The Super Tote: School Edition

Last October I made my first version of the Super Tote by Anna Graham (check her shop out over at Noodlehead). The Whale Super Tote has seen some major action over the last 8 months and has performed so beautifully that I decided to make myself a new version to use as my school bag since I'm going back after a long hiatus.

I had a really nice, heavy weight canvas in my stash as well as a single yard of the writing print. As soon as I started to cut everything out I knew that piping needed to be involved...and then that evolved into needing 4 colors of piping. My sister is addicted to Ric Rac and I just can't quit piping. We are suckers for adding extra detail and flair.

Anyway, what you can't see in the picture is that the canvas is subtly quilted (I used Soft & Natural...my favorite!) to give even more detail along with the pops of color that match the colors on the lining fabric. I realize that the colors are slightly reminiscent of the 80s and make me think of waterfall bangs and stacked socks but what the heck, I'm a child of that era so it works!

Some projects are just fun to sew and this is definitely one of them. It's one of those patterns with clear instructions and well marked pattern pieces that ends with consistent results.  I absolutely LOVE this bag and can't wait to use it. It also definitely got me out of my sewing funk so hopefully more finished projects will be coming soon!

This is the front of the bag and has a pocket

This is the back of the bag...the pink piping is vintage!

This is the inside...there's a small pocket and elastic for my Bento or water bottle. 

Front pocket

The recessed zipper is definitely one of my favorite features of this bag.

The pictures make the bag look wrinkled...it's really not. 

Closet Flashback: A Melange of Houndstooth

A few years ago I bought several yards of this vintage houndstooth fabric that I found stashed in the back of a retro furniture store in Austin on S. Congress. I didn't have the guts to cut big pieces out of it at first so I went on a tiny bag rampage and made this matching set. I realize now that when you start to look at all that houndstooth print together it begins to feel a lot like an optical illusion. If necessary, look away and blink a few times in between pictures! 

Anyway, these are all easy, quick projects that require very little time or materials.

   

This is the gathered clutch by Noodlehead and you can get the tutorial for free HERE.

This is the lil cutie pouch by Noodlehead which you can get the tutorial for HERE. 

Last but not least, is this Buttercup bag that I made using the Made by Rae pattern HERE.

This is just a close up of the cool vintage-looking button that I found and the little pleat details that give this bag it's shape.

This may have been the first button I ever covered. I was so proud of myself!

I used different colored zippers just for fun.  If you fear the zip, these projects are a great, low pressure, way to familiarize yourself with installing them.

I probably made these 2 or more years ago and just recently unearthed them at the bottom of another bag. I find that extra pouches/purses/bags become like nesting dolls and never seem to end when you start digging!  

The Whale Super Tote

I bought the Super Tote pattern from Noodlehead a couple of months ago with the idea that maybe someday Meg and I would open an Etsy shop. Last week I decided to get to work and make a prototype bag out of a Whale print, 21 wale, corduroy that I had banished to the back of my stash. 

 

I like to vigorously test out the end product myself to see if there are any quirks that need to be smoothed out in future versions. I'm a stickler for stability and I think the original pattern needs it's interfacing requirements to be beefed up significantly. That's really my only qualm though. Other  than that, the bag sewed up beautifully, I love the size and it has endless possibilities. I have at least 25 other versions dancing around in my head that need to be liberated so I better get sewing!

  

 This picture is just for scale purposes. The finished bag is deceptively huge and holds e v e r y t h i n g with space to spare.

The front of the bag has a large pocket trimmed with white piping.

There is a pretty, pleated gusset detail on the side.

I have to say that the recessed zipper is probably my favorite part. 

There are 4 large, internal pockets with elastic to keep everything in order.

I box stitched the handles for extra stability.

Zippy Wallet with Marimekko fabric

I found the tutorial for this project a few years ago (find it here on Noodlehead) but never got around to making it. I'm traveling soon and suitcase/purse real estate is limited so I wanted to make something that could stash the essentials and fit inside a SMALL crossbody bag.

I used a piece of Marimekko fabric that I scored a couple of years ago at a Crate and Barrel outlet.

 The zipper is from one of my mom's yardsale adventures that resulted in copious amounts of vintage sewing supplies.

 I used a 14mm sew in snap that I got as a free sample....sweet!