Welcome to the Oxbow Tote Sew-Along Part 1! I’m so excited to have you join along! 

Here’s the schedule I’ll be following for the sew-along:
Part 1: Friday, January 12th (today), fabric selection, cutting & fusing, preparing reinforced base and zipper
Part 2: Friday, January 19th, Assemble Front and Back, insert zipper
Part 3: Possible wrap-up if we don’t finish everything in Part 2!

This schedule should allow for plenty of catch up time if you miss a week. Don’t feel pressured to rush along! But if you’re cruising along and having fun feel free to go at your own pace, too. No rules here!

In today’s video (Part 1, linked below) I show an overview and project discussion. I also talk about fabric selection, cutting & interfacing, quilting, and then prepare the reinforced base as well as prepare the zipper.

Cutting & Labels

Cutting measurements and cutting layouts are found on pages 3-6 of the Oxbow PDF. 

• Print pages 15-20 if you are making the Regular size.
• Print pages 21-29 if you plan on making the Overnight size.
• Print page 14 if you plan to cut the rectangular pieces using your gridded mat/ruler.

After this week you should have all the pieces cut and the interfacing fused to all corresponding pieces. You will also have the reinforced base and zipper prepared.

Watch the VIDEO for Part 1 of the sew-along!

Click the image above to watch the video. Or click this link to play the video.

Read a few notes about the project & supplies needed below:

I’m including some fabric and zipper notes below. I chat a bit about them in the video as well.

Fabric Options & Quilting

In the video I discuss about using a quilting cotton or lighter weight fabric for the exterior fabrics and a how to for marking and quilting your Main Panel pieces.

First, I rough cut my fabric a few inches larger than the Main Panel pattern piece. I use two layers of 80/20 batting, and then my fabric on top. I quilt the pieces and then trim them to size using the pattern piece.

It is a bit of prep work, but it’s a beautiful result if you don’t mind the extra steps.

Waxed canvas is another great option for using on the Oxbow. If you’d like to read more about that, I’ve discussed it in-depth in this blog post.

Zippers Used

Lastly, this pattern is written for traditional fixed-length zippers. In the video and the pattern I also give tips for using zipper by the yard/continuous zipper. For this type of installation (on the Oxbow), zipper lengths are fairly interchangeable whether you’re using a fixed-length or zipper tape. So if you’re in a hurry and cut your zipper tape to the fixed-length size, you should still be okay!

Looking for supplies for your Oxbow?

Below are supplies for the Oxbow Tote that are available in my shop.

For both the Regular and Overnight size tote:

• Oxbow Tote Pattern (available in PDF and paper coming soon!)
• strap hardware kits (antique brass & nickel)
• zipper for top closure (18″ zipper for Regular size OR 24″ for Overnight size)
• 1.5″-wide/38mm webbing for handles, straps, etc. (in a variety of great colors!) available by the yard (you’ll need to purchase a quantity of 4 for the Oxbow)
• leather zipper pulls

Project Details

The Oxbow in the sew-along video is sewn in the following fabrics:

• Leah Duncan Yuma collection (for Cloud9 Fabrics) for the exterior – I purchased mine from Hawthorne Supply Co.
• Accent fabric is Shetland Speckle Flannel in Olive (Robert Kaufman Fabrics), I purchased mine from Hawthorne Supply Co.
• Lining is Waterproof Canvas purchased from Sullivans Trim (the color I used appears to be out of stock at the moment, but there are lots of great colors to choose from!)

Thank you so much for your support! I can’t wait to see more Oxbow Totes! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@noodlehead531) and use #OxbowTote #noodleheadpatterns

2023 went by in a flash honestly. I’m constantly working behind the scenes on something whether it be a new pattern, a new fabric collection, or new supplies for my shop. In between all of that raising two teenagers is very fulfilling and takes up any remaining time I have.

I hope in 2024 that I can sew a tiny bit more. I have a few personal quilts I’d like to make and I always love experimenting with different fabrics using my patterns.

On the personal side of things, my family had another fun and full year. We had downhill skiing, a dip into freezing Lake Superior, prom court, senior pictures, weight lifting, a new car for me!, braces off, landscaping, hiking, a new driver!, more new friends!!!, a family & friends trip to Chincoteague, tennis — including a trip to compete at State for my oldest, so much soccer, and more.

I also took on a very fun opportunity in the fall. For two weeks, I filled in at a local University in their costume shop department full-time! I was nervous and excited, and everything worked out really well. The students and faculty were amazing and learned a lot, too! It was very exciting to help with the beginning sewing class and to top things off, my family and I went to see the play that I primarily helped with, She Kills Monsters. A highlight for sure!

2023 Recap

A quick recap of the year would include releasing two fun new patterns.

My Haralson Bag took off like wildfire. Your excitement for it was contagious!

My newest pattern, the Oxbow Tote felt like a long time coming. I started work on that in early Spring and it finally got its chance to shine just a few weeks ago in December. Very excited to start the sew-along here on my blog in a few weeks.

Sew-alongs

I hosted two video sew-alongs! It feels less intimidating now than it did a few years ago. It’s a fun part of the pattern process and I love trying to share valuable information that will help you create your own! First was a video sew-along for the Haralson Bag in the Spring. And in the fall I shared a sew-along for the Buckthorn Backpack & Tote pattern (part 1, part 2, part 3).

Fabric collection!

My fabric collection, Riverbend, made its way to shops. It was amazing to see all the creative things you make with it (and continue to make with it!). It was exciting to finally be able to have a collection that included canvas. Riverbend has two parts to the collection, part one is on Essex and part two is on Big Sur canvas. Being able to share all the projects on my blog is always a highlight, too. I still have three projects to share yet!

2023 was another year full of growth! The new patterns, fabric, and supplies all contributed to a very full year. There continues to be something new and exciting each year, and it’ll be more of the same coming up.

I think some things will evolve more and I hope to try and streamline the amount of time I spend behind the scenes. So much of my time is spent running my business. All I know is that I’m always growing, always changing. And most of all – always learning something new! The older I get the more I realize I don’t know!

Lookin’ Onward

As for my plans for Noodlehead this year, I feel like I have a good grasp of what my business will look like. I enjoy running a small business. I continue to work at a pace that *mostly* feels comfortable for me to sustain as a one person business. I’m grateful to have a part-time employee and work with a few contractors that I trust and respect. I continue to strive to do my best EVERY DAY to help you create the projects that you want to create!

I’m hoping to do at least a sew-along or two. I know quite a few of you enjoy videos for learning, so I’m going to continue with that. I didn’t quite make it to releasing three new patterns this year, but the two I did, I feel very proud of. Hoping for a new pattern or two this year as well. I also plan to continue to add items to the shop to help you find the supplies you need.

Yes! There will hopefully be a new fabric collection this year. Things are constantly changing in this area, but I’m pretty sure that I will have a new collection to share before the end of 2024.

And if you made it this far, thank you for reading. I appreciate you more than you know! Your comments help keep me motivated to share in this space.

It is with the deepest gratitude that I give thanks for the sewing (and knitting!) community we have ALL built. To be a small part of YOUR creative work is incredibly inspiring. Thank you for your support, comments and encouragement over these past 14 years that I’ve been in business. It truly means everything!

If you’re new here, stop by and check out my previous year-end posts from 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Hope you enjoyed the look back on this year! Here’s to more fun in 2024!