was completed I trimmed the panel to the correct size. I did it this way because the dense quilting may have reduced the size of the panel so the bag wouldn't go together properly. Also I wanted to minimize fraying from handling whilst doing the applique.

And here's the finished bag. I lined it with a happy lime green and added a pocket that was fussy cut from a Kaffe print.

The bag has a magnetic closure.

These are the goodies I tucked inside. In the centre is a little zippered pouch and then from the top working clockwise are yellow bee note cards, a little olive green silk notebook, 100 1" hexagon papers, a Prym Needle Twister, a scissor fob/pincushion, Schmetz topstich needles and a hardcover needle book made from the lining fabric.

I made the pouch from a pattern I found here. The hardcover needle books make terrific gifts even for friends who don't sew because they still need a place to store needles and pins. The pattern can be found here. The scissor fob/pincushion is my own design and you can  read my tutorial so you can make your own!

My partner has now received her bag and she is very happy with everything! There's a knock at the door - I wonder who it is? Go grab yourself a cuppa - I'll be right back!

It was the letter carrier with a package. What was inside you ask? A gorgeous tote bag from my secret partner, CeLynn in Colorado. She was worried that she didn't get the colours right but she sure did! But first look at all the lovely goodies she tucked inside the bag! There was a quilt pattern, pincushion, purse frame, buttons, zippered pouch, tissue holder, stabilizer and an lovely little fabric pine cone ornament. Who's a lucky swapper? Me of course. But the best part is yet to come... the bag is STUNNING!

These are pictures taken by CeLynn. I had to share this one because I love seeing the grey guy lurking in the background. Now tell me, isn't this bag fabulous? I think it is perfect for the Autumn!

She added a zipper on the left, beaded the front panel and side pockets, added grommets with batik inserts at the bottom and the strap is a hemp like fabric with grommets. Lots of attention to detail!

Here's a close-up of the bead work and zipper.

Look at the grommets with the batik inserts! Love them!

I'm off tomorrow to prepare the instructions for Block 11 of my Value Proposition Hexagon Quilt Along. I'll have the instructions available for you early Friday morning. We are going to try something new with this block and I hope you'll find it fun and maybe use the idea for other quilts!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

Rip it out and Round 5 of the Secret Tote Bag Swap

I've finished quilting the centre of Bab's Yellow Bird quilt. Kathy had left a comment that the quilt looked like it is yellow and blue but in fact it is yellow with black and white. In some pictures it reads pale yellow but it is in fact a lovely, bright, zingy lemon-yellow. It is very dramatic and really pretty! I quilted a wreath in the centre and filled it with doodling. It flattens the area and adds great texture. I filled in the rest of the quilt (up to the black border) with feathers. All I would do is sketch a spine and quilt a feather to fill the space. Then I would draw another spine and quilt the feather. I really like the effect it created and it was so fast and easy.

I'm not sure what I'll do in the black border but it is ditch quilted so it can wait. Instead I moved on to the large yellow outer border. I wanted to quilt feathers. I quilted the feather that you see on the left and wasn't jazzed about it. To my eye is too large and boring so I tried something different and you can see it on the right. Much better! So I spent the evening ripping out the quilting on the right.

This is what the border will look like with the new quilting plan. I started by sketching a question mark in the middle of the border and quilted it. From there I divided either side of the question mark into three sections and in each I sketched a spine for a "C" shaped feather. I like the effect of this new design much better.

As heartbreaking as it can be, sometimes it is better to just rip it out!

Many of you will know that I've participated in Lia's Secret Tote Bag Swaps in the past. She has launched Round 5 and the theme is the Noodlehead 241 Tote. Everyone will work with the same pattern so it will be really interesting to see variations! If you decide to sign up you will complete a form with your likes and dislikes. Once the sign-up is closed you will receive an email with your partner details. You won't know who gets your name and your partner won't know you have her name. You have roughly a month to make your bag. Usually we tuck little goodies inside the bag!

 I've made several bags from the 241 pattern. It is fast, easy and very well illustrated. Here are some pictures of what I've made. This one was appliqued with butterflies and a grasshopper. I added beaded zipper pulls to jazz it up!

I made this one as a gift. The recipient wanted a bag that she could use to carry her knitting. I used upholstery fabric for the front and back panel. She loved the large graphic print!

The theme for this swap was geometric shapes so I appliqued some bright colours to Osnaburg that I quilted with straight lines.

I made this for my partner in a previous swap. I forget the theme but I loved the bag and my partner said she did too!

And this the tote bag that I received in the last swap! My partner tucked all sorts of wonderful goodies inside! I told her I like the 241 pattern so she got it and tried it out herself! It is a great bag and oh so summery!

To sign up for the swap you must be a FLICKR user. You will find the instructions for signing up here. If you are interested you have until July 19th.

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

A new hexagon tote bag

I participated in Lia's Handmades latest Secret Tote Bag Swap. This is the fourth swap she has organized and today I received a bag from my partner Louise. Boy what a lovely surprise I had! Louise made me a Noodlehead 241 Tote! I've made several of these bags for others but I've never made one for myself - now I won't need to make one!

The front and back of the bag are identical. Louise combined Osnaburg with Kaffe prints - so bright and summery! The circles are needle turned and the hexagon is hand quilted. So much work and attention to detail! I just love my new bag!

The bag is lined with a cheery yellow print and there is a pocket which was fussy cut from one of the prints and bound with a lovely blue. You can see there is a clasp for keys that is attached to the pocket. Smart!

But wait, there's more! Louise sent me all the leftover fabrics. She also made me a little pouch from a Michelle Pattern. It is adorable. She also made a little needle keep.

The zipper is set in the pouch beautifully! The little needle keep has a magnetic closure and when you open it up it looks like a flower made of four hearts! I think that this will be a great place to store my sewing machine needles that have been gently used!

But wait, there's even more! When I opened up the pouch there were treats inside!

Louise sent me a package of candy squares and a thimble template. I've had a thimble quilt on my to make list so this might just be the push I need to get started! Ingrid at Supergoof Quilts made a thimble quilt all in reds and I adore it! You can see it here.

Thank you Louise for the lovely bag and wonderful gifts that were tucked inside! You spoiled me rotten (and I liked it)!

Lia will be organizing another tote bag swap and I'll post details when registration opens in case you are interested in participating!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H