Completed Project: Eight Pocket Two-Tone Carryall Tote

It only took me another freakin' month since my last post to finish it, but here it is - FINALLY!

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Pattern: Eight Pocket Two-Tone Carryall Tote by Lion Brand

Hooks: H (5.0mm) and G (4.0mm)

Yarn:

• 5 skeins of Lily Sugar'n Cream Solid in Ecru


• 1 skein of Lion Brand Cotton in Poppy

Size: ~ 16" x 12" x 3"

Close ups of the inside:





Modifications: My gauge was bigger than what the pattern called for so I used an H hook instead of an I, and a G hook instead of an H.

I added a lining to the inside of the main bag, one side of the exterior pockets and on the handles. In reality, it’s a 4 pocket tote bag because the three pockets on each side are not seperated. But that’s okay - it’s still functional. :)

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Progress Report: Eight Pocket Two-Tone Carryall Tote

From a sewn lining to a lining sewn into the bag!



You can see the lining is also sewn onto the handles and what you can't see is that the pockets along the outside of the bag are also lined (though only on one side). All this sewing was thanks to the fabulous sewing machine I got for Christmas. I don't know that I would have ever lined this bag without using the machine.

I'm now attaching the handles (which are sewn by hand with yarn) so it's really starting to look like the finished product.



Because I lined everything, I'm trying to figure out how I'll seperate the outside pockets into individual pockets. I can't sew through them with the yarn (which the instructions tell you to do) as the lining is in the way. And I don't know that I can bring myself to sew it by hand with needle and thread. It may just turn into a Four Pocket Two-Tone Carryall Tote.

After the handles are attached, I'll need to do a final round of single crochet along the top of the bag and attach the button flap. I'm going to use this cute button I bought at the Fiber Factory in Arizona.



Can't wait to put this bag to good use!

Out of Hibernation

On Monday night, I finally tried out the Christmas present from my wonderful husband.



Believe it or not, I got the darn thing threaded on the first try. I was quite impressed with myself given it's been over 3 years since I last sewed on a machine - and it had been 10+ years since the time before that. I LOVE my sewing machine. It's simple, lightweight and has enough fun attachments to make it seem fun but not overwhelming.

So what was I sewing???

Right there on the ironing board...



That blue cube of fabric is the inside lining for the eight pocket two-tone carryall tote. Yep - the tote bag has emerged from hibernation.

I got the lining instructions thanks to the tutorial by Cocoa Cream. Now - my lining is nothing fancy and my sewing skills are less than expert. My lining looks NOTHING like Cocoa Cream's as she took the time to measure and cut straight. I, on the other hand, was not so neat. Some would call it sloppy or unfinished or mediocre. Let's just call my lining "organic", shall we? And no close ups of it either.

All the lining pieces are finished so now comes the time consuming task of hand sewing them all into place. Plus I need to assemble all the bag pieces together. So while the project is out of hibernation, there is still much to be completed. But stay tuned - the end is in sight!

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2007....Hello 2008!

Greetings and salutations! It is with great pleasure I make time enough this evening to finally get a post on the blog. Though I love the holidays, they do take up so much of my time. I hope all had a good holiday (whichever one(s) you chose to celebrate).

But first - an update! for it has been so long since last I posted here.

First off - I did do a bit of spending with the Joann's gift card I received when I left my last job.



I needed new paints and new brushes as well as a decent pair of scissors. I spent too much on the pins and pin cushion but they were just too cute and fun not to get them. Not pictured are the supplies I used to make reindeer candy canes (bells, googly eyes, red pom-pom noses, brown pipe cleaners and candy canes) for my and Sean's offices. The bead supplies were for wine charms I made for Sean's aunt. They turned out okay given I've never worked with beads and wire before. I used earring hoops for the rings as they were a much more affordable option ($3) compared to buying memory wire and a memory wire cutter ($10+). I added the snowflakes for a seasonal touch. His aunt seemed to like them.





And I must say that Santa was just too good to me this year! As noted before, I got ye olde sewing machine for Christmas from my wonderful husband.





I haven't had a chance to use it yet or even to look over the instructions booklet, but I will - and hopefully this month - for I need to finish the tote bag. It has been hibernating since September and I do so want to complete it.

I also received some wonderful gifts from my mother-in-law and brother-in-law and his girlfriend.



Some crochet hooks, novelty yarn, Maran Illustrated Knitting and Crocheting, I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks, the fall issue of Interweave Crochet, and a gift card for Joann's.

And as it was the season for giving, I gave some more to myself. :)

Since I so loved the issue of Interweave Crochet, I sent away for a subscription. I also ordered from Amazon.com Amazing Lace Crochet as there is a shawl I'm dying to make with the yarn I bought at Stitches East. I also bought this knitting day calendar at 50% off:



The purple dream blanket is still under construction. I now have until MLK weekend to get it done, for that is the weekend the recipient is coming for a visit.

The coasters for the girls are done! Huzzah! And look - I even blocked them!



They also got a bit of ironing and some starch, as well as some time drying in the sun.



I started on the coffee cup cozies and I should have them done this week. Hopefully there will be a package in the mail for the Queen and the Mistress soon.

Another fun development to share - it seems that a random suggestion to turn the sunroom/dining room into a craft room has come to pass. HUZZAH!!!



You see - we got new bedroom furniture and the cabinet you see in the photo didn't fit in the walk-in closet. It's a good piece of furniture and we didn't want to throw it out so it made its way into the sunroom. And while the office needed to be rearranged to accommodate the treadmill, my yarn somehow found its way into the sunroom, too. That, and my eyelash-batting request to Sean, was the tipping point for making it the craft room. It's still a work in progress as you can see the unpacked boxes on the right. There are plans to get a rug for the floor and perhaps a papazan chair from Pier 1 for the corner. Big, comfy chairs are mandatory for a craft room (in my humble opinion).

And with all the projects I have planned for 2008, I'll need a comfy chair in which to complete them. Another friend is prego so another baby blanket will be made. In addition to the tote bag, I have a number of UFOs to complete. I've got an entire list of crafty resolutions - which I shall track in a separate post. :)

Wishing you all a wonderful, fruitful, magical and crafty 2008!

Progress Report: Eight Pocket Two-Tone Carryall Tote

All the pieces are done! And yes, even the ends are woven in.



It's been a quick project creating the pieces from start to finish. But now, it will stay in hibernation until at least December if not January. Because, if I'm lucky, Santa will bring me a sewing machine so I can properly sew the lining. No sense ruining such a beautiful bag with my sad attempt at hand sewing the lining.

Until we meet again...

Dear Santa

The tote bag is coming along nicely. I've got the front and back and two large pockets done. I'm working on the gusset and will probably have it and the two small pockets done by tomorrow. And while I'll then be able to start the red handles, I can't start to assemble it until I buy and some fabric for the lining.

And lining means sewing.

And I don't have a sewing machine...

YET.

That's the request for Christmas - a cheap (but not too cheap) sewing machine so I can make linings and other sewing projects. One of the projects I'd like to start is the Fat Bottom Bag. I've got extra yarn to start making it and with sites like Tiff Crochets and With a Hook showcasing such beautiful bags, how can I not start one? Or three?

New Project: Eight Pocket Two-Tone Carryall Tote

That's a looooong name for a project, eh?

This is a free pattern from Lion Brand. I've opted for colors of a more subtle nature (ecru and poppy red). Thanks to the sale at Joann's, I substituted Lion Brand Cotton for Lily's Sugar 'n Cream as it was $1.49 per skein and Lion Brand Cotton was $4.99 a skein. I did buy the one skein of Lion Brand because it was the better color for the straps and borders of the bag. With a 40% off coupon, it was only $2.99. Worth the splurge.



As you can see, I have the front and back completed and most of one of the large pockets. Given my propensity to have a bigger gauge with the recommended hooks of a pattern, I'm using an H for the large hook instead of the I. Still, the front and back are about a half inch longer than they should be. Oh well - just more room to tote stuff.

There's a CAL over at Crochetville where I found a post of FAQs and helpful tips and a wonderful tutorial on how to line the bag . I was wondering about lining it but given that I am not an avid sewer and I don't have a sewing machine, I was leaning against it. Now that I've seen how wonderful the totes looked lined and since I have some easy to follow directions, I guess I'll have to line it.

I'm not participating in the CAL because I don't have time to read and post on a regular basis. Three posts a week on the blog is about all I can handle (plus the continual updating of my Ravelry notebook).

For now, I must be off to start the work day. I :heart: working from home!