Friday, September 6, 2013

The Perfect Go-Everywhere Tote


Even if you're not headed back to school, fall just seems like the perfect time to make a new tote bag. Joanie Holton and Melanie Greseth of Tailormade by Design have come up with one that we think you'll love. The tote, featured in the October-November issue of Quilt magazine, features bold, contemporary prints from Casablanca--an autumn feel with flair! 

Recently we caught up with Joanie, who filled us in on the details of this versatile design. 

What did you like about the Casablanca fabrics?
We really liked the fall coloration—the rust and darker colors, and that it was a contemporary-looking, neat floral.

Love the floral embellishment!
After we finished the bag, we thought it needed something extra, so we talked about adding a 3-D element. The fabric really lent itself—it fit perfectly with style of flower. We like doing 3-D texture whenever we can.

You found such neat grommets for the bag.
I love grommets. They're really easy to use and they create a crisp, classy look. You can find some really fun grommet styles now, too. I'm becoming a little obsessed with them.

How did you decide to quilt this?
Bags are the perfect place to practice machine quilting because they're small (compared to a quilt). I typically do pretty simple straight line or crosshatch quilting on a bag

What will you be using the tote for?
It's just a really perfect size. You can fit what you need in there for a day, but the size is completely manageable. It's cute—it could be used as a purse, or just a tote bag. 

Find the kit for the tote bag here.
See the entire Casablanca line here.
Find Quilt magazine here




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