Tuesday, December 4, 2012

quilt as you go 241 totes (plus a giveaway)

aqua blue grey quilt as you go 241 tote bag purse quilted

When I met up with Ms KateyZ to head down to Portland I fell head over heels with her 241 tote. Literally grabbing it out of her hands when we got into her car! I've seen a lot of these around online, but this was the first quilt as you go version. QAYG makes this bag rock!

I've since made 3 and wanted to share a few tips I've come up with along the way.


My first tip involves the general quilt as you go process.  I've been noticing lately that the trend is to start with one scrap, quilt it down, then add another, quilt it down, etc (like my photo above).   I did one bag this way but quickly realized that while it looks great, it's really time consuming. 


Instead I reverted to the traditional quilt as you go method, which is to sew together a block  then quilt the block.  In this case I wasn't sewing a traditional quilt block but rather a whole bunch of scraps into a slab of fabric roughly the shape of the pattern piece.  Working this way is faster and can give a more random look.

Quilt as you go results in some shrinkage of you batting and fabric, so tip number 2 is cut everything that will be quilted a bit bigger than you need then trim it down after the quilting.

hexie hexagon 241 toe purse

For this I used heavier cardstock pattern pieces that I'd cut out.  If you think you might make more than one of these totes, I can't recommend a cardstock pattern enough!


Remember when you're picking your colour scheme that it needs to go with your wardrobe!  I'm giving the brown version to my mum, who wears a lot of black, often with bits of brown.  The blue and grey hexie version is perfect for my wardrobe since they're the neutrals I wear most often (yes, blue is a neutral!  Jeans, right?).


This bag isn't very big, but it still can benefit from a bright liner.  Why?  So you can see things, of course!  I've never understood black linings for purses.  Everything gets lost.

So, after all that, do you think you can tackle one yourself?  If so, good news!  The gracious Anna from Noodlehead is offering a free pattern to one of my readers!  And to get you started I'm offering a pack of scraps in your choice of colours and 3 of the metallic snap closures called for in the pattern (you just need one but might want to make more than one bag).  To enter to win leave a comment letting me know what colours you'd like to use for the bag or who you'd make one for.  I'll draw a name on Friday evening.  International entries are awesome.  No guarantees of a pre-christmas delivery, though.

adios yo,
c

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51 comments:

  1. Oooh, those look awesome and I love tips! I'd make one in greys and wines since those are the colours I wear most often. I'd also love to make one for my sister. Fab! Thanks for the giveaway, Chelsea!

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  2. well im in love with your brown bag, so ill say brown. thanks so much to you and Anna, i would love this pattern...

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  3. Lovely bags. I'm really curious about "quilt as you go" so I'm reading any and all tips. Maybe I'll get bold enough to finally try it.

    Colors? How about something out of my normal comfort zone. BRIGHT oranges/red/yellows.

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  4. Would love this. I'd go with reds I think, probably for myself. So selfish right? hehe

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  5. I think that greys, whites, and wines/plus would be divine for this method for this bag! :)

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  6. I'm thinking greens and grays for myself :)

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  7. I would love to try this pattern. I have been eyeing this bag to make, I love your blue hexies.

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  8. Ooh lovely bags, the aqua one is gorgeous and those hexies are beautiful. I think for me it would have to be red. I seem to wear a lot of it.

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  9. i would love to have it thanks for the giveaway

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  10. I love that you have made so many of this bag! I think I would need to make it in a black/white/some bright color scheme :)

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  11. Thanks for the tips and a fun giveaway! I'd love to win the pattern and make several for family and friends. Though a special one for ME will have lots of text fabrics, as well as dots, and would be mostly grays, with a little bit of chartreuse, and pops of black.

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  12. I've made two of Anna's bags and they're great! Would love to give this one a try - I think I'd go green, gray, or blue. Or maybe some combination... Thanks!

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  13. i would use a neutral and maybe some pinks.. don't have a pink bag!

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  14. What great tips! I have always wanted to make this bag - I think I would go for gray with some splashes of color. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  15. Great tips for this bag! I would really love to make one - I tend to wear a lot of black, but I like to throw in some colour with my accessories. Maybe bright kelly greens, if I can find some fabrics with that colour.

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  16. Hmmm...I would be making this for my daughter and she likes jewel tones, but preferably blues. Although she has warmed up to oranges and reds recently...

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  17. I'd love to make one for me!! I like cool colors best. The blue gray one in this post is fab! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  18. I'm all about pink. Anything pink! Wow! This bag looks fierce! Love it! :)

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  19. I would probably use blues,gray and neutrals too as that would go with what the denim shorts or jeans that I usually wear. Love your QAYG version and the hexies will be fab too!

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  20. I'd make one for myself. I'm in desperate need of a new purse, and have decided that hand made is the way to go for my next bag. I'd probably use some blues, teals, and chartreuse for a pop of bright. Wardrobe be damned ;)

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  21. I have seen these around too and it's such a cute bag! I think I'd make one in blues & greens - so versatile!

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  22. Yeah, that matching your wardrobe thing is important! I rarely use bags, but it would be useful if the ones I made actually matched anything I wear...

    Yours look great though :o)

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  23. Oh pick me!!! I've been staring at this pattern since Katie made hers and she told me you don't have to use interfacing if you do it the QAYG way! I'd love to do that. I'd absolutely be selfish and make one for me first, and then I think I'd make one for my bff who I've been missing lately! My colors would be blue/grey! Lovely, and I want to hear more about your roadtrip!!

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  24. First of all, I'd make it all for me. But since you're including extra hardware I could be generous and make one for my sister too I guess. ;) I might make it in light oranges, yellows, and creams for a really sunny, bright bag. I really like the QAYG method for this pattern. Your bags turned out beautifully!

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  25. I would love something bright, but I am also a sucker for grays. This is a sweet giveaway! Thanks so much!

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  26. I would make one for myself! And then, for my sister! Grey, aqua and orange would be the colours for mine! Thanks for this giveaway!

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  27. I've never tried QAYG but it sounds like fun! I'd probably go with denim blue & brights since those are the clothes that I wear most. Thank you for letting us international followers join in. :)

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  28. thanks for the fantastic giveaway! I love your QAYG 241s :) I would probably go for blue/aqua and grey, maybe with a bit of green to liven it up. I definately agree about the whole wardrobe thing - I made a tote bag with a big bow out of my meadowsweet fabrics, mostly the pinkish ones. As soon as I finished I had one of those 'What was I thinking?' moments. Pink is soooo not my color. And big bows? Um, no thanks. I felt really awkward carrying it around at first {I'm used to it, and love it, now} I get tons of complements on my tote, and almost never any on my clothes, so I guess I know what the general public would prefer to see me walking around in, lol!

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  29. The hexies are beautiful and you can't go wrong with blues and greys!

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  30. The hexies are beautiful and you can't go wrong with blues and greys!

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  31. I love your hexies!! Blues and greys are my favorites.

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  32. I do want to try to make one of these. I think I'd go with blues, yellows, and grays. Your bags look fantastic.

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  33. Your bags are terrific! I'd make one for myself and would go with greys.

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  34. I would make this bag for my daughter. I think pink, red and aqua would do the trick!

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  35. I've been wanting to make this bag for ages, but still haven't gotten around to it. I love your versions! I'd love to do one with a few neutrals, paired with one bright color---like mint or neon pink. Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!

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  36. Love the hints for the bag. I would make 2 bags - one for my daughter and then one for myself. For hers I would pick pink, white, and brown. Thanks!

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  37. I have been anxious to try this bag. Yellow and gray would be a lovely combination.

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  38. I've seen some great versions of this pattern in blogland! I'd love to make one for myself!

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  39. Oh what a gorgeous giveaway and thanks for the tips! I would love either neutrals or I'm quite drawn to subtle blues at the moment - kind of denimy slatey ones but honestly I would be happy with anything!

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  40. Oh fun, and what a great bag! I like brights, red and aqua is my favourite combo at the moment.

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  41. I like reds, well, really scrappy brights would be fun!! and I'd make several of them for myself, and my daughters and friends.

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  42. I love your blue version - and hexies!!!!!!!!!!? Wow!

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  43. Thank you for the chance to win this pattern- I'm drooling over this bag! I like COLOR, period. Any color. Lots of color.

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  44. Any colors that go with jeans would be great! But I'm fond of blue/green/eggplant. I think I'd make it as a present for myself! Thanks!

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  45. Awesome tips. I would need colours to go with my navy and black jeans as I wear them everywhere. Maybe blues/greens... Thanks!

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  46. I have looked at this bag for quite a while now...just love it and will hopefully make it sooner rather than later for my self...or for my daughter who tends to "borrow". I love bright bags...especially purple!

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  47. Awesome bags! I thought it really suited the quilt as you go thing, and I wanted to try it out before I tackled it on the Weekender.....

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  48. Very good tips! I'm with you on light linings for bags or pouches. Totally makes sense.

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  49. I haven't tried QYAG yet, but I'd like to. I've been seeing this bag pop up alot and if I made it I would also use blues with some blacks or greys - that's what most of my wardrobe leans towards

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  50. i am totally in love with the hexagon one! i really want one like that tons and tons and tons!

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