Today I am sharing pictures from Bibby, a blog follower. Earlier this fall, she decided to make tote bags for her friends for Christmas. As a guide, she used my “Unlimited Possibilities” tote bag instructions on the Patterns page of this blog. Bibby called her sewing project “Tote Olympics,” because she made 14 bags!
She happened upon a sale at Joann’s fabrics on seasonal Halloween and Christmas fabrics; fabric for each bag cost only $2.50. “I was lazy and decided to add the woven nylon straps without covering them with fabric as the instructions suggest. However, the strapping was almost $2.99 a foot! Since each bag required 3 feet, the nylon strapping turned out to be the most expensive part. I have since found strapping at the ‘Scrap Exchange’ in Durham and will use that in the future. This is a great project for people just learning to do free-motion quilting as it goes quickly, you can practice all kinds of ‘squiggles,’ and it does not have to be perfect.”
Bibby, I award you the Gold Medal in the “Tote Olympics!” Your friends are going to love their handmade tote bags!
abyquilts 
Well, these are just wonderful! Congratulations to Bibby – I’m always impressed with anyone who finishes a big project.
These totes are gorgeous. She has some lucky friends!
Love them !!
Are the handles put on wrong on the tote with holly print?
Hi Karen: this is Bibby, and yes, the handles are sewn in the wrong way. I think this was the 2nd bag I did and I had not memorized the steps yet. I corrected the straps before giving it away. Thanks for noticing.
See Bibby’s comment about the bag. And I have one suggestion of how to use a bag with the handles put on “incorrectly.” This makes a simple backpack. How many times have you been aggravated by a shopping tote that kept slipping off your shoulder?
Very nice! Love the bags.
These are wonderful! I’ve already put mine to good use!