A Special treat for a special day-Art tote tute

Today is my 35th Birthday! I know, I don’t feel like I’m 35 either;) There is this crazy story about my age. My dear sweet husband is a year older than me. After I was about 27, I stopped remembering my age and concentrated on my children’s ages. I even knew their ages in months for the longest time. So I would refer to my sweet husband to remember how old we were. One year he was 33 and I was 32. We stayed that age for a whole year (as most people do). Right before my 33rd Birthday, one of my dear sweet sisters told me that in fact, I was NOT turning 33 but rather I was turning 32. My husband and I MISSED a year. But we choose to think of it as being 33 and 32 twice;) I will not say with any certainty that I will be 35. But I am about there. Rebecca, Katrina, any help here?

In celebration of my Birthday I am going to share a really awesome tutorial that I originally posted on my personal blog about a year ago. I've been making them for a couple of years but it took me until then to get it into a tutorial. It is a private blog, but this is such a great tutorial that I have been saving it for a special day. Today is that day! It is my gift to you. But it is not intended for you to make money from my tutorial. I worked out all the details for your own personal use and even gift giving, but not so you can make money, thanks.

If you can’t sew, don’t worry. You can visit our little neglected Etsy shop to get one of your own. This project does require a fair knowledge of sewing. I did not go into details of clipping corners or pressing because I assume you know how to do that. Please let me know if you liked this tutorial. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to know that I've put up something useful on our little blog…and it is my Birthday and it would be a nice gift to me to know you liked or hated this.

Alright, let’s begin. When I start any project, I always write and draw out what I am making. I walk through the steps on paper and it helps a lot. I strongly suggest you have a written plan before you start any project. For this, I’ve done the work for you. (You are welcome.)

You need a main body material, a contrasting material, a lining material and a trim piece. I've discovered that I like two patterned materials that coordinate and one solid or monochrome material that also coordinates. It seems like three different materials are a good number for me. Too much and it gets crazy looking and less than that is somewhat boring. Oh and if you know me, you will learn that I like all my seams to be hidden. I don’t have a serger so I have to line my totes and all my seams are nice.

Cut 2 from the main body material 12" x 10"
Cut 2 from the lining 12" x 10"
Cut 2 from the contrasting material for the pocket 5" x 10"
Cut 1 trim piece 10"
Cut 2 from the contrasting material for the handles 3" x 18"
I also use scotch tape for sewing the pocket lines so get that handy too.

1. Sew the two long and one short sides of the lining together -right sides together.

2. Sew the top only of the pocket together -right sides together. Turn it right sides out. Press, then sew the trim piece on the very top. I like to topstitch it close to the edge of the ribbon.

3. Take one piece of your main body fabric. Measure about 3 inches up from the bottom. This is where you are going to line up the pocket. Line up the bottom edge of the pocket to this line -right sides together and sew one straight line attaching just the bottom of the pocket. This is a little tricky and I don't have a better picture of it.

4. Flip up the pocket and topstitch along the seam you just sewed.

5. Pin/mark the middle of the pocket. You are going to sew straight lines from the top of the pocket to the bottom. This is going to make 8 individual pockets for the markers or crayons. My little trick to sew a straight line here is to put a piece of tape down to sew along the edge. It is easy to remove and I like this better than using a marking pen or pencil or chalk.

6. Pin/mark for all 8 pockets on both the top and bottom of the pocket and tape for straight stitching.

7. Layer the back piece of the main body material on top of the front piece you just put the pocket on. Sew along both sides and bottom.

8. Sew the length of both handles -right sides together.

9. If you don't have a turner, put a pin on the end of the handle.

10. Tuck the pin inside of the tube. Use the head of the pin to push down through the tube of the handle and turn. (Or use a turner. I love mine and use them all the time.)

11. Press both handles and topstitch along the length of each edge.

12. Turn the main purse right side out.

13. Measure two inches from outer sides for straps. I leave about 2 inches of the handles hanging off the edge to reinforce the handles with later. Flip it over and do the other side the same way.

14. Put the outer bag inside the lining. Make sure both handles are inside/between both layers. Pin.

15. Stitch along the top, most of the way around. Leave it open between one space of handles for turning.

16. Carefully pull the entire bag through the opening.

17. You pull both the lining and the main bag through that opening. I like to make sure my corners are nice crisp points.

18. Tuck the lining inside the outer bag, pushing the corners into the main bag corners.

19. Topstitch around the entire bag. This will close off the opening you left for turning the bag. Reinforce the overhang on the handles that are now inside the bag.

Voila. You have your own art bag! Enjoy

We love to give these on Birthdays. Both my boys have one and we take them to all our zillions of doctor’s appointments and anything else they need to sit quietly for.

~Anjeanette