I had the honor to make a few samples for Quilt Market for Cloud9 Fabrics this past fall. The Poolside Tote and Market Bag (pattern from my book) patterns were perfect for showcasing this beautiful fabric, plus they definitely give off that beachy casual vibe. I always love sewing samples for market because it’s such relaxing sewing. Someone else picks the fabric and patterns and all I have to do is sew. Bonus because it’s my own pattern and I get to switch to automatic mode and go go go.
Of course it’s always fun to sew with beautiful fabric, too. This is the Underwater collection by Elizabeth Olwen. I can see how this fabric collection would be so fun for beach gear, or a nursery, and of course bags!
Kind of fun side note, I was finally able to use a zipper I had hand-dyed for this Market Bag. I think I was going for a gray, but it ended up a bluish purple which ended up coordinating so nicely with this fabric! I used the organic cotton zipper from Zipit and it seemed to take the dye very nicely, but I did it quite a few years ago so I’ll be excited to try some more! And maybe indigo!!!
I managed to snap these pictures with the fall leaves just before I shipped them out to Cloud9 last fall. It was fun to have the fall foliage provide some beautiful color contrast! Looking at these colors is so fun when everything now is white!
Patterns: Poolside Tote and Market Bag (pattern from my book)
Fabric: Underwater by Elizabeth Olwen
Leather handles: available in my shop
Zippers: 10″ for Poolside Tote
A beautiful way to use this fabric. The quilted sample is inspiring!
Thank you Kate!
How is the key holder in the poolside tote made? I love the look of it. It creates function and is visually pleasing.
It’s part of the pattern, so the instructions for that are included. 🙂 Although the leather part in the pic is on my actual keychain, just a little something I made using my scrap leather.
Did you use foam for these bags? If so, which one? I’m always experimenting with what I like best in sturdy bags and yours always seem to be spot on! Beautiful!
Thanks Kourtney. 🙂 I used byAnnie’s Soft & Stable in both of these particular bags, I feel that some designs need it, like these, whereas other types of bags I much prefer other interfacings.
Thanks!
These are so pretty! Look at all that sunshine!!
Cute, cute, cute! The Market Bag is on my to-do list. Just need to make the time for it 🙂 I like the look of the lighter fabric you use above and in your book for the main body of the bag, but am worried about keeping it clean. Do you think it would look as nice with a darker main fabric?
Thanks Tracy! 🙂 Yes, I’ve seen people make it with a darker main fabric, check out the #handmadestylebook on Instagram, there’s a lot of great examples. It looks really great in a dark Yarn Dyed Essex. 🙂
Always love the use of leather on your bags…
These are beautifully made! The leather straps always give it that extra “classy” touch! I love the fabrics on the blue one!
what a gorgeous pair of bags! I could really go for a lovely fall day about now. 🙂 Your photographs are amazing, as usual.
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