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My Gracie Totebag is virtually DONE!

For eons I have been wanting to make this lovely totebag, which is Joan Hawley’s pattern. Joan is the brains and good writing (and everything else) behind Lazy Girl Designs (website here, blog here). I made the Mt. Fuji and Cherry Blossoms panels in September or October, but life and a zillion other things got in the way. I’d been promising myself I would get to finish the bag when all the other “chores” were done. Well, except for the trim for the chair (which is still pending…grumble at the design store!), it is done. So is the Christmas shopping, the winter flannel jammie pants, the gift wrapping, and a few dozen other things. So this past week I FINISHED the bag!

I made both sides the same (as in same view of Fuji)…the only difference is in the blossoms and branches. Here’s side one:

And side two:

And here is a picture of the flap, opened. I modified the pattern a bit (sorry Joan! I can’t help myself LOL) to make the tab wider and shorter. I want to purchase some of those magnetic purse snaps to use under the flap, but they will have to wait on a larger internet order (not gonna order just two snaps and pay all that shipping!). I like that you can see my quilting under the flap.

Joan’s pattern is wonderfully simple and quick. I made it a bit more complicated (sigh… I can’t help myself…. bigger sigh….) by doing up a fancy center panel, quilting it, then quilting the entire outside of the bag (it doesn’t show so well in the photos, but I outline quilted the bamboo in the batik with a wonderful variegated Rainbows thread from Superior Threads…if you click on the link, scroll down..I used #847 Fucshia Fusion).

Here is what the pattern looks like in the bag:

You can get it at many quilt shops, online various places, including from Joan–click on the hotlink and scroll down maybe 1/3 of the way to the bottom of the long webpage. I LOVED the Bag-E-Bottom (the name, too!), a slightly spendy but really nice plexiglas insert that keeps the bottom crisp and nicely formed, helping the bag look good once you start filling it.

7 Responses to “My Gracie Totebag is virtually DONE!”

  1. Julie in Tucson Says:

    Your bag is fantastic!!!!

  2. Vicki Says:

    Your bag is wonderful and the Mt. Fugi center panel makes it all the more special!

  3. Anonymous Says:

    Awesome bag – love the colours you have used, they work so well together. Anne (NZ)

  4. Katrina Says:

    Wonderful bag!! I love the scene in it 🙂

  5. Lazy Girl Says:

    Your Gracie is fabulous. I think your modifications are wonderful. One of my design goals is having
    my designs be as easy to modify as a stew recipe. More pockets,
    longer handles, etc. They are complete, yet blank pallets waiting
    for your personal touch.

    Very nice! Thank you for sharing your creation with us.

    Joan Hawley
    Lazy Girl Designs

  6. Dana Says:

    Wow…this is truely gorgeous!!!! You are so very talented!

    This was worth waiting to see 🙂

  7. Anonymous Says:

    in a word – BEAUTIFUL !!!