Selecting Bag Fabrics

Every horizontal surface in my workroom is covered, mostly with fabric, but other stuff, too. I don’t have large enough horizontal surfaces, but that is no excuse. I have so many things going on. On the top of my list is sewing!

I am trying to pick out fabric for my latest Anna Maria Horner Multi-tasker Tote. I’d like a new one for spring and it just isn’t going well. I tidied up a little after I got home from CQFA, but I still don’t have enough space to work.

I had three fabrics ready to make the next Anna Maria Horner Multi-tasker tote and one of them disappeared or I lost it or misplaced it. To make matters worse, I don’t remember which one I had selected. Bleah!

I was looking for a red or a pink to bring out the middle of the flower, but am considering another green to encourage subtlety. I looked at pattern on the fabric as well as the color and I am not really sure any of them work. The above are some that I tried out to see if I liked them. I think I need a red with a little more pink.

Final Selection?
Final Selection?

Perhaps you like the above?

No? I found more fabric choices in the pile behind the door. they caught my eye when I was wandering in and out. This area is like the Tollbooth in the Phantom Tollbooth and they haven’t been on my radar since my sister moved a bunch of stuff around in my workroom.

Option A
Option A

I definitely like the pink dot better. It is a lot of dots in the piece, however.

Option B
Option B

The small dot kept catching my eye as I looked at some of the other choices. It was on the top of my ironing board because I had just ironed it. I kind of like the lavender/pinkish color.

Option C
Option C

Stripes don’t work for me. Well, actually, the stripes work, but the color of the stripes doesn’t work. Too Pepto Bismally.

Option D
Option D

Too much green?

I really wanted to get going on that tote today. It has been too long since I sewed. Since I couldn’t decide on colors, I was stuck. NOT!

AMH MTT in Progress
AMH MTT in Progress

I have plenty of fabric and had just come across the perfect green to make the straps for another AMH MTT, so I started in on that and got pretty far after I made the  straps.

The reddish pink fabric is a Martha Negley for Rowan fabric from the Variegated Garden collection will be used for the exterior. This particular print is MN-40 Dahlia.

That fun dot is the inside. As you can see I have the pockets pinned and ready to sew, but haven’t sewn them yet. I was tired.

I added a cell phone pocket, which is the smaller pocket also waiting to be sewed on.

Cell Phone Pocket in Progress
Cell Phone Pocket in Progress

Sorry, this photo is bleary. I have been up and down the stairs (4 flights) at least 8 times to fix photos and I am not doing it again. This idea is from the Sweet Harmony bag. The dimensions of this  pocket are 4″x5″. I cut it 8″x5″, sew around the outside with right sides together, turn it and then sew it to the lining of the AMH MTT bag. The way I make it fit the cell phone is that I pin the bottom so that it measures only 3″, which makes a pleat.

Author: Jaye

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

6 thoughts on “Selecting Bag Fabrics”

  1. I like option A, but with the green strip from option 4….
    And I want to see pictures when you are done….
    I do so love my bags!

    1. Lutra: don’t worry, I love talking about my own projects, so you will definitely see photos. So, you like the pink dot with the flower fabric and the green stripe?

  2. So many choices, hmmm. I like the turquoise/green polka dot with the flower print. How about those two with the green with small polka dots (the one in option D).

    1. You are so clever mixing up the ones I put together. I’ll have to check the different combinations out. I am not so stressed about starting something because I am working on the Martha Negley bag.

  3. I saw with interest your collection of mosaic inspirations. I too think “what a great quilt” when I see interesting mosaics. The Wynn in Las Vegas has the best—–floors and walls, mosaics everywhere. I will send you a picture if you reply to this comment. Can’t figure out how to do it otherwise.

    Diane Leighton
    Yuba City, CA

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