Friday, July 01, 2016

a tinker tote

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

It seems like I'm finally getting around to projects that I've wanted to make for years, which feels great! This week I tackled a tinker tote. The project is included in my lovely friend Tara's Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags class on Craftsy. The bag is fairly involved, but the results are so worth it! Tara's class is excellent. I can't recommend it enough!
I added the mug in this photo for scale. This bag is big and roomy. I love it! Tara designed the pattern to use a quilt-as-you-go method, but I wanted to change things up and make one using my favorite scrap size of all time: 2 1/2" squares. I pieced the patchwork panels and then quilted them. I had a few problems with the quilting distorting, but after ripping things out a few times, I decided that finished is better than perfect! I do love the squares! I certainly want to try making one using quilt as you go method next. Of course!
I added 4 slip pockets to the interior and rather than adding a flap, I installed a magnetic snap to the lining.
Red polka dot binding was the natural choice for finishing things off. I used denim that I had on hand for the bottom, so it shouldn't show dirt very fast and it should be durable. I love the combination of all the fabrics. It's so bright and happy!
I'm quite pleased with my finish for the week! It is scrap project # 147!

Now, it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank you, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday! For those of you in the States, have a safe and great holiday weekend!


finish it up Friday, 7/1/16
1. Melissa Corry  58. finished round  
2. Julia in Mississippi  59. Scrappy Patches Twin Quilt  
3. AMH Dresden Plate Finished  60. Spiral Quilting - Sarah Goer Quilts  
4. Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty  61. Christmas in July @ QuiltFabrication  
5. Eva.Bambi,Johansson  62. 49 Hearts by de Jong Dream House  
6. Judy@Quilt Paradigm  63. Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs  
7. Alycia@ AlyciaQuilts  64. Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge  
8. Abigail @ cut&alter  65. Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts  
9. Laura  66. Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts  
10. Baby shorts:: porcupinestew  67. Treadlestitches Block Exchange Quilt  
11. Mari @ The Academic Quilter  68. Celebration Table Runner  
12. Screenprinted Tanks::Porcupinestew  69. Marla @ The Quilted Puzzle  
13. Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts  70. blockMquilts - Wanta Fanta bee blocks  
14. Judy@Quilt Paradigm  71. Man quilt - the lilac cat  
15. Julie @ That's SewJulie  72. Judy @ Sew Some Sunshine  
16. svetlana sotak  73. Q-Bits - African Fabrics  
17. Sandra @ mmm! quilts  74. The Inside Stori  
18. Faith and Freedom @ pursuing joy  75. Patriotic Prairie Point Star Ornaments  
19. KatyQuilts  76. Patriotic Garden Path Banner  
20. alidiza  77. Kelly Cline Quilting  
21. Wendy@Pieceful Thoughts  78. Wendy's quilts and more  
22. Karen  79. Celtic Thistle Stitches  
23. Katie @ what KT made  80. Ruth @Stitching Impressions  
24. Heather P  81. Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict  
25. Needle & Foot  82. Emma @ A Hand Stitched Life  
26. Quilt Match 2016 - Meet The Contenders  83. Julie @ Pink Doxies  
27. Frankie Carson  84. Lucy : Charm About You  
28. Free ModQuilt Ezine:Modern By The Yard 2  85. Patch the Giraffe  
29. Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs  86. Little Black Cat Quilting  
30. FPP Hearts & Strip Rainbows  87. Terri Faust Quilts  
31. Kat & Cat Quilts  88. Emily Bailey  
32. Sarah @ Smiles Too Loudly  89. Tarnia - Across the Aisle Quilts  
33. Allison - HST projects  90. Libby @ No Airplane Here  
34. smilesfromkate A Finish  91. International Maples  
35. Jess @ SewJess Handmade  92. Cathy Tomm Happy Canada Day  
36. Carie @ Space for the Butterflies  93. Ann @ Fret Not Yourself  
37. Brooke of Silly Mama Quilts  94. Sewgiving Makers Tote  
38. My Imperfect Life  95. Jayne's Quilting Room  
39. Johnna @ Yellow Bird Stitches  96. Quilting is more fun than Housework  
40. Thank You Stephanie: A Finished Quilt  97. Debbie @ A Quilter's Table  
41. Baby Quilt Finish - Amy  98. Susie at ProsperityStuff  
42. Piping: June's TSNEM - Amy  99. Jo @ Create the point  
43. Rebecca Grace @ CheekyCognoscenti  100. ShelleyBrooks  
44. Celebration Chair Back Cover  101. Steffi: Seepferdchen  
45. Frog's Runny Nose  102. grey and red cross quilt finished  
46. Ganz schnell  103. Elm Street Quilts  
47. Tami @ Thrift Shop Commando  104. The Sweetest Baby Quilt  
48. Maria@RaspberryJam  105. Another D9P  
49. Afton @ Quilting Mod  106. Kris@sewsunshin  
50. Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing  107. Susan's Quilt Creations  
51. Michelle's Romantic Tangle  108. Sylvia  
52. sew happily ever after: americana tour  109. Janice@singreadsew  
53. Rachel @ snippetsofsweetness  110. Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl  
54. Caryl @ cinnamon holiday workshop  111. Yvonne Fuchs - Finish #2!  
55. Angela @ betterndogbiscuits  112. My Dear - Oh Deer Quilt @ Creatin'  
56. Quilts & Such  113. Renae--Scrappy Rectangles  
57. Magda@Iloveneutrals  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

33 comments:

Melissa Corry said...

That tote is so adorable!!! My daughter just walked by my computer and asked if I would make one for her ;) Instant love!

Cut&Alter said...

The bag is gorgeous - just perfect with all your little squares. Great idea to use a denim bottom.

Mari said...

What a lovely, happy-looking tote! Sure to be very useful!

Little Quiltsong said...

Love this bag - love the curved sides on it. Beautiful with the denim and red binding added to the bright fabric patchwork.

Brooke said...

love, love the bag so much!!

you inspire me!!

brooke@sillymamaquilts.com

Rebecca Grace said...

Your tote bag is adorable, Amanda! When I make something quilted, I quilt my yardage first and then cut out the pieces so that quilting distortion doesn't affect the size or shape of my pieces. I don't know what order you did things in, but I don't see any distortion or issues whatsoever in the finished bag. Do you think that pattern could be adapted for a laptop bag? I can't find one that I like and the padded sleeve that came with my laptop has no handles -- really dumb, right? All I need is to drop my laptop in the parking lot when I'm getting out of the car!

Julie Bagamary said...

What a fun tote!!

Kate said...

Love the bag! Using denim on the bottom is genius (have to steal that idea right away).

Marcelle said...

Super cute in every way!

KathyinMN said...

Love it! Smart to add the pockets to the inside.,

Sarah Craig said...

I love your bag! I need another purse like a need a hole in my head, but I may have to make one of those myself! Congratulations on another great scrap project....

travelinsewl said...

This is great! You make it look easy!

Rosa said...

Love it. Pretty nice!

Janie said...

Good for you! Beautiful finish.
Those Craftsy classes are great aren't they?
I'm taking your class, 'Colorful Scrap Quilting.' It's great because I can work at my own rate. Your directions are easy to follow, thank you.

travelinsewl said...

This is great! You make it look easy!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Adorable bag! Great idea to use denim on the bottom, very practical and cute too!

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

I'd love to make one of these bags for my girls ... will check out the Craftsy link :)

Debbie said...

I took Tara's class and made a Tinker Tote too - both the class and tote were excellent!

Susana Neiger said...

I LOVE your Tinker Tote! The patchwork, the denim, the roomy bag design. Makes me want to make one now, too!!! Thank you again for Finish It Up Friday: it's SUCH great motivation to keep at least a little progress happening, so those finishes keep coming!

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said...

thats such a lovely cheery bag - I love the lining as well as the squares - a perfect finish for summer!

Suzanne said...

That bag is totally you! From the binding to the bottom your scrappy polka dot loving self is expressed. I love it.

Quilt n Queen said...

Another awesome scrappy finish...love, love love it!!!

Debbi said...

Love your idea of sturdy denim for the bottom and plan to do the same on my next bag!

piecefulwendy said...

The patchwork squares are so lively and bright, and the denim bottom is a great idea. And who doesn't love a polka dot binding? Cute in every way!

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Great fabric and color choices!

Kris Quilts said...

Super cute bag! I love it. Is it just me, or does anyone else get a thrill when they find a fabric they have in a project someone else made? I spied a piece of Sanibel by Heather Peterson in the 3rd photo!. I just love that line.
Thanks for sharing your projects and keeping me motivated to keep plugging away on mine.

pennylanequilts said...

Love your little patchwork squares. They make this bag extra special!

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

What a great bag! 2 1/2" squares are my favorite, too.

doodlebugmom said...

love it!

Tracybug Creative said...

It's so vibrant! The snap and no flap is brilliant! 💗💗

Little Penpen said...

I love love love the bag!!

driftwoodthimble.com said...

Its so pretty and bright and happy! Love it! Dee x

Lorna McMahon said...

What a bright and fun tote! Love the combination of the scrappy squares and the denim. Of course the red dotty binding is so flirty. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Amanda Jean. And a wonderful long weekend to you and your family. Happy 4th!!!