Virtual Quilt Retreat - April Edition 4-19-13
 

Hello ladies, :) here we go again.

I am posting this EARLY so you have time to get the supplies. The retreat will be a week from tomorrow.

We are doing a quilted Tote Bag, complete with tab closure, purse feet, and a zippered pocket in the lining!

So don't panic, there will be plenty of instructions. This is a great bag to take to quilt shows :) you can store all your purchases in it, plus put your wallet/phone/etc in the hidden zipper pocket. Great skills we are learning with this and it is not difficult at all.

Here is a photo of the project:
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Here is the supply list:
1 yd: Main fabric (orange in picture)
1 yd: Coordinating Fabric (blue in picture)
1 yd: Muslin or scrap material for backing on quilted pieces
1 yd: Batting, you can use scrap batting pieced together (cotton batting will be stiffer, which is useful here)

1- 7in coordinating zipper
1 - magnetic snap purse closures
1 - purse feet pack

Coordinating Threads (I used rayon embroidery thread that matched the fabrics)
Decorative stitch on your machine (get a sample piece of fabric, batting and backing and test out some stitches. The grid work will be 2 inches apart, so look for a stitch that will look nice :) )

This is a very easy tote to make and comes out looking so cute.

Again, PM me an email address if you want the pdf version of the instructions. I will NOT be sending them out until next week (wed/thurs) cause I still have to write them and there is a quilt show this weekend! Priorities! :D

Come join us and make a fun bag for spring!

What is a virtual quilt retreat?

Well we pick a project, you get the supplies, then on the designated weekend, we come here to ask questions, talk, and most importantly post photos of our progress. I generally pick projects that most anyone is able to start and finish in one weekend. Most projects teach a new block or skill. It is cool to know people all around the world are doing the exact same project as you are on the exact same days. :) Or I think it is cool.

***NOTE to everyone, I figured out (with the extensive help of labeelady of our forum here) how to post the PDF version of the instructions online so that with a link I will post, anyone (with the link) can download the PDF to your own computer. Thereby removing the need to email things. Cool huh? :)

Come join us citrus, everyone needs a new tote bag! I am taking mine to the MQX Quilt Show today. :) So if anyone is at that show today or tomorrow and you see the bag in the photo up above ;) THAT IS ME!!! come say hi!

I will work on instructions and get them posted before Friday of next week (week from today)

Ooooooh! I'm excited! I'll be ready. Thank you!

Sounds like fun and looks like a great project. I will be getting a late start. Next Friday is my guild day. Thanks for posting the material list, it is always good to get all the supplies together (at least in the beginning), mine always seem to get lost after the project is started.

I would like to be apart of the virtual quilt retreat, so please email me the PDF. Thanks

I have not been able to attend one yet, so I am SO excited that this one is a great weekend for me!!

Great looking bag!I would love to do this.I am guessing that when the link is ready with the instructions you will post and let us know!

For us newbies, or those of us that love the bags but have never made one, could you post a picture of the inside? Is the inside going to be the muslin? or could it be a coordinating fabric. This sounds like fun.

Great looking tote! But I'll be at a "live" quilt retreat next weekend, will check in to see everyone's progress when I get back on the 21st.

I'm in, it will give me extra incentive to finish the table runner this week, I'm a little behind:D. I eagerly look forward to the link for the PDF. I am with Baywinds could we see the inside? :)

Yes [I] would like the i nstructs and PDF [email protected]

Purse feet? I lose my purse often enough -- I don't need to give one feet! :D Seriously though, can this be made without the feet? I'm in a rural area and know there's nothing like that around here. I have to drive 25 miles to get a zipper, but thankfully have a few hanging around.

Should the zipper coordinate with the main fabric or the coordinating?

LOL purse running off. I agree though Belfry, I've never made one with purse feet, but JoAnn's does carry them :)

Hi I would like to join in too...Im real excited to make my first bag

Yep sure can. A small caveat here, when doing the quilting on the outside, you will need to back it so that the batting isnt sitting on your bobbin area.....think that is bad. So you will use muslin here. Then you will be putting the pocket into the lining. SO....what that means is you will need both lining (coordinating fabric) and muslin....I accounted for this in the supplies list. I did not use muslin btw, I had some loosely woven linen stuff hanging around that is a nasty mess to sew with....I just used that for the backing on the quilting stuff since it was going to be hidden. So feel free to use scraps of whatever you want.

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You do not have to have purse feet, I will give instructions in how to insert them....but you dont need to do that. :)

Also note on my bag, :) the zipper wasnt quite coordinating, I just happened to have a 7in ivory and 7in grey...ivory looked better... it is on the inside, and your purse, do what makes ya happy!

NEVER let the instructions get in the way of creativity!

do what ever makes you happy, its your purse.

When I finish getting the instructions written (after I start that is) I will post a link here to the downloadable version of the instructions. They will be in PDF format. It will make transferring the file so much easier for all of us, rather than bogging down emails and splitting up files to send.

****QUICK NOTE: if you want the instructions for the Bath mat (februarys retreat project) and/or the french braid table runner (marchs retreat project) then drop me a PM and I will send you the links for them, I went ahead and uploaded those files as well.

I would love to join in please Carolyn. Was relieved to see that purse feet are not necessary, I don't even know what they are and am pretty certain I would not be able to find them around where I live either.

Carolyn, Thanks for the picture. It gives me a better idea of what fabrics I will use. This is another stash project.

Thanks for the photo and clarifiying the instructions in your 2nd post. I read through them too fast and missed it. I'm a visual and repetitive learner, so this ought to be a challenge, but I'm definitely in. Looking forward to it.:)
Thanks again.
Susan

I am not joining in on this one due to my limited time right now, but I certainly want to join in on the next one if time permits. Love, love this idea. thanks

dee, I will post the link, you can download instructions, then do it when you want :)

I'm in! This looks like a fun project and i like to sew 'with' others. A tote has been on my to-do list for a while now, this is just the thing to get me going. See you next week!

Can't wait!

Hi Carolyn, I am in I have making a tote down on my list of things to do, already have the fabric just need the zipper which I can get when I go into town next week. I really enjoyed making the table runner, it has been greatly admired by many people and I aim to make another two. I am going to work on getting pictures to post because I love seeing everyone's projects and would love to share mine. See you all next weekend.

hmmmmmmm interesting. I just hope I can remember! This is something different I am not accustomed to - may just try it. Thank you so much for starting this.

Carolyn: You've done it again. I've made a carryall but never a bag. What a great opportunity to try something new! Can't thank you enough for your time and effort in putting together these great retreats. In case you can't tell I'm in!

I've never made a Tote Bag before. I sure do like this one! I am planning on participating.

Yeah, I had this image in my mind of a purse with little feet just hotfooting it down the highway. I'm sure most fabric stores carry the feet, and I've put them on my list to look at the next time I'm in the city. I'm 180 miles from the nearest JoAnns and 70 miles from a Hancocks. Around here, now that the quilt shop is closing, Walmart 25 miles away is the only fabric center (and a real pitiful one at that!).

Got my fabrics for this project today at LQS (from the sale rack even!). I started out wanting a blue floral fabric with blue accents, but they didn't have quite what I envisioned, but this will be fun.

Sapphire - Love the fabrics, you have great taste
Have a Blessed night
Ellen

I love the fabrics and what an awesome looking zipper. Just learned how the other day to 'conceal a zipper with a bit of trim' sewed in just so. You done good sweetie. Thanks for letting me see it all. Can hardly wait to see it all made up. hugs

where and when will the link be given? hugs to the Carolyn person. HUGS

Vicki, I have to actually write up the instructions first before I upload them and post the link, spent this weekend so far at the MQX quilt show :) and bought a long arm :p hehehe....so, I will work on the instructions over the next couple days and will post the link here for everyone.

Wow, a long arm. Tell us about it.

I love making bags so count me in. I also have 2 different sets of fabric I'm thinking about so might just have to do both. Will gather and post pics later.

Can you share the finished size of the bag?

C'mon Carolyn, share all the info about your new "best friend", because you're gonna be to enthralled in it to want to talk to us pretty soon. Congratulations. Is it your first? Have fun.
Susan

Ok here is the fabric breakdown:
Lining: cut 2 => 13.5 x 18.5 inches
Pocket: cut 2 => 7.5 x 10 inches

Main Bag Fabric: (on mine this is the print)
Body: Cut 2 => 10.5 x 18.5 inches
Tab: cut 1 => 8.5 x 4 inches

Accent Fabric: (on mine this is the blue)
Body: cut 1 => 6.5 x 18.5 inches
Tab: cut 1 => 4 x 8.5 inches
Handles: cut 2 => 45 (or width of fabric) x 3.5 inches (i cut mine too small and they ended up finished at little less than 1 inch wide, this has been adjusted and the correct cutting size is listed here, it will finish just under 2 inches)

Muslin(or scrap fabric) and batting
Body: cut 1 => 6.5 x 18.5 inches
Body: cut 2 => 10.5 x 18.5 inches
Tab: cut 1 => 4 x 8.5 inches

The finished bag will end up around 13inches tall by 18inches wide

Handles need to be cut longer than usual because they go down 10inches on the bag, so out of the 45in or so, 20 of those inches are taken up by the handles being on part of the bag. I am a big girl, the width of fabric ~45in is enough for me to go over my shoulder and have the opening of the bag around my elbow area.


I started a thread in the main forum about my long arm :) I can hardly wait for it to get here and get set up....about 3 weeks or so...sigh, sheer torture

This sounds great! What time are you planning to start? My guild is having an "all-nighter" quilting event the same day, from 6 pm to 6 am. No one has to stay for the event the whole time, but we do stay for the pot-luck. lol Maybe I can do this before it starts. I would love to show up with a new bag!

cannot excess your pattern

Hetty

Great looking tote! A girl can never have to many totes/purses :) Have never done a retreat before, have to work this weekend but will try to still make it. Sounds like a lot of fun.