"På Quiltelaup" - Another Tote Bag!

Do you remember these beautiful fat quarters that I bought from Sew and So's? This range is called "Silent Cinema", and is by Jenean Morrison for FreeSpirit fabrics. I decided that I really NEEDED to make another tote bag, and thought these colours would be good for Spring as these pretty soft greens and yellows reminded me of daffoldils and primroses - although this weekend it really doesn't look like Spring as it's been snowing. I have picked a couple of threads to use with these fabrics. Variegated yellow King Tut quilting thread shade 982 which is lovely and would blend nicely or should I choose a variegated green and yellow Gutermann Sulky quilting thread that would stand out more. Oh dear - decisions decisions....

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.....I decided to use an AnnAKa pattern that I have used several times before, called "På Quiltelaup". I know, I know - what a surprise that I'm using another AnnAKa pattern - but I really love her patterns, and everytime I make them they look different. I have made this bag before using batiks, and was looking forward to seeing how it would look made up with modern prints. And I was going to try a design twist too - using different fabrics for the front and the back of the bag as I was using a fat quarter bundle. The front pockets were both quilted in a "diamond" pattern. I used the Guterman variegated quilting thread for most of the quilting.....

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.....I've never been very sucessful with pockets, so I decided to try something different for the inside of the bag. I used a pattern by Elizabeth Hartman for the lining - this was made using her method of making pockets from her pattern "Perfect Quilted Tote" and it really was SO easy - both to download the pattern and to make it! her instructions are really well written and very well illustrated too. I'll definitely make these pockets again, as they really do look so professional.....

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.....I added a key-holder too, as it's so annoying when you have to rummage around in your bag looking for your keys! As well as quilting the outside of the bag, I quilted the lining too, to make a very structured bag that will stand up on it's own.....

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.....I quilted the handles with lots of straight row quilting and decided to use the variegated yellow King Tut thread as the variegated Gutterman one didn't look so good for this.....

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.....here you can see inside the finished tote bag, with a zipper pocket, a neatly bound slip pocket. I used the same fabric as tyhe lining for the binding at the top edge of the bag. Oh and of course, one of my lablels added to the side seam. This one just says "Quiltystuff by Nicola".....

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.....what do you think? This shows one side of the bag (hiding behind the daffodils!!), showing the green handle. Oh and you can see the snow has all gone now - it was far to chilly to take these pictures outside at the weekend! I just need to buy some large grey buttons to sew onto the prairie points.....

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.....and here is the other side, showing the yellow handle. It's a great size to use for work or going out for the day shopping and I'm really pleased with it. Just don't tell Mr F how many bags I've got in my cupboard - I really should start selling some of these!!!
*If you want to purchase the pattern for the tote bag, "På Quiltelaup", you can contact my friend Hanne at who has a quilt shop "Lappedilla", or Elisabeth at "Lapp-Elisa" and I'm sure they'll be able to help you, and the pattern for the "Perfect Quilted Tote" is available to purchase from Elizabeth Hartmans pattern shop.

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