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Newbie needs help with 1st project

While I have some machine experience, I have had no experience at patchwork/quilting.

After lurking around the NGs I decided that today was the day when I would dive in and purchase the fabric (I already have most of the other essentials such as cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler (not to mention the most important essential - courage).

I need a new tote bag and thought this might be a good project to start with and so trundled along to my fabric store where, of course, I was stupefied by the vast range of choices. Not being afraid to call HELP, I explained my predicament to one of the staff.

Her reaction was along the lines of 'Oh, no not another beginner!' and I did feel I was imposing on her valuable time (even though I was the only one in the store). Feeling a bit intimidated I chose 3 fabrics each measuring half a yard along with the same amount of wadding and left.

So here I sit asking cyberspace for help. The fabric colours are (1) mid blue plain; (2) a teal blue and white check with random splotches of emerald green, mid blue, purple (3) an abstract pattern with all the colours of the check with an additional cherry colour, with the mid blue the most dominant.

Do I have sufficient fabric? Any suggestions would be appreciated whether they be a design for a block or blocks, whether I should incorporate another colour or any tips that might help me make this project.

I am determined to make my new bag and hopefully use it with the special pride that comes from DIY.

Cireen

Reply to
Isee
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Well, I have a tip - don't go back to that store again! If the staff are that unhelpful and rude, you don't need them. There are loads of great places to shop for fabric on the internet. You'll have to search yourself to find American ones, I'm British I'm afraid so I don't know them.

Well done for actually buying some fabric and notions. When I took up quilting, I had a conversation with my sister: "I took up a new hobby today - quilting". Sister - "So what are you making?". Me - "Oh, I don't know yet. I just bought a couple of books". She laughed at me so much I went back out and bought all the fabric and notions I needed for my first project (which still isn't quite finished, by the way!)

Your colours sound beautiful. Do you have a pattern for the tote bag you want to make? I'll guess you don't, or you wouldn't be asking whether you have enough fabric. So that's your next task - find yourself a pattern. If it was me, I'd go through all my craft books and magazines, there's probably a bag pattern in there somewhere. Or I might hit the local library. If that didn't help, I'd search for "tote bag pattern" on the internet. Come to think of it, I'd search for "free tote bag pattern". If all else failed I'd ask here if anyone had a tote bag pattern they could mail to me. Or I might try to invent my own pattern, but it would end up as a duffel bag or some other very simple shape.

Keep posting and let us know how you get on with your new hobby.

Reply to
Mel Rimmer

Hi, Cireen! How do you pronounce your name? It looks lovely. :-)

In answer to your question: Do I have sufficient fabric? The answer is always "no". You may have enough to do a tote bag (I dunno, never made one), but that is not sufficient. You need more. Much more. And then some.

Reply to
frood

Welcome aboard Cireen!!

Do you have a pattern (store bought or hand drawn) for the bag? What will the finished size be? Will it be lined? Are you going to quilt it when your done? These are a few questions that come to mind when trying to determine if you have enough fabric. =20

=46or a project like this, you might c>While I have some machine experience, I have had no experience at >patchwork/quilting.

Reply to
IMS

Hi, I'm also a newbie and I'm making a handbag using the pattern from this site

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I'm just making it using smaller squares to give a handbag rather than a tote bag.

HAve fun Sarah

Reply to
Sarah Dixon

Wow, where do I begin?

Oh, first I'm sorry to hear about your bad quilt store experience. Makes me appreciate my LQS (local quilt store) even more. They are great people.

Ok, to your question. There is an almost unlimited number of patchwork designs you could use but Patti's four patch idea sounds good for a first quilting project and for a tote.

For a pattern, I have lots and lots of quilting books but don't recall any tote patterns. I have a pattern for a tote from a Camp Thimbleberries but I don't think Lynette Jenson would like me giving away her pattern. I used to sew clothes and recall seeing many tote patterns in the clothing patterns books so that is where I think you would have the best luck.

I think based on my tote that you have enough fabric for it. But I wholeheartedly agree that you can never have enough quilting fabric.

Sorry that I couldn't be of more help.

Reply to
rjwhite6

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This link appeared on the ng some time ago. I printed out the instructions, and it looks pretty simple. Made from 16 8-inch squares. You could use plain squares of your fabrics -they sound lovely -or you could piece some stars. Maybe piece 4 star blocks for all the #3 squares (look at the pattern for this to make sense).

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Thanks Wendy for the nice comment about my name which is pronounced serene, although my DH tells me life with me is anything but :). As for your observations on 'sufficient fabric' I agree we never have enough. I had a built-in cupboard (some 9ft wide x 8ft high) constructed in my sewing room and mistakenly believed this would be an adequate size to accommodate my stash but have come to the conclusion the room needs elastic walls :0) Is it just me or do others also struggle with accommodation for the self-expanding stash?

Reply to
Isee

Hi, Cireen!

Stash expands to fit the space available. Your idea of "available space" may not be the same as the stash's.

Thanks for letting me know about your name. I love knowing that sort of thing as I read the posts. It saves guessing and coming out wrong! Or pronouncing an abbreviated name as if it were a word, but not the right word. For instance, I'm still reading nzl* as "nasal star" instead of New Zealand Star. (Sorry, Jeanne! I think I still owe you a FQ for that one!) Could be worse. There used to be one I read as "nibble harder".

Reply to
frood

i say N Zed L star. they dont say zee but zed downunder for that letter. i'm easy to please, heck i'm not turning down any pretty fabrics but dont feel obliged...the thot alone pleases me :D. jeanne*

Reply to
nzl*

Ooooh smells great! BTW if you ever need any help or to chat and want a really quick reply just email me!

Reply to
Sharon Harper

I think everybody needs/wants to live to that sort of age to get everything done!

Welcome Cireen! I'm also near Newcastle Australia, email me if you like. :-)

Reply to
melinda

Reply to
Butterfly

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