One Tote Done

I spent pretty much the entire day cutting and sewing a tote. I’m using this pattern: 

I have had the pattern almost a year, and I’m just now getting around to making it. The pattern has three sizes, and I made the large one. I was hoping using Bosal foam as the filler would give it enough body to stand up, even in the large size. Did it work? I think it worked well enough. I’m not unhappy with it. 

I also filled the handles with strips of the foam, so they will be comfortable to carry. The handles weren’t hard to make, but they took a little more time than I would have liked. I am going to try and think of some kind of alternative. Suggestions, as always, are welcome.

Putting the bias binding around the edges of the bag was a little fiddly, but I used my large sewing machine with the dual feed foot engaged and was able to get through it. 

My friend Janice sent me a picture of the one she just finished. I like the Texas fabric theme, which made me want to make more. LOL. 

I enlarged the picture a little bit to see her handles, and I see she did hers differently. She is also sewing her binding down by hand which is no doubt a neater finish, but I’m not willing to hand sew anything I can do by machine. 

I have two more prequilted pieces which I want to cut out and sew hopefully this week, and then I will think about a Texas A&M one and I think I have some of the Texas fabric somewhere. I plan to donate these to sell at our church festival and also at our quilt guild open house, so a good number would be six. We’ll see how much time I have.

Speaking of the church festival, Betty and I got together for a few hours today and made pillowcases to sell. We had both pre-cut some, and thanks mostly to her, they are all done now. I’ll get pictures later if I remember. I also cut some more scraps into potato chips. 

Every little bit adds up! Maybe tonight I can find time to work on potato chip blocks. I hope so. Becky and I are going to a barbecue this evening in Dacosta. Becky is our  Luther Fest chairman, and I’m in charge of the silent auction, so we are going to see what their setup looks like. Or as Becky said, we are going to do some reconnaissance. LOL.