A Huge Single Girl Tote Bag

A Super-Sized Zen Zip Tote Bag

This little journey  (HUGE tote bag !) began in   early summer,  when I saw some Instagram photos of blocks being made by my friend Gina, @PartyOfEightOurStory and Party of Eight Our Story blog.   Gina happens to be one of my enablers.... almost everything she makes, I want to make,  (I confess !)  to copy !!
***There just isn't enough time in a day for me  to make all that she makes, and all that my other primary enablers make!!***  

Gina was making  some Free -Wheeling Single Girl blocks .  Go check her gorgeous work  at her Instagram @PartyOfEightOurStory  !!   This quilt pattern  is designed by Denyse Schmidt , DSQuilts ... available {here}. 

I decided to make the block using up a modern charm pack from my stash...
Barcelona  by Zen Chic for Moda.   I liked the way the lime greens pop out when I added a lime green border!

My Single Girl block using a Zen Chic Barcelona charm pack

Now this is a big block, measuring in at about 20 " square finished!  I didn't have any more Barcelona fabric, and wondered what to do with the block.  I liked the Barcelona fabric so much better when it was made up, than when it was laying there as 5 " charm squares!

I decided to feature this bold Single Girl block on the front of a big zippered tote.  
I wanted a tote bag with a  zippered top closure that had lots of pockets.
My solution.... I decided to modify a pattern from a book I have had for awhile...              " Handmade Style" by Anna Graham, of  Noodlehead blog.  
I rounded up my "modern looking" black denim fabric, and some  of my stash DSQuilts fabric that blended so well with Barcelona...  Aunt Edna ( gray with cream dots.)

First, I quilted the Single Girl block, using my walking foot and straight line quilting.

So here is the result of this pattern modification.... My Super-Sized Zen Zip Tote Bag

Super-Sized Zen Zip Tote Bag  by Susie's Sunroom

The Details:

Patterns used:      Free -Wheeling Single Girl blocks  by Denyse Schmidt  (here )
                        and     the Zip Top Tote   from " Handmade Style" by Anna Graham (here)

Tote bag size:   23" tall x 17 " across at bottom and 22" across at top  x 7 " deep !

Top closure:   22 " zipper

Handles:  27 " each

Pockets:   Outer-   back side slip pocket:  12 " tall x 22 " across
             Inner slip pocket - 6" tall x 9 " across    in pieced Barcelona fabric
             Inner zippered pocket -  11 " tall x 15 " across  ( 13" zipper) 

Fabrics:  Barcelona  by Zen Chic for Moda  ( a charm pack)
             Solid Kona Cottons  in lime
            Lining -  gray  Aunt Edna  by DS Quilts
            Denim -   black  bottomweight with striations ( lines)


This is the back of the tote.  I quilted it to provide some more structure.

The back of the tote... features a pieced Barcelona fabric- trimmed outer slip pocket

It looks even bigger in person!!

Seriously,  you could hold at least two cats inside this tote bag! ( Not that that would have a good outcome !!  )

But it would make an excellent weekend trip bag. Or a  carry-on bag for the overhead compartment in an airplane.  

 My sister saw this  tote bag  in person, and told me how awesome it would be for a quilter to take  along to sewing guilds ...  It can hold a full quilt  to show and tell,  a   WIP quilt ,  and still have room for fabric,  rulers , cutting boards and tools.... Or to take along to a quilt show and shop,  to fill up with new fabrics and tools!!

A neutral gray fabric lining.... where the pieced Barcelona slip pocket contrasts!

A side view.....  Can you see that Barcelona trimmed slip pocket on the back?!

I love the black denim with this fabric!!   

After I made my Super-Sized Zen Zip Tote bag,  I remembered that I made a small clutch purse awhile back.... using a pattern by Samantha of Sewing Patterns by Mrs H.  
It features  paper pieced sunset rays, and denim ...

The clutch with Barcelona flap and black denim   made by Susie's Sunroom
Clutch size:  6.5 " tall x 9 " across

I think they just naturally belong together, don't you?

The back pocket of the tote bag can easily hold the sunrise clutch (and more!)....

The clutch  inside flap is  more colorful Barcelona, and the main lining is an orange solid.  There's a pieced Barcelona slip pocket inside  there , too!

Check out my Etsy Shop.... you can find it , and some  more items, available for purchase in there!    {SusiesSunroomShop  on Etsy }

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:     Let's Bee Social @  Sew Fresh Quilts   and

                          Can I Get A Whoop Whoop @  Confessions of a Fabric Addict   and 
                           TGIFF  @ Anja Quilts    and 

                               Finished Or Not Friday  @  Busy Hands Quilting  

Making some Farmers Wife Sampler Blocks

 Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks with  Friday Night Block Party

Weekly Block Party  by Elaine at  Summercrater.com ...   Joining in with Elaine to make blocks and Farmer's Wife Sampler Blocks

Elaine, over at Summercrafter.com ,  has started a linky group ,  called Friday Night Block Party.  We can link up a block that we made during the week, and see what other blocks everyone is making. 

Recently, Elaine began to make some blocks from The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt Book, by Laurie Aaron Hird.  I looked up my book, and decided to join in with her.  I want to try to make as many of the blocks as I can, to continue to  improve my block-piecing skills. (But am not worrying about being late or missing some blocks.)  I also joined in the Yahoo Farmer's Wife Sampler group,  where I can access foundation paper pieced patterns for the same blocks and get some advice on the hard blocks. I really love to paper piece, but will challenge myself to do many of  the template pieces, too, for the experience.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book   sold at Amazon.com

I am going to use my stash for making these blocks.  (Good girl!!)   I have a lot of Denyse Schmidt fabric , in  DS Quilts line, in turquoise, gray, blues, oranges, and teals that I love. 
It will be a scrappy look, I think.

Before I began to sew, I wanted to make sure that several 'size issues' were cleared up in my mind:

• Use scant quarter inch seam allowance?  

 Yes.   I verified that my sewing machine and quarter inch foot worked well, when I sewed  a SCANT quarter inch. After  pressing the seams, it turns out to be a quarter inch seam allowance.   Now, this should allow my templates to be put  together with the right seam allowance size. 

• Print options... print like usual, with "no scaling to page size" ?

Yes.  And,  I  verified that when I also checked the "borderless" print option, the pattern prints out much larger... to make a 7 1/2 inch block , rather than the 6 inch block 

Checking the "borderless" print option made the block bigger than the intended size of 6 inch

• Is the template method or the paper pieced method more accurate (for me)?

 Paper pieced method is more accurate, for me,  for meeting points and keeping the 1/4 inch  seam allowances needed  for putting the blocks together later.

Left block was constructed with templates... I did not have a 1/4 inch seam allowance at the intersection on the right (marked as "here *" )
Right block has all of the seam allowances and the square has all of it 4 points, using the paper pieced construction

After studying all of these issues, I am ready to make the blocks finally!

Elaine started out making the block # 58   Mother's Dream  (page 185 in the book)
My block:    I chose to paper piece it this time.  

#58  Mother's Dream  FWSQ block    by Susie's Sunroom

It did turn out to be a slightly small, measuring in at just under 6 " all around.   I am not going to trim these blocks until I am ready to use them in a project.  I really liked making the one!  You might see some project using this block some time down the road....

The second week, Elaine made Block # 1  Attic Windows.    (page 128)

 #1  Attic Windows   FWSQ block  by Susie's Sunroom

I made it initially using the template method, and had to use the seam ripper a few times to keep  the square "square at the corners".  It is trickier than it looks!  I made this one by paper piecing and was happy with it.

Last week, Elaine  made the #2  Autumn Tints block.  (page 129 )

#2  Autumn Tints  FWSQ block    by Susie's Sunroom

I used the paper pieced method again, as I was under a time constraint.

Since I have 3 blocks made, I'll show you how they look together!

My blocks so far                 Susie's Sunroom

I have some bigger projects to complete soon. But it was very  enjoyable to make these blocks.  I know that I will have fun making a lot of these, and then pick out favorite block patterns to use in other projects.

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up to:   Friday Night Block Party @ Summercrafter
          and         Paper Piecing Party @ Quiet Play

Across the Pond Sew Along Project

The Anita Vacation Tote bag .....for the Across the Pond Sew Along!!

Amanda,  of  The Patchsmith  , and Amy , of  Amy Made That!  , and myself,  are hosting this sew along group, and we'd love have YOU jump in and make the projects with us,  whenever you can!   (No pressure.... just support, encouragement and inspiration from each other!)  You can see ,and add  Yours! to, what we make on the Across the Pond Sew Along Flickr page !

If you want to learn about  the Across the Pond Sew Along , click on the Page tab under my banner heading (top of blog) or   read back on my blog to :  
http://susiessunroom.blogspot.com/2012/11/announcing-sew-along.html .

This is November's Project:

You can purchase the pattern at  Amy Made That!

I have been a  busy gal this week, and made up my mind to pick out the fabrics to use to make my Anita Vacation Tote bag!   (I am lucky to have a big stash, and sometimes,  one of the hardest parts of making a project is actually deciding on the final fabric to use! )

I decided on my Denyse Schmidt fabrics from JoAnn Fabric  (happy dance!)

The fabric, on top of this pile, with the grey , teal and cream tile print , is one Fat Quarter , out of 4 fat quarters  , that are actually all included/printed  in one panel.  Denyse Schmidt , brand  DS Quilts,  sold at JoAnn Fabrics.  I still have 3 fat quarters to create something with!

This pattern has some really nice features(that are adaptable)-

• Creating longer handles.... that you can make with 2 different fabrics!
• Zippered inside pocket
• Row of pockets inside
• Big size.... but sophisticated style
• Magnetic snaps for good closure of bag

Amy's pattern directions are clear and precise.   I love the step by step directions, WITH the great pictures !  

As I made my bag,  I liked the fabric combination so much that I  decided to embroider  an "S" on, so I couldn't give it away!

"S"  font  Emily   found at  www. Embroitique.com

I added my " S "   with my Viking Topaz machine  

I had a few smaller pieces of the top band (for accent at the top of the bag) from the fat quarter ,  so I pieced them together to add an inch to the top of the inside pocket.   After you fold it in half,  it became about 1/4" wide, and looks a bit like binding at the top of the pocket.   I like having a pocket for my cell phone, so I  stitched a small pocket on one side, and a 2" wide pocket for pencils and pens on the opposite side.  The directions are flexible, so you can customize these pockets to what you like!

My row of pockets, with cell phone pocket, middle section pocket and pen/pencil pocket

The other pocket is a zipper pocket!   I love peeking in there and seeing my grey dotted fabric!

I also love having the magnetic snaps, that keep my bag closed tightly and easily.   

Susie's Anita Vacation Tote bag 

I'm ready for that vacation now!  Does that come with the pattern??  Just kidding, Amy!

I will use this as my  tote bag and purse  when I travel!   This  bag will make a gorgeous gift for  holiday giving!
Look over at Amanda and Amy's blogs soon,  to see their Anita Vacation tote bags!  I can't wait!
Sew ... how  are YOU making your Anita Vacation Tote bag ??    :)

I'm off to my sewing room!

*  Check out the linky to  Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday   at
Confessions of a Fabric Addict  !