Wednesday, August 14, 2013

A Tinker Tote

Sometime last week, I caught a glimpse of Red Pepper Quilts' Tinker Tote, and I was in awe! I loved the pattern and of course, Rita's technique, so when I heard she made it through a Craftsy class, I went to check it out.

After over a week away from the studio, it was invigorating starting on a brand new project. The class is officially called Tinker Tote: Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags and is taught by Tara Rebman, who is an excellent teacher! I was so impressed with not only how I was led step by step through the making of the bag, but also given tips and techniques that I didn't need this time but will certainly use at a later date.
One of the major techniques was quilt-as-you-go, which I had done before on my Weekender, but Tara shared tips that really helped the process go smoother this time around.
There were two pocket options, and I decided to do both, since it had been quite a while since I'd done either technique, the simple divided pocket, and the zippered pocket. I will feel much more comfortable next time I want to put a pocket in a bag!
The fabrics I used were mostly a gift from my mom for my birthday - Alison Glass' "Lucky Penny" focus fabric + a lovely stack of yellow and cerise fat-quarters. I added a few gray bits from my stash along with a single lime print, just for accents. The lining is "Metro Rings" in gray, one of my very favorite fabrics and one of the few I had enough of in my stash. I actually really like how it coordinates yet contracts with the patchwork.
But the Lucky Penny print really was the inspiration for the bag, and I fussy cut it to center the motifs on the bag bottom and flap (which has a metal snap, don't you know).
Can you see that there is some fmq opposite the handles on the bag? Tara encouraged us to do that, so I tried a different design in each fabric in that area, though the majority of the bag is straight-line quilted, which gives it great texture. This is a big bag - about 20" wide and 18" tall including the handles. And it is sturdy - mine being a little less slouchy than intended, as I mistakenly used Pellon Peltex for the bottom instead of the intended Decor-Bond. In the finished bag, it's no problem, though it did made boxing the corners a bit of a chore. For piecing and quilting both, I used Aurifil 50wt Medium Gray #2605, which was dark enough to provide the contrast I wanted everywhere I stitched. 

In the end, I used some fabric I'd been saving for something special, took a class that I thoroughly enjoyed, have a few new techniques in my sewing toolkit, and feel back in the groove in the studio. It's all good.

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.

38 comments:

  1. You made a stunning bag - I saw Rita's post too and have been interested in taking the class. I would love to learn QAYG.

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  2. It's great Debbie! The combo of fabrics is really fun, and I like the style of this bag.

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  3. Gorgeous! I was looking at this pattern just this morning. You may have supplied the extra inspiration for me!

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  4. Oh my, you fabric Choice for this gorgeous Bad is exzcellent, love it!

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  5. looks fantastic, Debbie. Seeing all those gorgeous Tinker Totes popping up makes me want to make one, too.

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  6. Love it! I really like QAYG technique too.

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  7. That's really pretty Debbie!

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  8. What a wonderful bag! I love the mixture of fabrics and how you put it together :)

    Cindy

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  9. It's better than 'good'! It's great Debbie. I love your new bag!

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  10. LOVE this! I've signed up for this class too and just made a pillow with this technique. So fun :-)

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  11. Really love the fabric you have used for this bag - it looks fabulous!

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  12. Your bag is beautiful, as are your fabric choices. I keep looking at this pattern too.

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  13. You better padlock that bag to your wrist because I'm thinking that lots ladies are going to want it for themselves!! It's wonderful!

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  14. I have been admiring these as they have popped up (like mushrooms!) all over the internet the past couple of weeks. Yours is gorgeous! Any chance we could convince you to take a photo of you holding it? I'm trying to get a sense of how big it is relative to the person carrying it - my girls and I are all really tall, so a bigger bag is appealing...I'll be watching!

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  15. Uh... this is a great tote. Now on my must-do-list :) I think your quilting is great.

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  16. Love this bag! I've seen them in blogland and I do have the class lined up as well. Just need to get to it. I hadn't realized the bag was so big. Your fabric selection is wonderful and I like the idea of a firmer bottom.

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  17. This bag is awesome. I love it and your fabric selection is fabulous.Thanks for sharing

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  18. Beautiful!!!!! I love your fabric choices.

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  19. You have completely inspired me to make one of these! Your bag looks fabulous!

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  20. You did an awesome job! How cute! It looks so good with the Lucky Penny. Can I just say there is NOT ENOUGH TIME to do all of the cute projects out there in the blogosphere?

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  21. Your bag is beautiful! Great fabrics!

    Susie

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  22. This is gorgeous Debbie. Enjoy your week end!

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  23. Love the colors & the over design of the bag. Lately I have been into making more bags & can't "seam" to get enough from all the possible designs. Good job

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  24. wonderful bag, Debbie! Your choice of fabrics is fantastic!

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  25. Gorgeous bag! You are going to get lots of compliments on this one!

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  26. Just a gorgeous bag Debbie! Love your fabric picks and that FMQ in the upper right near the handle one of the first things I noticed - love it!
    Its all good :)

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  27. Your bag is lovely - great colour combinations - I bet yo'll be the envy of all your local quilting friends now! I must admit I'm tempted to make one - so many bags and so little time, sigh!

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  28. Congrats .....love the bag and colour choice. I have enrolled in this class too! So gorgeous.
    Thanks for sharing. Stopping by from Quilt Story. Marie (mlismore@optusnet.com.au)

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  29. Love the bag and the colors you chose. What is the finished size?

    @pril
    KoolBeenz Blog

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  30. Had to come see yours for inspiration, and I'm glad I did! Gosh aren't they the cutest darned bags? Such fun! You did a fantastic job on yours - not surprising. I suspect I'll make one goofy, imperfect one and then do another one properly ;)
    -Letty

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