Small Tote to Carry Exercise Weights

Before this pandemic hit us, I was commissioned to make an exercise bag for a knitting friend of mine. She wanted webbing handles and made in a sturdy material to carry her weights in. So I designed this bag and made it out of denim and ticking. I added webbing carry handles and added pockets (even though she said she didn't them) and I riveted triangle rings on the sides and made an adjustable strap that can be clipped onto the sides and worn across the body or on the shoulder. 

She was happy with it and glad I was able to get it to her when I did because the Virus hit the next month. I don't know how much use she got out if it yet, but at least she has this bag when she needs it and can use it for other things too.

I added Red Kam snaps along the top so she cam close the bag if she wants to.

The lining ticking fabric is sturdy like the denim is.

A slip pocket in between the straps is a handy place to put her keys and ID. I added rivets in the webbing. I only had enough webbing in red for the carry handles, so I used a natural webbing for the strap connectors. 

The side connectors are triangle rings that in riveted in place

 and added a red ribbon for a pop of color down the center. The strap is made from both denim and ticking and the swivel hook can be removed if the long strap isn't needed.

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Pick A Pocket Tote

I made a Pick A Pocket tote, which is a small bag with 6 pockets that go around the bag. I first sewed strips of fabric together to create my fabric, then I made the bag. As usual, I made it better by fusing interfacing to the fabric and making the fleece a bit taller, because with the first one I made, there wasn't enough fleece where it gets folded over at the top. This is a free pattern from All People Quilt.

This is how the bag looks on one side.

View from one side of the bag.

The lining has no pockets because all 6 pockets are on the outside of this bag.

This is how the bag looks on the other side.

View from the other side of the bag.

And the pretty bottom of the bag. 

I made this Pick A Pocket Tote first and there wasn't enough fleece at the top and my pink lining fabric wouldn't lie flat as you can see. Plus I didn't like sewing across the handles, especially with the thread being light on the darker fabric.So I also changed that and stitched the handles in place a little below the top of the bag, so I could topstitch the bag all around and move the handles out of the way, as I did in the green tote above. I usually have to make something once and then make changes on the next one (if there is a next one). Some things I can see as I am doing and can make those changes, but some things I cannot until i sew as per instructions and that's when I rewrite my own version. I gave this one to a woman I know who wanted a small bag.

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Catch All Caddy

When I was in Oregon in July, I went to few quilt shops in the area. I saw a pattern for a caddy and knew I wanted to make it; it's The Catch All Caddy byAnnie. I bought the pattern and I made one caddy that I am now keeping my pigma pens, wax pastels, watercolor paints, etc. in. I love this caddy! I cut out more fabric to make one for my knitting tools and project, which I just finished and another for my sewing tools, which I am working on now. The pattern is from byAnnie design (she is the creator of Soft and Stable which is a great product for bag making). I was a bit confused at first by the inside bellowed "pockets" because I thought they were supposed to be pockets with the bottom sewn, but turns out they are dividers and they are open on the top and bottom. I worried that small things would fall into the bottom of the bag and it seemed  odd to have the bottom of these open. But as I thought about it more, I realized there are 7 pockets on the outside that can hold smaller items, and as I am using these bellowed dividers I really like them. Here is the first caddy I made (I am still sewing one for my sewing tools and will post it when I am finished).

I chose a fabric that I already had that has craft supplies on the fabric, like paint brushes, scissors, thread, paint, etc. I didn't have enough to make the outside pockets in that fabric too, so I chose to use a purple fabric for the pockets. This side has 3 divided pockets.

This side has 2 divided pockets that are quilted.

Looking down into the caddy you can see the bellowed dividers that are open on the top and the bottom.

This side has a slip pocket.

The other side has a zippered pocket. I added binding to both tops and bottom of the zipper because I thought it was easier to sew this way. The pattern shows adding only one binding strip above the zipper.

My art supplies fit perfectly inside the caddy,

Next is the caddy I made for my knitting tools and project. The cute sheep fabric was a birthday gift last year from my friend Tara. I knew I wanted to use this fabric for a knitting bag of some kind, so when I finished my first caddy, I decided to make this knitting one next. I added a couple of polka dot fabrics that I already had and I really love how this one came out.

FYI: I used the Soft and Stable byAnnie in the knitting caddy, and in the art supply caddy I used fusible fleece and lightweight interfacing. They both work, but the Soft and Stable really does hold it's shape nicely. Soft and Stable is like headliner foam only there is a thin fabric on both sides of the foam, whereas headliner foam has a thin fabric only on one side and just the foam on the other side. I have sewn bags with fusible fleece, headliner foam and now this caddy below with the Soft and Stable. Soft and Stable is a bit denser than headliner foam. The headliner foam is a tad cheaper per yard than Soft and Stable, and Soft and Stable is 58" wide versus 54" wide for headliner foam. After using both products, I really do like the Soft and Stable better. It bounces back better than headliner foam and if feels nicer too. Both quilt very easily and the hot iron hasn't bothered it one bit either. Neither are fusible though and I do like the ease of using a fusible fleece too. I suppose you would choose your stabilizer depending on what you are making and how you will use the item. For instance, if I make a camera bag or a bag to hold a tablet or laptop, etc. then I would want the cushioned protection of using Soft and Stable. If it's just a handbag, I might choose fusible fleece for it's ease of use and because it costs less. I sure hope Annie is planning to make a fusible version of Soft and Stable soon....hint, hint, lol!!! (I am not an affiliate and do not earn any money from anyone. This is strictly my own comments and opinions).

The Catch All Caddy holds my knitting tools and project. This side has 2 large divided slip-in pockets and the opposite side has 3 divided slip-in pockets. The hardest part to sew was the bias binding round the curves because it was rather thick and fiddly going around the curves. I sewed a lot of the bias binding by hand.

Looking down inside the caddy show the bellowed dividers.

Side pocket on this side and the opposite side has a zippered pocket.

My current knitting project and knitting tools inside.

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