ooak // patchwork totes

I’m so excited to share with you my new tote bags. It’s a product I have been endlessly ‘pinning’ onto my Pinterest board for months if not years. But honestly, I felt really over whelmed by the idea of making them as there are so many steps with sewing + I didn’t know where to start. Plus I really didn’t want to eat into my fabric roll as I try to save this for my customer + wholesale orders. I think after spending more time recently with my trusty sewing machine, making more patchwork + quilted cushions, I talked myself into trying one out. I really love the idea of incorporating my cotton off-cuts + I do have a basket full + a hanging rail with some larger cotton lengths already handprinted on both plain natural + botanically dyed cotton. The bag straps is what initially inspired me to have a bash as I do have a lot of long, narrow off-cuts from my lampshade orders + these are perfect fit for making the bag straps with. I started playing about with colours + prints, much like my patchwork cushion making process, I began to sew panels together forming a patchwork layout. I felt really pleased that I managed the bag strap sewing task. The first bag I sewed was too giant in size + it didn’t have a lining so I tried another smaller template. After making bag number 2 I had managed a layout + pattern I was happy with + my sewing issues had been practised enough to feel confident to carry on. I tweaked the bag dimensions + made a fabric panel layout which helped me to reproduce another, then another. It is now one of those designs I could happily carry on creating.

Here are my first four + very first ever tote bags! Made with hand block + screen printed designs in various colourways. The totes have two different + complimentary sides with a plain cotton lining. Two of the totes are made from my botanically dyed cotton. Each tote is handcrafted + completely unique.

New - Patchwork Totes are now available from my webshop. I hope you like them. Xx