May Bag of the Month Class
Tea Leaf Tote Mini Zippered Bag
You get two patterns in one with this class. One for a large shopping tote and the smaller one we’ll be making. I have to admit I enjoyed making this bag a bit more than usual. It was so much fun to get fabrics from my stash and scrap basket to create the lively colored boxes on this little zippered bag. The technique is what we will concentrate on this month, hopefully finishing in class, but finishing it is easy and quick if we don’t. We will definitely need to be ready with everything cut and parts ironed before class. A little 2 ½” square ruler really came in handy. You’ll see why below. OK everyone, let’s get those creative juices going and get ready for a fun one.
What to bring to class:
Sewing machine in good working order, a way to measure a ¼” seam (1/4” foot) – very important this time, starch alternative such as Mary Ellen’s Best Press or Flatter, strong pins, open toe foot, tweezers, 505 spray, “Purple Thang” or stiletto, matching or coordinating thread, a new 90 topstitch needle, as well as your usual sewing supplies.
What to purchase:
____ Class Fee
____ Tea Leaf Totes pattern
____ fabric for purse – see below
____ 1/3 yard fusible fleece
____ 2” piece of sew in Velcro or a small magnetic snap (optional)
____ (2) ¾” Swivel Hooks and (2) ¾” D-rings (available at the shop)
____ (1) 14” or longer zipper
What to cut and iron:
____ (16) 2 ½” squares for base of front boxes. I used gray on gray but you could let a fun color smile out from
under the fabric pieces that will be on top.
____ (32) 2 ½” squares of top floating fabrics. I used colorful pieces from my stash and scrap basket. Go wild
or conservative, matching or clashing. You choose.
____ Take your (32) 2 ½” squares and fold them in half –diagonally– creating triangles. Iron them crisply.
(**Corrected from first posting on website.)
____ Cut 1bag back and 1 back pocket piece both the same size – 8 ½” square(*)
____ Cut 2 Hardware loops 3” square
____ Cut 1 strap 3” x about 42” – 45” (the only width of fabric I used – and it came from my stash)
____ Cut 2 lining pieces 8 ½” square
____ Cut 2 fusible fleece pieces 8 ½” square
____ Cut 1 fusible fleece piece 8 ½” x 4” (*)
We will iron all of the fusible fleece pieces on in class. Woohoo!
(*)My iPhone fit nicely in the back pocket when laid down sideways (to keep the phone in the pocket I put Velcro on this back pocket. A small magnetic snap might work also.) If you have a bigger phone, and would like to keep it in that back pocket, then cut the back pocket piece large enough, when folded in half, to cover your phone when it is placed in sideways. If you cut it bigger then please cut the 8 ½” x 4” piece of fusible fleece 8 ½” x half of the pocket length. For example: if your pocket is 8 ½” x 10 ½” then cut the fusible fleece piece 8 ½” x 5”. If you want to wait until class time for my help on this part, please do.
Oh, I just had another idea. If you’d like to put the back pocket on with a zipper closure then bring another 14” or longer zipper and your back pocket fabric to class uncut. Just make sure you have a little more than the amount needed for your pocket. I’ll tell you how to do that in class if you’d like that option. (Wish I had thought of that when I was making mine.)
Thanks!
Lisa
)