Now, my sewing skills are pretty basic, (nothing like the beautiful sewing at Pleasantview Schoolhouse), but this week I tried my hand at making some farmer’s market totes. (A few more tote tutorials can also be found here, but I like how the pattern I used has the lining fabric peeking up above the edge of the bag).
The first tote is made out of some vintage (1950’s?) fabric from the thrift store, with plain muslin lining and blue contrast stitching. For the pocket on the front, I used a little heart I had been holding on to since I hand-quilted it at Girl Scout craft camp two decades ago.
The other two totes are made from old sheets (two thrifted, and one Little Prince toddler-bed sheet with worn out elastic. ). They are very soft, and I like the blue-on-blue in both. The girls have already claimed the Little Prince one as a sleep-over bag for visits to Grandma’s or Auntie’s.
I also had enough fabric leftover from a quilt I made the other day to make a little (10″ x 12″) out of the scraps.
The outside material is from a skirt I cut up, and the inside and pocket are made out of the same sheet material that lines the other two blue totes.
I think making totes is pretty addictive, and several folks will be receiving some for Christmas (yay for the Handmade Pledge!!). The girls picked out fabric for their own totes at the Knittn’ Kitten, and I also have fabric for two more large farmer’s market-sized cut up and waiting to be sewn together.  Hopefully, I’ll get to sew them up when the baby is napping later today.
Wishing you a thrifty, productive week!
These look great! Like the pocket. My sewing will never look professional either but the bags I make serve their purpose!
I’ve started using them as gift wrap:
http://4keith.blogspot.com/2009/08/its-wrap.html
http://4keith.blogspot.com/2009/06/inspired-giveaway.html
Those are beautiful! I want to make some, but I have really really basic sewing skills and always feel so intimidated.
I love, love vintage sheets. Your bags came out really nice, so light and sweet!
Very nice bags! I LOVE that you still have that heart from Girl Scout camp!
Those are really sweet! I’ll check out those patterns, as I have had totes on the brain, also. Thanks!
Pingback: Lark Song Knits » Blog Archive » Last-minute handmade gifts
I just found this blog in yahoo, looks awesome. Will have to subscribe.
Pingback: Lark Song Knits » Blog Archive » Summer Sewing