Running with Scissors
Running with scissors – whenever I hear that phrase, it takes me back a few years to watching Cheers and the episode with Frasier running with scissors around the bar. (Okay, that likely dates me just a bit, but if you want to see the clip, you can find it by asking Mr. Google.) Anyway, in today’s post, I’m showing off my Running with Scissors tool tote, made from a pattern by the same name by Patterns by Annie. It is a safer way to run with scissors than Frasier’s version.
When Emily of The Darling Dogwood mentioned to me that she was going to be doing some 3D sewing, I asked her what pattern she was going to make. When she mentioned this one, I said I’d sew along with her and make my own version. Emily is an Island Batik Ambassador, and the IB Ambassadors are having a 3D sewing blog hop right now. Today is Emily’s day to post, so you can hop over to her blog and see her version too.
I dove in and got started, spending one day cutting up my pattern pieces. I read through the pattern first, but decided not to use the labels provided to attach to the cuts. Evidently I like to make more work for myself, so I wrote the labels by hand. So Tip #1 – use the pre-written labels and make life simpler for yourself.
The outside of the tote has a generous zippered pocket on the front and another on the back, perfect for holding a mini cutting mat, larger rulers, patterns, notebooks, etc. The tote finishes at 9.5″ x 12.5″ x 1.5″ so it’s nice and roomy.
The print fabric for the outer fabric on my tote is a Libs Elliott piece and the solid is Kona Orange. The inner fabric is from my stash, a left over piece of the fabric used to make my Solar Flare quilt. I don’t have any information on that fabric, unfortunately.
The inside of this tote has pockets, pockets, and more pockets! So many places to tuck items for safe traveling (running, even) when going to a sew day or retreat.
There are zippered mesh pockets, vinyl pockets and fabric pockets. I hadn’t sewn with mesh, but it was easily done. I had sewn with vinyl a few times before, so that was okay too. There are a few hiccups that I won’t bother to point out, but I’m very pleased with the bag.
While constructing the bag, I switched between my regular sewing foot and my AcuFlex foot (walking foot). There are several layers with all those pockets. The outer pieces are constructed with Soft & Stable, which I find easy to work with. Once you have that piece layered with the pockets, you have several layers to sew through. I found my AcuFlex foot helpful for the inner pockets, especially working with the vinyl. I used the zippers from Annie’s and they work so well because they have a wider flange on either side of the zipper teeth, making it much easier to attach the zippers when you are sewing layers. That is my Tip #2 – use the zippers from Annie’s.
One side of my tote has pockets for the little items. This side was constructed using the pocket measurements given in the pattern. There’s a mesh pattern for those little items, vinyl pockets for taller items, and then additional fabric pockets for smaller items.
On the other side, I adjusted the pockets to fit what I thought I might tuck in. It’s easy to change the measurements of the pockets and Annie encourages makers to do so. The pattern could also easily be adjusted to omit some of the pockets, too.
So you might be wondering if all those tools will rub against each other, or possibly break in transit. Annie has thought of that too, and she gives instructions for a pressing mat that fits between the two pockets.
Since I have a small wool pressing mat (which would fit perfectly in one of those outer pockets), I decided to quilt the inner mat, using straight lines.
All zipped up, with tools inside. Not all of the pockets are filled, but thought you might like to see how compact it is, even with the padding between.
My final tip, Tip #3 would be to shop the supplies list given with each pattern on the website. It’s much easier to order everything you need at once, the colors all match, and there’s no time wasted trying to search for the supplies. (I am not affiliated with Patterns by Annie. I just like her patterns and notions.)
I enjoyed sewing along with Emily, chatting back and forth with tips and thoughts on how to sew some of the construction. I would say the most challenging part of the tote is the all around zipper and bias binding. I probably used the seam ripper the most on that step. BigJ could hear me muttering while he was working next door, and quietly (and carefully) said – “things not going well over there?” – haha.
In the end, I got my Running with Scissors tool tote done. It’s not perfect, but it will be a handy tote for those days to come when we can get together once again and sew. When that time comes, I’ll be ready to roll – er, I mean run!
Do hop over to The Darling Dogwood and see Emily’s version of Running with Scissors, and leave her some a comment and encouragement. I know she’ll be delighted to hear from you!
Wendy
I Like Thursday 47
22 Comments
marissthequilter
Wow !! What an impressive tote. You could even sprint with it and come to no harm. I am also impressed by those tabs to hold down one’s reels of thread. A lovely design.
Riceford Streams
That’s a great bag! Thanks for the tips, too
Stitchin at Home
You are going to love this, I made one of these a few years ago and have used it countless times. Love the colour!
txquiltgal
What a darling bag! I had never thought about buying mesh, and I am amazed that it matches. Your sewing looks really neat. I’m going to check out Annie’s.
Your comments about running with scissors take me back to my childhood. Seems almost everything I did had the possible threat of putting my eye out, which was one of Mom’s favorite admonitions. 🙂
Nancy Bekedam
Wow, great job, Wendy!! Love the insightful tips, too!
Carol Andrews
Oh Wow Wendy! Well done. It is beautiful and bright and cheery and just look at those pockets. Stunning. I might need to make one now that I’ve seen yours and Emily’s.
karenfae
I love your organized tote! I thought I remembered all the Cheers episodes lol – as I watched it alot but that one does not come to mind – I might just have to google so I can have a good laugh today
Quilting is in my Blood
Oh my word—what a fabulous, very detailed tote! I’m so very impressed!
Vicki in MN
Oh that is sew cute and useful! There is a pocket for everything, wait did you have chocolate in there? Of course it will need to be put into a zip loc bag to keep everything else clean! So glad you made it in your favorite color;)
catpatches
Well, it turned out very cute. Looks like a lot of work though. I love how bright and cheery it is. Oh yes, and that Cheers reference…blast from the past.
Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts
Wendy, that is impressive!!! And so fun in all the orange, not mention useful. Love it! I have a chunk of Soft and Stable left from the tote bag I made last year – wonder if it’s enough for something like this. Something to put on my list! 🙂
thedarlingdogwood
Love your Running with Scissors bag! Absolutely agree with using Annie’s wider zippers! I am making a Call Me bag and I bought a zipper from my LQS–so much narrower! What’s the fun looking thing next to the Hera marker in your bag? Thanks so much for sewing along with me!!!
Needle and Foot
Wowza – this is one incredible tote. Very ambitious Wendy. So many pockets and zippers. I am sure I would sew something in upside down, backwards or worse. Really impressed with this and hope you get to use it soon – in person!!!
piecefulwendy
I had to go slow, and check and recheck. Lots of steps, but easy if you follow them.
Cocoa Quilts
Very cute tote. I love all the pockets. Great job again Wendy!
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! I LOVE this color and the name and the finished product. Great job! I can imagine that the all-around zipper would be the hardest part . . . maybe tied with the binding. The mesh pockets look handy. You did a really nice job and it looks professionally made. Now you need some place to go to take it and show it off! ~smile~ Roseanne
Louise Hornor
If there are mistakes in your tote, I can’t see them! It looks wonderfully made and super useful. And bright orange is just the best of all colors: cheerful and eye catching. No way you could ever lose this in the chaos of a retreat 🙂
Sandra
I am finding that Annie’s bags are extremely involved but do have very clear instructions which, coupled with the add-on videos are super clear. I am not quite at the stage of sewing the thick layers of fabric, but I have heard some tips from the ambassadors and Emily was one of them! Love your bright and happy tote. How nice that you sewed with Emily. I’m off to check out hers next!
Kathleen McCormick
That is so impressive! I love her patterns and this hop is killing me. I have so many bags to make, but find I don’t use them as much as I would like, so I am going to take a gander and come up with one I really want to do and know I will use!
Christi
I really like this bag a lot. Great colors and very useful.
StoriedQuilts
This bag is so beautiful and functional. I really like ByAnnie patterns. They are a lot of work for sure but the end result is something very useful. I love that bright orange!
quiltinggail
Wendy, what a great bag!! It looks wonderful and useful … and very pretty! How neat that you were able to sew it with Emily! That must have been a LOT of fun!!!
Happy Quilting! 🙂