Modern Quilted Tote

Materials

cotton fabric, cotton thread, haircanvas, 1" webbing, metal rivets

What was your inspiration?

I've been itching to make a patchwork tote lately! There's been a lot of talk on quilting blogs lately of a Quilt As You Go method for piecing bag panels. One technique (highlighted by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson!) uses duck canvas as a base, which I think would make a great tote with just the right amount of structure! I didn't have large enough pieces of Cotton Duck Canvas in my stash, but I do have a ton of hymo canvas (also known as haircanvas). Hymo canvas is typically used to add shape to outerwear pieces, but I've also read that it has been used in handbags. And while it's not an inexpensive supply, I don't have any plans to use it - so I cut into my yardage for this tote!
I absolutely L.O.V.E. everything about this bag. At 14" tall, 11" wide, and 3" deep, it's a great size and shape, and the 25" long straps make the tote easy to carry.The hymo canvas gives the tote a lot of structure without adding ANY stiffness.
For my quilting and construction, I used a slightly different style than the typical QAYG. I pieced my tote panels using the hymo canvas and a layer of cotton batting as a foundation. After my panels were pieced, I quilted them with very dense organic lines.
hen I first started this project, I knew the approximate size and shape that I wanted for the finished tote. The dense quilting took quite awhile, during which time I started to think more about the construction. I decided to try a new (to me) style by folding the top of the tote down by 2". I attached the straps inside the tote as well, so that they appeared to be seamless from the outside. I added metal rivets to support the straps - this is my new favorite technique!