FINISHED!

Feet!

Okay so the tote is coming along nicely. A few friends from my sewing meet-up recommended cutting the excess fabric then trimming the top with more of the stripe fabric. Since I have the bias tape cut for that already, I'm going to use that, but it'll be a bit wider than the pattern.

I'm about to add the straps and the lining when I remembered I used a gift card for Hancock's given to me by my wonderful BFF to purchase purse "feet" (the metal pieces at the bottom of the purse that keep the fabric off the floor). Good that I remembered because it really should be done before the lining is attached (so the lining hides the hardware). I'd also gotten some very, very stiff material to make the bottom stay flat at all times (yeah I know I was whining about the stiff fabric, but I still needed this).

I just opened the pack to place the feet on the tote. The feet don't come with instructions, instead you are directed to the website www.everythingmary.com. From there I found this video on how to apply the feet. NOW, I need to find my Exacto knife which is probably with my scrapbooking stuff...

Side View

Okay, as it turns out the fabric I used it VERY stiff and I probably didn't need to add interfacing (especially not the craft type). If I make another one I will definitely use a softer fabric. The top edges are uneven. Next time I also have to add 1 inch to the body of the tote. For this one, I'm not sure if I'll even off the top or use the binding to 'cover' the problem.

And the tote goes on....

So I was unclear on whether the bias tape should be 3'' before or after it was folded. I'm still not sure, so I'm going with before (we'll see if I was right). I used the tutorial and was able to make a 3'' bias strip (continual). I love the way the stripes lined up after sewing the triangles together. I started with a 22'' square and the strip is about 155''. I'm sure there is some formula that could have told me that but I don't know what it is.

Easter

I need a new fun Easter tradition. Why not sew? Sewing is my 4th July tradition so what's one more holiday? Today I dusted off the tote pattern I cut out a couple years ago and am ready to start. Well re-start. Here is a pic of the pattern. Okay so it's been 3 years, shhhhhh. I need to learn how to cut a 23" piece of bias tape for the trim. Luckily I found a tutorial about this here. All of the other fabric is cut and ready to go. I also need to get some sturdy interfacing. Hopefully this week using the gift card Sheri gave me (love a gift card to a fabric store don't you?).