Summer summer summertime. You know the rest. I love my Poolside Tote, but let’s be real here. Anytime I make this tote it just makes me think up more fun fabric combinations to try. For me, it’s the perfect easy summer bag. Throw stuff in and go. It’s as simple as that. Plus the fun shape makes it look so stylish if I do say so.
When Dana asked if I would like to sew something using her Boardwalk Delight fabric collection, her first!, a Poolside Tote was the first thing that popped into my mind. You can’t get more summery and fun than Boardwalk Delight! My girls especially love all the fun and color. And sprinkles! Don’t get me started. Part of summer here means treating ice cream consumption like it’s your part-time job. We do take it seriously.
I do want to add that I feel really lucky to know Dana. She was the inspiration that got me started blogging and even more so – to keep going. She’s such a genuinely kind and caring person and the blogging and creative world is better with her in it.Β I couldn’t be happier for her!
So back to this Poolside Tote, it was so fun to make using these happy fabrics. In the pattern I give the option to do a quilted version, and I always love to see fabric transform when it’s quilted. So quilting it was! Love all the texture. I also loved being able to add in some of the Art Gallery denim, it’s such a nice compliment to the splashy fun colors of the fabric collection.
Pattern: Poolside Tote
Fabric: Boardwalk Delight by Dana Willard (Made Everyday) for Art Gallery Fabrics
p.s. Thanks for the basket/tray love, I’m working on getting the leather kits ready for the shop.
That Poolside tote is such a great design! I’ve seen many version of it by now and I love them all. This one certainly is the most summery, happy tote one could wish for! Another beautiful version I’ve seen lately is Carolyn Friedlander’s in Euclid.
You’re so right about Dana: whenever I feel a little depressed, watching one of her videos already makes me feel better.
Thanks so much! Yes, her videos are so awesome. π
Love it!! This is SUCH a good pattern…I must find the time to make myself one!!!
It’s beautiful – perfect summer bag! I love your shoes too π
I have the pattern,I have the fabric; just need TIME to get it made! Love this version, too.
Please tell me: Did you use the soda straw canvas? It is beautiful. I’d love to try my hand at recreating this. I just want to be sure you used the canvas not the quilters cotton.
Thank you for your beautiful blog!
Hi!
Great question! I should have added that. I used the quilting cotton version of that print. And did the option to quilt it, using Soft & Stable as the stabilizer. π Hope that helps.
This is a gorgeous bag. I know why it’s your go to pattern as it’s so fun and easy to make. I love it and have made 3 of them so far.
This is such an amazing way to use the fabrics from the collection! All the heart eyes!!
This bag is just so perfectly summery, Anna! Love it!
When do you add the facing? It says put aside but then thatβs it? My brain hurts:)
Hi Eileen,
The facing will be added toward the end. Under “Step 7”, number 2. Hope that helps. Feel free to email me (via my contact page) with further questions. π
This is the cutest tote. I love the pattern and how it scoops downward. Now if I can get the guts to try it. Oh BTW… I take eating ice cream seriously too….being I live in FL and it’s a million degrees here also!!!! I finally switched to Low Fat Frozen Yogurt. Eventually you get used to it. Its just so weird if I have real Ice Cream now, its so rich and delicious. Anyway, I love the fabrics and the tote and just wanted ya’ll to know how awesome it is and how awesome ya’ll are!!!!!