Boxy Tote – Ink, Yarn & Beer

Last month I started the “Boxy Tote” at a local quilt shop. This is a very complex project, encompassing fusible foam, fusible batting, stays (the things that give the top of the tote its “snap” when opened and shut), pockets, quilting, and sew on (to excuse the bad joke). It took close to 30 hours to complete! You can read about it here.

Below is a picture of the bag, inside and outside. The top side is the lining, which is quilted and has pockets in it.

And finally, here is the tote. Look at the shape of the top of the bag – flat with tapering sides. This is where the stays come in. They are actually quite handy. The zipper also is there, a plastic jacket zipper to which, on either end, tabs have been added. Without the tabs, the bag would be really raw.

As I have said, I probably would have thrown the whole project out if I had not taken a class. Others in the class have said the same thing. While the bag is great, the instructions left a lot to be desired. I rather doubt I will make this again, but the experience was so worthwhile. I learned about fusible foam and batting, neither of which I have ever used before. Inserting the zipper and stays were also valuable experiences. Having a room full of fun women (we had a lot of childbirth jokes going on, but I won’t repeat them here!) and an excellent instructor was worth it all. I’ll be doing more classes, I know, from bags to maybe some quilting, just to refine some sewing techniques if nothing else, as I do not see myself as ever being interested in making quilts – quilted clothing, yes, but not quilts. But, ya never know!

I have spent the last two Saturdays sewing up a monstrously complex – and decidedly fun but crazy-making – project. If it weren’t for Betsy, the able and skilled teacher, I probably would have stopped midway through it. Besides spending 2 six-hour Saturdays in a classroom at Quilty Pleasures, I also spent about 15 hours quilting the pieces. Oy oy vay!

This is my first sewing class since I left middle school a century ago. Then, it was called Home Economics and we learned to sew by making aprons and A-line skirts. Very simple and basic. Since then, I have sewn oodles of stuff, but nothing like this.

The “Boxy Tote” is designed by Penny Sturges from Quilts Illustrated. It’s rather sophisticated and well-designed, but the directions for many people were confusing. This is where having an instructor who had it figured out was great. The fun thing is, for me, there are a lot of new sewing gizmos and whatevers that I haven’t used, like fusible foam and fusible batting. A zipper closes the bag, and arms or something, which you can see in the picture below, are used to pop it open. There is also a firm flooring or bottom for the base, to keep the shape of the bag, as well as handles which, instead of batting, our instructor used webbing for the insides.

I am going back on this Thursday to finish it up. Betsy is being kind enough to help us stragglers along, on her own time. I’ll lug my machine and supplies over there and have a good time altogether. I’ll probably buy fabric, too, as there is another bag class I’ll (hopefully) be attending in November. Time to make Christmas presents, you know!

So, here are photos of the bag in different degrees of construction. Maybe by Friday I’ll have it all together and ready for Part II.