My blue tote is finished. Well actually the tote is blue and white with a dash of red to make it pop. I assembled it last week and took it to a craft fair yesterday and got so many spontaneous comments that I decided to share it here.
Over a series of weeks I made short videos as the project progressed. You can watch the play list here.
As you can see the foundation is made up of scraps of fabric that have been patch worked together. They were all scraps I had to hand that were too nice simply to not use. A few of them are Japanese, others were cottons that had a Japanese feel. A couple were quilters cottons some were scraps from some of Jerry’s old cotton shirts. They all had a nice feel and appealed to me when I set them side by side.
I added a visual second layer with a few appliqué circles which became the jumping off point for much of the rest of the design. I marked the patch worked fabric with a number of different sized circles or part circles before stitching it.
Here is video of the blue tote bag made up in which I point out a little more of how I designed and made the bag. If you want to see the bag develop as the project progressed watch the playlist on You tube here.
Each side is different but designed to match. Stitches I used include Chain stitches, Bullion Knots, French knots, Seed stitch, Threaded Chain stitch, Whipped chain stitches, Oyster stitch, Coral stitch, Raised Chain, Cast-on Stitch Whipped Spiders Wheel (over a bead) Buttonhole wheels, Trailing stitch and Loop stitches.
All of these stitches used in this project are either in volume 1 or volume 2 of my Creative Stitches for Contemporary embroidery. Both books have left and right handed step by step photos and instructions. There are different stitches in both books. The two books together make a set but both books can stand on their own. In other words if you just have volume 1 or just have volume 2 – you have all you need to work the stitches in the book.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing my blue tote bag!
Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery Vol 1 is available here
Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery Vol 2 is available on pre-order
My New Book: Creative Stitches Volume 2 — Now Available for Preorder
Explore a further 114 NEW hand embroidery stitches with clear, step-by-step photos, and practical, straightforward instructions for both left and right-handed stitchers! Try out inventive techniques, and gain confidence to play with stitches. Experiment with stitches and apply them to your own contemporary designs. My book is perfect for anyone who loves hand embroidery, crazy quilting, or slow stitching. And I have included loads of photos to inspire your creative journey.
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