The shop where I teach is going to have a sale to make space for new fabrics. Among the products they are trying to move are all these animal panels – most of them are to make cushions and tablecloths. When asked what other use I could think of for these panels, I immediately thought shopping totes. I mean, I’m not the type to decorate my home with wildlife motifs, but certainly would entertain the notion of making a variety of these totes for my grocery shopping!
So, I brought a couple home to play around with over the weekend…
You’ve probably seen these panels, right? Two different motifs, one for each side, plus two strips to be used for additional decoration. I took those two strips and used them for the bottom of the bag – two layers, to make the bottom stronger, and easy boxed corners.
I sewed the entire bag with French seams for extra sturdiness, and used some cool straps for the handles. All in all, not bad for under twenty minutes of sewing time, wouldn’t you say?
I am a self-learner. I taught myself to sew and to quilt. And I taught myself how to draw. I am learning how to dye my own fabrics and am dabbling with mixed media. I am a quilt designer and teacher, and design and publish my own line of quilt patterns. With this blog I would like to share the bits and pieces of my life.
2 Comments
The right use for it!
Submitted by ipraragon on Mon, 06/01/2009 – 11:59. (Old blog)
WOW! I’ve bought several of these patterns last year, that remain in the bottom of my “sometimes I will do” projects box. Tigers are surely for my youngest daugther’s quilt, who loves them, but I’ve bought also horses and hen/rooster patterns. This is the right use for them! Are your bags quilted?
Irene.
Quilted or not quilted?
Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/03/2009 – 04:48. (Old blog)
I didn’t quilt this one because it is meant as a grocery bag, to be sewn up quickly. I used French seams for strength and doubled the strips that come with the panel for the bottom of the bag to make it sturdier. But you certainly could quilt it, if you like. Angie