241 tote | summer sewing contest & GIVEAWAY!

Today I’m super excited to share my stop on the Summer Sewing Contest blog hop hosted by Jennifer of Ellison Lane Quilts. Nothing says SUMMER better that a new bag – especially a fun, vibrant handmade one! The 241 Tote pattern by Noodlehead is the perfect size for an afternoon at the pool, a weekend getaway, trips to the park – it’s really just an AWESOME bag! 

I made my 241 Tote using some prints from the Stockholm by Robert Kaufman fabric collection. The saturated neon colors + gray + bold geometric design makes my heart sing! Doesn’t it just remind you of a hot summer night?! You can find it at Contemporary Cloth and Mad About Patchwork. As for the pop of lime green, I used some Lush by Patty Young – which is such a great fabric to have stashed! Fat Quarter Shop has some available here. 

This was my first time using Pellon Fusible Fleece in a bag and I am hooked on this stuff! It’s super easy to use and helps maintain great shape and structure to the bag. Not too flimsy and not too stiff, this stuff is just right! I’m super excited to give it a try in some zipper pouches! 

I did make one minor adjustment to the pattern. Rather than have a shorter, over the shoulder strap I decided to make my strap a bit longer. That way I can wear it across my body and more importantly, will be able to have by hands free when traveling + shopping! 

I highly recommend this pattern to anyone and everyone – it’s for all sewing levels! If you are a beginner (especially with bags!), this pattern is a great place to start. With such well written instructions + pictures + pattern pieces, you will have bag sewing basics down in no time! And for those of you that have been sewing for years, you will love the 241 tote’s basic bag design + shape! 

You can find the 241 Tote pattern from Noodlehead right here. It’s available as a downloadable PDF pattern, so you can get sewing right away! Here’s something SUPER exciting, Anna from Noodlehead is giving away two 241 Tote PDF patterns! Just leave a comment telling me what you have planned this summer – sewing & otherwise. You have until 5pm CST on Monday, May 14. I’ll announce the winners on Tuesday! 

Thanks again to Jennifer for hosting the Summer Sewing Contest and be sure to check out the other stops on the blog hop tour!
  

May 7: In Color Order

May 9: Sew Crafty Jess 

May 11: Stitched in Color  & Canoe Ridge Creations <-- you are here! :) 

May 14: Don't Call Me Betsy & Sweet Deisel Designs

May 16: Olive and Ollie & I Like Orange, Too! 

May 18: Diary of a Quilter & Craft Buds

May 21: Lots of Pink Here

May 23: Love Affair With My Brother & Sukie 

May 25: Stitchery Dickory Dock & LR Stitched

May 28: The Busy Bean & Fresh Lemons Quilts

May 30: Random Thoughts Do or Di & Sew Sweetness

xo, megan.

{Sew} Modern Monday #37

It's that time again....

Ever since the day Sewing Summit became a reality, the Amy Butler Weekender has been on my sewing to-do list. I promised myself that no.matter.what I would have a Weekender to take to Salt Lake City. It's the perfect bag--big, tailored, professional. And, intimidating! But I was determined.

I had originally bought a kit a few years back--with some of Ms. Butler's fabric--but after I came across this bag made by Ali, it was thrown right out the back door. I knew had to have those yellow zig-zags--but with gray! And I found it--half price!--at a fabric chain store. Score!

So I cut out my outer fabric. Then I cut out my lining fabric. And I cut out my fusible interfacing. And then I cut out my Peltex.  And then I cut, and I cut, and I cut.  You get the picture, right? Several days (i kid, i kid--hours.) later I started the bag construction.

At this point I realized the most valuable tool of Weekender Bag construction--find a friend to text, lots! Elizabeth and Michelle and I all tackled our Weekenders at the same time and were able to share tips, questions, and frustrations. And it made a world of a difference--especially when you get stuck on tricky steps (was it 10b??). Thanks, ladies!

In the end, I am so happy I conquered the Weekender Bag because it became a sewing right of passage for me. :) There were some serious frustrations, and I may have cursed Amy Butler a time or two, but in the end it's totally worth it. I love this bag!

And now I'm one step closer to Sewing Summit. Just have to finish up my name tag, a little zippy pouch, and possibly a new laptop cover.

On to {Sew} Modern Monday! It's time for you to link up your modern finishes! A special thanks to everyone who linked up last week--50!! But first a few house keeping details:

• Because I will still be in SLC next Monday, we will be taking a break from {Sew} Modern Monday and I promise to be back the following Monday (10/17)!
• Remember--this is SEW Modern Monday.  So....a) your finish should involve sewing. :), b) it should be a finish, and c) please link back to CRC. :) please, and thanks. rule benders will magically disappear. 

Hit it!