Zakka Along 2.0 :: Week 18

Reading through your blog posts about the Handy Market Tote, it seemed like alot of you felt just like I did about this project - it was terrific and one many of us plan on using again!

1. Patchwork Please...Handy Market Tote, 2. Not available, 3. Handy Market Tote for myself, 4. Handy Market Tote, 5. Patchwork Please Market Tote, 6. Patchwork Please Market Tote, 7. Patchwork Please Tote, 8. Handy Market Tote pocket, 9. Market Tote aka)Which Market we talkin' tote

Congrats to Cary of Creative Moments by Cary, winner of last week's project linky.

Four months into the Patchwork Please sew along, it's my turn to officially share a project! It's one delightful pattern, the Sweet Trips Embroidery Pouch, one of two projects in the final Crafting section!

Read through the materials list carefully before starting. Under the first category where it says "seven print with other background color," this is for the 4 corner "stars", so it's actually 7 for each corner star.

Another little detail to pay attention to is the 'no seam allowances added' note on page 135. So if you are using templates, be sure to enlarge as indicated and add those seam allowances. For accuracy sake, I chose to paper-piece my front cover. It was really helpful to lay out all my pieces before I started, and even mark on my papers what color went where. One of my favorite techniques in this project (also used in the Teabag Pouch project earlier in the sew along) was the 'flange' in step #6. What a nice easy way to add an accent.

I made a few tweaks to personalize my pouch a bit. First up was making the vinyl pocket flap out of patchwork. I used this method to piece those 1 1/2" squares and it worked wonderfully! (Note to self to do that again!) The one thing I wouldn't do again is use fusible batt on the flap. I thought it would be nice considering I was quilting the patchwork, but it did turn out kind of thick for that space. But sewing-wise, it all worked well. And making that vinyl pocket was a piece of cake! I was a little scared of it but my machine wasn't concerned at all. I didn't need to use a larger needle, or line with paper, or use any of the other tricks of the trade.

It worked so well that when my mom suggested adding a large vinyl pocket on the left side, I went for it! I think it's a fun look and just adds to the functionality of the pouch. Good idea, mom!

The last change I made was to create ties to close rather than a button and loop. What a fun project, start to finish!

The giveaways for linking up this week's project are 1 yard Pellon® 911FF Fusible Featherweight + a fat quarter bundle of Cloud9 iHaus.

You also have a chance of winning a prize package by commenting on this post - all donated by our generous sponsors!

• interfacing/batting charm sample pack from Pellon
• 5 Aurifil sample packs 
• a fat 1/8th bundle of fabric from Form & Fabric

And as a bonus, I also have 6 fat-quarters of ihaus that I'm adding in, left from my Handy Market Tote.

Wow. Be sure and let our week's sponsors know how much we appreciate them!

 

To link up your project, click on the frog below and follow the instructions. One entry per person, please.

This post is part of Zakka Along 2.0 :: Patchwork, Please, a sew along through Ayumi Takahashi's book, Patchwork, Please!: Colorful Zakka Projects to Stitch and Give. 

Click the links to find out more about the sew along, Ayumi, and how to order the book.