I am thrilled to be the next stop on the blog tour of Mary Abreu’s newest book Hack that Tote!
***Scroll to the bottom of the post to enter a chance to win a copy of Hack that Tote and to see the blog tour schedule. You can enter on each site to win a copy!***
I have been hoarding a FQ of the bookshelf print of Get a Clue with Nancy Drew fabric (from Moda) for years. Since it first came out 4 years ago. I always thought I’d make a library tote bag with it. I lacked time and inspiration.
Hack that Tote to the rescue!
What I love about the book is that all of the basic tote styles are laid out for you with good starting sizes, so you’ve already got an excellent place to start from. Then from there you can make them smaller or bigger to suit your needs and the book gives instructions on how to do that.
I started with the basic tote bag pattern. I knew right away that I wanted to add a large front pocket featuring my favorite fabric. I chose a simple snap closer to help keep it in place.
The book also features a great section on different fabrics and interfacings to use. The bulk of my fabric was quilting cotton but the gray outer fabric was essex (a linen/cotton blend) so I had to use just the right interfacings. I used both Pellon Fusible Midweight interfacing (931TD) and my favorite, Pellon Flex Foam (FF77).
The pocket was attached near the bottom of the bag, so it doesn’t go down onto the bottom where I could loose small items.
On the interior, I opted for a simple pocket and one of my favorite features, a key catcher! I use those all the time on bags I have.
And of course, every library tote must have text print fabric inside 🙂 making it the perfect place to carry your books!
I quilted the handles and used Pellon Flex Foam in them. The quilting helps hold it in place and gives it a good grip so the fabric doesn’t bunch up and the interfacing doesn’t move.
I am already thinking about hacks for some of my other favorite bag styles in the book!
GIVEAWAY!
Now it’s your chance to win a copy of Hack that Tote!
Comment below for your chance to enter. Tell me what you’d make or what fabric you’d use or just say “hi”. You can also enter on my FB page and IG page (@punkinpatterns).
**Open to ALL but only US residents can with a paper/physical copy. All others (those outside the US) can win an eBook copy.**
Giveaway ends 10/7 at 10AM CST.
Giveaway is sponsored by C&T Publishing.
Don’t forget to stop by the other blogs on the tour and enter to win your own copy of Hack that Tote!
9/27 C&T Â http://www.ctpub.com/blog/
9/28 Sue O’Very http://sueoverydesigns.com/
9/29 Gen Q Teri Lucas http://generationqmagazine.
9/30 Patty Murphy  http://pattymurphyhandmade.
10/1 Vanessa Lynch https://www.punkinpatterns.com/blog
10/2 Lindsay Conner http://lindsaysews.com
10/3 Stephanie Moore http://www.alittlemooreblog.
10/4 Katy Cameron http://www.the-
10/5 Kim Niedzwiecki http://www.gogokim.com
10/6 Mary Abreu  http://
Love your tote, Vanessa! And now, I’m itching to read some Nancy Drew too.
Those fabrics are fantastic!
This is a great book for me, so many ideas for bag making. Thanks for giveaway.
Love love love this, huge Nancy Drew fan so I think I would make this bag too!!! However I also need a yoga bag and gym bag so I think I neeeeed this book!! Great job on your tote, it is awesome!!
Your tote is adorable! The fabric is perfect! I loved Nancy Drew too!
I would love to make a bag just like yours. Love the books fabric & the print fabric for making an appropriate, but extremely cute book bag. I’ve been a Nancy Drew fan for as long as I can remember. I would love to win this so I can make that adorable book bag! Thank you so much for your generous giveaway. God bless. Good luck everyone!!
Great minds think alike. I have a FQ of the Nancy Drew also! Just had to have it since I’m sure I read every one of those books at least twice. I love using it as a pocket, but I want to quilt between each book, so I will probably use it for the other side of the tote without the pocket. I also love the way the handles were done to make them nice and sturdy. Love the idea of hacking several tote ideas and mixing them up to design your own. Genius! Thanks.
I like making totes too and love all this inspiration! Perfect fabric for the library tote! Thanks for the giveaway.
Your library tote
is adorable with
the Nancy Drew
material and I
love the inside
print! Too fun.
Carla from Utah
Love your Nancy Drew library bag! I would love to make a tote for trips. Thanks for the giveaway.
I have a classic book print fabric with which I want to make a library tote. You bag looks perfect.
Your tote was just fantastic! Everything came together perfectly! I just love it! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
I have been hording a gorgeous aqua print for THE perfect bag pattern….. and I even have enough for sunglass case and make up bag too!
Ahhhh! Precious childhood memories of afternoons on the verandah with my nose stuck in a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys mystery.
Love your tote…great fabric choices!!! I love making tote bags as well as zip bags. Thanks for the sweet giveaway.
The book print material makes this bag so special.
Your tote is wonderful. I can’t say what I would make but maybe some Christmas totes and some gifts inside.
Such lovely bags. I would make a large bag to take to Dialysis.
Absolutely love your tote, the fabrics are perfect. I am in a fabric basket making mood at present. Making baskets for the nursery as we are due our first baby in december x
Your bag is super!! This book looks like it would be so much fun to use!
I love your fabric choice. I love all fabrcis that are a bit different 🙂
I’ve been hoarding Nancy Drew Fabric too! I have the panel with the book covers. Now I know what I will use it for! Thanks for the chance to win!
Perfect fabric for your tote – love it! Thanks for the chance.
Such a clever library tote! I love to make bags with favorite fabrics because then I can carry them around and enjoy them often.
Hi, I love your classic books. Once I had read all the Hardy Boys books in my school library, I started on the Nancy Drew books. I read a LOT of books from that library.
Love your tote. I would love to be able to make a quality, good constructed tote. Thanks for the giveaway. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
Love your bag! And, oh how I loved the Nancy Drew series when I was young. And, still love a good mystery to this day.
OMGEEEEEE!!! I ADORE your Nancy Drew Tote!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Truly inspired…
Your tote is amazing! I love when hoarded fabric turns out to be the perfect pick. I have some Tula Pink squirrel fabrics that I’m wanting to make a bag for traveling with. Sounds like this book would be perfect for me as I’ve only made the small zippered bags before.
Thanks for a chance to win. Fingers crossed!
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
Love your tote. You used great fabrics and colors.