Let's do a Ruffle Tote .

 

 

After a week, it is only today that I have been able to raise this second part of the tutorial.

Prepare the post it takes time, especially when it's a tutorial.

Maybe you're not going to believe me, but every time I write a post, the first thing I'll do is write all my text in Spanish and then, translate it into English.

 

 

 

 

 

In my previous post that you'll find it here, we finished the exterior of the tote and the handles. Also in another previous post, I showed how I made the fabric flowers, the link is here. Today we will continue with the rest, that is, make the lining and see how we do to attach the lining and the handles to the outer fabric of the tote.

 

 

Create a label

 

Before we start I want to tell you something, one of the things that I was trying to do last week was, make labels to add to my projects, I made many tests, I took several photos and I have the intention to prepare a tutorial to show you how to do custom labels.
Today I'll show you what I decided to do, although I created several varieties of labels, after several attempts, trying to make labels for this tote, I decided to do a transfer of my label directly to the fabric, instead of making the transfer to a ribbon and then have to sew it into the tote.

Look how it turned out.

 

 

 

 

Prepare the lining

The liner measures the same as the outside, for my tote I used  the following
measures:

I cut
 1 (14 x 36" ) exterior fabric, so...
 1 (14x 36")   for the lining.


The lining can be made ​​simple without pockets.
For my tote I decided to add two
types of pockets, on one side, I added a pocket  with a metal closure.

On the other side I did something simple like this.

Pin lining right sides together, aligning row edges  and sew together, leaving
7" of one side open
Don't sew the upper side

 

Attach the handles to the exterior fabric

In my previous post we saw how to do the handles, I finally cut them and the
final measure is 27 "long,

At this time, I'll put the two handles on the right side of the tote.

Usually, at this moment, I'll  sew by hand the handles , I use basting stitches, just to be sure that they will not move on the next steps.

With right sides together place the exterior fabric, inside the lining.

Aligning the row edges, pin,  and sew together
sew along the top edge of the tote, I did several rounds with the sewing
machine, a first seam 1/2 "from the edge, other seam closer and another 3/4"
from the edge. This part is where you have the handles and it must be really
hard.

Turn right side out by pulling the exterior fabric through the opening

 

We have to sew the opening by hand or with the sewing machine.

 

 

Place the lining inside the tote, and topstitch through all layers! 

 

 

Add the fabric flowers


At the end I added the flowers fabrics, I could not decide which one.

I finally decided to add the two, the back side of these flowers have a brooch,
so that we can put one or the other, according to the mood of the day.

We did it!

I want to tell you something, I have wanted to open an Etsy shop for a while, I
said to myself that if I could create 10 items I will do it, ok this is just the first.

 This ruffle tote is my first item for my future Etsy shop, yes!!! 
 

I just hope that my dream comes true this year!

I would like to do, necklaces, bracelets and wool accessories such as hats and
scarves. I have a goal, I have ideas , but what I'm missing is always time!!!

 But there is always a beginning and for me to have finished this ruffle tote is the beginning, I have other projects already begun, apart from a number of ideas that I'll share with  you all ,
 in the next posts.

For today, I just wish that you have enjoyed my explanations, I tried to do the best that I can.

 I will be waiting anxiously for your comments, it is a pleasure for me to read every one of your comments! Thanks for your visit, I hope you come back soon!
 Greetings to you all.
Enjoy!


Marisa.


I'm linking this project to  Mod Vingtage Life, Creating My Way to Success,  Threading My Way ,  Sew Many Ways,  Dolly's designs ( The Creative Blog Hop), The Chicken Chick, One Artsy Mama( Shine on Friday) , Sew Chatty ( Made With Love), Pieced Pastimes, All  Things Pretty , Petals to Picots, Dear Creatives, Happy Hour Friday, Crafts a la mode, Inspiring Creative Moments  and Sew Crafty Angel .
I'm linking also to Plucky's Blog Hop , Night Owl Venting ( Blog Hop) , My Turn ( for us) , Fun Friday Blog Hop, The Pin junkie and Let's get Social Sunday.



My springtime ruffle tote bag, the beginning...

 

 

I have to admit ,the hours of the day are not enough, now that here in Quebec is spring after a hard winter, the need to go outside is intense, which makes me

split the time between being inside and in the garden. The fact is that I have

several projects in which I am working on, and they progress quietly. One of my

projects is a ruffle tote  that I am sewing, at this moment I just finished the

exterior  of my tote , the handles and the fabric flowers ( you have seen them in my previous post) with which I will decorate the front of the tote.

 

 

 

 

To make the outside of my tote and the lining, I  cut two pieces of fabric that measure 18 by 36 inches, I preferred to use a piece of fabric instead of two, the reason is simple, the presence of ruffles at the bottom, it looked like it would be

easier to just sew on the sides, and avoid sewing what will be  the bottom of the

tote.

 

 

So, my main body piece measures 14 x 36 inches,  you can adapt it to your taste!
 You will need:

1 (14 x 36" ) exterior fabric

 1 (14x 36")   lining

 

I also prepared the handles of the tote.

cut  29 x 2" fabric ( 4 times)
cut  29x 1.5" of fleece ( 2 times)

Today I want to share with you  how to make the outer body of the tote with the ruffles and the handles.

So, let's do the ruffles

First step to make ruffles, is the selection of fabrics

 

 

Second : Deciding the width, length and the edges of the ruffles


Before cutting the fabric to make the ruffles, you have to decide which will be
the width of the ruffles. The ruffles that I have done range from 3 to 4 inches.
On the other side to decide which is the length of fabric needed, that depends
on the thickness of the fabric and how ruffly, you want your ruffles, then you
will cut double or triple the width of your tote. In my case to do all my
ruffles I cut twice the width of my tote.


The edges of the fabric vary, there are edges where I did a zig zag to prevent
the fabric from fraying in others I made a hem and in others edges I left them
as is to give a shabby style to my tote.



You can do your ruffles by hand or by machine. I used my machine, I set up my
machine to use a  basting stitch,  or set your sewing machine to a 5 or 6 mm
stitch length, leave a good amount of thread at the beginning of the stitching,
sew along the edge of the fabric ( 1/2 inch from the edge), before cutting the
thread leave a good amount of thread (5 or 6 inches of thread at the beginning
and at the end)


Now start to push the fabric by moving the fabric along the line of stitching...
your ruffles are ready!!!



Lay out your ruffles to decide where you want them to remain, which up, which
down, it's time to decide and then sew the ruffles onto your tote.


I folded the main fabric in half, and placed the first ruffle, scored the
position I wanted with pins , I started by sewing the bottom ruffle, the top and
 I also sewed the sides.

 Ad the next ruffle

...continue adding the amount of ruffles that you want, I decided to make four

 

 

 

Then cut off the excess fabric on the sides.

 

 With right sides together, fold the exterior fabric in half and  sew the sides.

Turn right side out

I also prepared the handles of the tote. 

cut  29 x 2" fabric ( 4 times)
cut  29x 1.5" of fleece ( 2 times)

Place the strips of fabric right sides together and add  one strip of fleece.

sew using a 1/4" seam allowance

 Turn the handle right side  out, pulling through the fabric "not the fleece" .
Press the handle flat. Top stitch close to the edge

So far we have made ​​the ruffles and the outside of the tote, the handles and the
fabric flowers. In the next days needs to be done the inside ( the lining) and sew all the parts together.

 I am also trying to make fabric labels, I will tell you  if I
succeeds as I am in the stage of experiment!!

I hope that the explanations were clear enough, I always try to complete the explanations with photos, this time when I started to do the ruffles I forgot to take more pictures, I apologize, I hope you have understood anyway the steps .


See you soon.
Have a happy and creative day!
Enjoy!

Hugs Marisa !!!!!!



I'm linking this project to  Memories by the Mile , Dear Creatives Inspiration, Fluster Buster , The Pin Junkie, Shine on Friday, The Country Homemaker, Hookin On Hump Day,  and  The Creative Blog Hop.
I'm also linking with Fun Friday Blog Hop.