Before the Essentials Tote became one of my most popular bag patterns, it was an idea sparked from some lovely fabrics. I’ve gathered together the posts from early 2015 during the time I was designing the Essentials Tote.
They’re in chronological order, so have a little fun with me as I walk down memory lane.
At the end you’ll find a gallery of all the Essentials Tote photos submitted to our Show ‘n Tell contest from sewing enthusiasts just like you!
Sewing a Bag
March 30, 2015
As a pattern designer I’m lucky to have access to brand new fabrics. I’ve been working on a new bag design and thought you might like to see the fabrics I’m currently using from RJR’s Jinny Beyer Batiks Collection.
Tomorrow I’ll show you which swatches I’m going to use for the bag. Try to guess what I’ll pick. Will it be the rosy colors, the green/blues or the natural colors…. Post on my facebook page to guess, I’ll pick a winner from the correct answers tomorrow. Your prize is a mystery!
Blues and green and in-betweens
March 31, 2015
I’m currently working on a new bag pattern with a collection of RJR batiks designed by Jinny Beyer. My new bag is shaping up nicely in a selection of blues and greens pulled from a fat quarter pack made up of the 46 fat quarters in the collection.
Yesterday I asked you to guess which selection of colors I would use. Most of you were right on the money guessing I’d choose blues and greens. One of the contestants Barbara Marie speculated that was because everyone was ready to see some sign of spring!
Our draw winner for the mystery prize is Margaret Cale who (I believe) comes from the Kincardine, Ontario area. Margaret wins a package of goodies from Presencia America including embroidery floss, pearl cotton and thread – this time in rosy colors.
I’ll be posting more on the new bag so you can follow progress!
My Mystery Bag
April 2, 2015
So far my new design has been something of a mystery to you. You know I’m creating this latest bag pattern using the new Jinny Beyer Batiks, you’ve gotten a glimpse of the 12 fat quarters that I’m using to make the bag but what the heck is it going to look like???
That’s the kind of question I ask myself when I start designing. My main parameter when beginning the design was to use the colorful fat quarters to make a fairly roomy, fun looking bag. Beyond that I was free to do my own thing.
Do you like to try out new constructions techniques when sewing bags? I do and that’s why I decided to use an idea where the front, base and back of the bag wrap around and are tied together with the bag sides. Everything is then trimmed off with colorful binding.
But I’m rattling on… Here’s a picture to put you in the sewing picture. I’ll fill in some more of the blanks tomorrow!
What’s in a Bag Name?
April 6, 2015
A while back I had a contest to name one of my bags.
That bag became the Voyager Bag. During the contest to name the sewing pattern ideas rolled in like waves at the beach and some of those names were quite good.
Leona Forth from Windsor, Ontario sent in a great name after the contest had closed and I liked it enough to send her a free pattern for her suggestion. And now I have the bag to match the name.
Here’s a sneak peek of the new Essentials Bag. The pattern should be ready for release in about a week’s time!
Fast Forward to 2017
As I mentioned, The Essentials Tote is one of my most popular designs, and now it’s available in the form of a video class at Make Bags With Brenda. To find out more about this bag, visit the Essentials Tote pattern page.
Photo Gallery of Essentials Totes Made By Customers
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