elliebelle: Another new tote

Remember this bag? That was my first Trace n Create Bag. This is my second. This time I used the City Bag (square shaped) template instead of the Town n Country (crescent shaped). I added a couple of inches in height to my tote to make it a little larger so it wasn't as "purse-like" looking. The belt across the front was also something I thought up when I saw how well that belt buckle matched my fabric! I used some of the Create a Strap to make the belt across the front as well as in the handles (the strapping item is one of my favorite things in the line. It works so well! You just cut out your fabric strips - fuse the strapping to the fabric - fold the edges down and sew trim to cover the raw edges...it is awesome - no tube turning!) I wanted mine to be more of an everyday tote - it works great for carrying my lunch to work! (Oh, one more thing about the products that go with it...the Shape n Create is a stabilizer for the bottom of the tote - and you can sew through it! It's great! It adds a little shape to the bottom of the tote without adding any weight.

I used an Anna Maria Horner print from her line Drawing Room line. This bag was SO easy to make. I hosted a "learn to sew the Trace n Create bags" sewing evening at work and 5 people showed up. It was actually a lot of fun. Some people had lots of sewing skills, some very little. But these templates are actually really easy to use even for a beginner. There are video demos on the links I gave you above if you are curious to see how they work. I think we will be doing a second night to allow the others to finish (I did a pretty simple design, and I've worked with the templates before so I finished mine in the one evening) But I know some of the others who couldn't make it this time want to get together again so they can make their very own designer purse! :) I love handbags/purses/totes - they are such a great expression of your personality. (or can be if you let them!)

Here is the lining I chose - an awesome Alexander Henry print!

I'm really pleased with this tote. I think the combo of fabrics is fun and the colors make me so happy! :) Maybe I'll make another one in the next class. Hmm...which fabrics next?

I hope everyone has a wonderful (and possibly crafty!) long weekend!