Readers meet Maggie! She has one of my favorite go-to blogs for great tutorials/original ideas! Today she is teaching us how to make strawberry totes! so cute!
Wanna hear the best part? She is giving one away!
Hi! I’m Maggie of Maggie Muggins Designs. I am so thrilled to be here sharing a tutorial with you in honor of Heidi’s Blogoversary! I love her blog and all her inspirational projects. The fact that she and I favor the same crafting machines and tools makes me sure we’d get along! When Heidi asked me to guest post I knew exactly what project I wanted to share with you! It started with a basket of strawberries, and only gets better from there.
THE STRAWBERRY TOTE
Supplies:
Tote Fabric 9″ x22″ (1/2 a Fat Quater!)
Lining Fabric 9″ x 22″
Light-weight, Fusible Interfacing 9″x22″
Handle Fabric 9″ x 17″ (Less than 1/2 a Fat Quarter!)
Fusible Fleece 9″x17″
Matching Thread
You can download the patternHERE. (Free for Personal Use Only.)
1. The pattern is printed over two pages, you need to print it with the printer set at Borderless if possible. Then cut out the pieces and join the Tote at the triangles (to make an arrow head) to make the full pattern.
2. Cut the tote and handle from the fabric, interfacing and fusible fleece as directed on the pattern pieces. Make sure to line the handle up on the fold where marked on the pattern to cut it out. This makes the handle one solid piece.
3. Iron on the interfacing (glue/bumpy side down) to the wrong side of the outer fabric of tote. Interfacing can go on the lining or the outer fabric, but for this particular project I wanted the outer fabric reinforced (it is easy to stretch as you sew around the curves. Iron on the fusible fleece to the wrong side of one handle.
4. Right sides together, sew from one circle (marked on pattern) around the bottom of the tote to the other circle. Seam Allowance 1/4″. Finish the seams and press right side out.
5. Repeat Step 4 for the lining, leaving a 2″ opening along the side at some point. Finish the seams, clip the curves and press right side out.
6. Flip the Tote wrong side out, and insert the lining right side out into the main tote. Right sides together, line up the tops and pin. Sew completely around the top. Finish the seams and clip the curves where necessary.
Note: Remove the front tray on your sewing machine to use the free arm. This will make this and other seams easier.
Note: Remove the front tray on your sewing machine to use the free arm. This will make this and other seams easier.
7. Pull the right side of the lining and tote out through the opening in the lining.
8. Flatten the top seam out nicely, rolling between your fingers, or using a pin if necessary to get it to lay flat. Pin if needed. Top stitch at 1/8-1/4″ around the top seam.
9. Stitch closed the opening in the lining.
10. Right sides together, sew the handle with a 1/8″ seam, leaving a large opening on one side of the handle. Clip the curves, cut into the corners, and trim excess fabric on the points to help it lay flat when right side out.
11. Flip the handle right side out. Use the end of a pen or pencil to help push the narrow stem pieces out. This will take patience, but you don’t want to rush it or you may accidentally rip the fabric. You can also use a pin to help tug on the pieces from the outside. Pin where necessary. Pin the opening for the handle closed.
12. Pin the handle to the top of the tote with fleece side facing out. Top stitch around the entire edge of the stem. The top stitch will actually be your seam for attaching the handle to the tote, saving you more work! You can hand stitch the center of the tote that wasn’t sewn closed on to the handle, or leave it open for a secret pocket!
Note: The fusible fleece does more than give the handle a quilted look. It helps hold the handle’s shape long after it would have wrinkled and folded from other products!
Note: The fusible fleece does more than give the handle a quilted look. It helps hold the handle’s shape long after it would have wrinkled and folded from other products!
13. Now press one last time for good measure and sit back and admire your work!
This is perfect for the Strawberry Shortcake loving girl, or as a gift for Easter!
Come visit my blog Maggie Muggins Designs later this week to see some variations on this pattern – one of which involves the Silhouette!
Thanks so much Heidi for including me in your celebration!
Thanks so much Heidi for including me in your celebration!
Do you want to win this absolutely scrumptious strawberry tote!
{How perfect would this be for your little one’s easter egg hunt?!}
How to enter:
- follow Sew.Craft.Create. blog {current or new} (1 entry)
- followMaggie Muggins Designs(1 entry)
- put my blogoversary button on your blog (1 entry) {found here}
- Tweet, Facebook, or blog about the giveaway (1 entry for each completed)
**You must leave a separate comment for EACH entry and your email address in one comment- unless it is linked to your account**
giveaway ends Monday, April 11 at 11:59PM. winner will be chosen by random.org. Check back then to see if you won!
This is such a cute tote!!! I follow you!
so so cute! I'm a follower, of course
I'm a follower!
Ohhh this is so cute!!Adorable bag!! I'm already a follower:-)
I am a follower!
Oh my goodness, Lillian would die for this! You know I'm definitely a follower. I love ya lady
I'm a follower. This is so adorable! Perfect for Melody who is so into Strawberry Shortcake!
I follow your blog
Angela
nscrofan at rogers dot com
Happy Blogoversary! I follow Maggie's blog and will be following your's as well.
Maggie another super cute craft. I follow maggies blog and now I follow yours. This bag is SO cute. The only problem is that I have two girls that would love it… Maybe I'll keep it for myself
This is so cute! Definitely on my to do list!
I follow your blog, Miya would love this, she is so into Strawberry Shortcake!
follow your blog!
junegirl26 at hotmail dot com
This tote is so cute. I follow your blog!
Absolutely fabulous.Perfect for spring,Easter,whenever.
I follow the Sew Craft Create blog.
I tweeted. http://twitter.com/SingNightingale/status/57638008052129792
And I blogged. http://sweetnightingaleplays.blogspot.com/2011/04/maggie-muggins-giveaway.html
I follow Maggie Muggins Designs.
Following M.M.D – looking forward to your updates
Hey, we think this project is great, and we want to share it with other sewers and quilters by featuring a link on http://www.WeAllSew.com! We’ll be featuring a link to this tutorial at our "Free Stuff" page all next week. Please let me know if you have any questions about being featured at WeAllSew.com. Thanks so much-Erika
Wohh precisely what I was looking for, thank you for putting up.