Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Here Comes the Sun - Blog Hop

 Good morning and welcome to another Sunny day in the world of blogging quilters.  Thanks so much Carol from Just Let Me Quilt for coordinating this HOT - HOT - HOT adventure.

Later this summer I am heading to NJ to visit with some family and some friends.  I just know that the friends part will include shopping for fabric and yarn at some of my old favorite haunts.

Did you know that NJ has pretty much banned the use of paper and plastic bags at stores. Pretty much it's a bring your own bag world there now.  


That being the case I thought I'd make a shopping bag to take on my trip. Since I didn't want boring I thought I'd take the Florida sun to Jersey with me.

                                        

I pulled the stuff from various stash areas in my crafting spaces.  I didn't think I needed a pattern. I used a local food store fabric bag as my guide for sizing.  

                                                  

As many of you know I have a thing for Cotton Canvas Drop cloths as a great go to cheap fabric for odd creations.  I thought it would work perfectly for  a shopping tote.  I didn't want to line it and because it does fray I thought I would just make it using French Seams.  


I also planned out, before cutting, how to use the finished edges on the original tarp for the very top of the tote to avoid fraying there.

All things considered my plan worked well.  The French seams were easy to do but because of them I mucked up the size I cut the boxed bottom by a bit. I think I did my measuring backward when adding in the additional fabric for the extra seams. 

I would have preferred it a bit wider and less deep at the bottom.  I don't think it will stop me from piling fabric into it though.

While I was knocking out the numbers for cutting the tote I knew I would have  a few good sized scraps to use and decided to make a small zip pouch for all of the diagrams, drawings, pens and maybe a pattern or 2 that I tend to take shopping with me. Bonus was that I found that cute little tassel for the zipper pull while I was looking for a yellow zipper. The yellow fabric is a lot sunnier than I could get it to show in a photo.

                                         



I can't begin to count how many zip pouches I have made over the course of my quilting life.  This little super simple cutie was a bear to make with no recent practice.  I really should not start a new project at 10PM.   I put the first side together just fine.  Second side needed me to totally rip it appart because I put the layers in the wrong order. Zipper on the bottom just does not work. Then after I fixed that problem I turned the thing inside out and closed the turn opening and was pressing the finished pouch and I realized that I never actually sewed the applique in place.  It's currently holding on with Heat and Bond Lite.  It does look great and maybe one of these days I will open it back up and sew it down before I toss it in the laundry.

Well if nothing else I am ready to have fun buying fabric on my trip. 

Thanks for stopping by for the visit and please take a minute or two or three to visit all of the other participants in this fun, sun event.  I've listed them all here for you to refer to.

June 20

26 comments:

  1. Did not know about NJ's banning paper and plastic shopping bags, Your bags will look cute and be useful as well.

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  2. These are wonderfully sunny projects.

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  3. I have never used a drop cloth for anything, I will have to check it out. You will be in style with your new bag, safe travels!

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  4. Your bag and pouch are so cheery and practical! Using a drop cloth is a great idea.

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  5. No bags is becoming a big thing these days. I love your canvas bag and especially the idea of using the dropcloth for them. My problem is I never remember to take them into the store with me! LOL!! I guess that will change if they get rid of bags here, though. Yes, those 10pm project starts have caused me to say a few choice words more than once. LOL!! I really need to start my projects earlier in the day, when I'm not exhausted myself.

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  6. Ah, Selina, a good sturdy, durable tote to pile in lots of fabrics and accessories! When my current bags wear out, if ever, I know I’ll be making some drop cloth totes for groceries for sure. Putting the sun on the bag is a fun idea. I’m sure we’ve all, okay me, have forgotten to do the applique stitching!

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  7. really cute bags! I was so happy when publix came to NC, we love their boarshead subs!

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  8. With the ban on plastic bags, this tote will be a great way to store all those fabrics you'll be picking up. Sounds like a fun trip to me! Using drop cloths for them is a great idea. I have sewn an entire applique quilt before noticing I failed to sew down a piece or two. It's an easy fix on a quilt, but that bag is another story. It is really cute, though! Thanks for sharing, Selina!

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  9. Great bag projects! Thank you for sharing.

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  10. I love making shopping bags. I reuse animal feed sacks, but the tarps is a great idea too.

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  11. One can never have enough shopping bags and small zip pouches. You will always have the sun with you when shopping.

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  12. Adorable and so practical. Do you ever wash the bags made of that canvas? I'm just wondering how they fare after being put in the machine.

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  13. I love the idea of using something like a canvas tarp for making a sturdy bag. You will surely get lots of use from your creation.

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  14. Great idea! I love the idea of using a drop cloth. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Lovely, I love both. Canvas is one of my faves too especially for bag making.

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  16. Great tote and zip bag! Perfect for shopping!

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  17. Great bags! I need to make some for myself!

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  18. I love practical projects and this one will be so perfect for your shopping. Cute zipper pouch too!

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  19. You can never have too many bags. Using the dropcloth was perfect as well as the wonderful sun you put on the outside. French seams are so durable and look so good - you used them well.

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  20. What fun bags! Thanks for sharing. 😉

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  21. That looks like a nice sturdy shopping bag - and pretty too! Love the cute little one as well! xx

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  22. Glad you'll be heading North in a few weeks Selina! Will you be staying with your sister? Do you need someone to help carry your luggage? I'm free and jealous! Love your bag but maybe should be twice the size and on wheels?? Xoxo Miss you!
    June - NC

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  23. This blog in very informative for us

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