Basic Denim Patchwork Tote with Applique

Hello all, today we are going to make a very useful tote from some not so useful anymore jeans.

BODY OF BAG:
First you will need to cut 8 squares of denim.  I cut mine 7" square, which resulted in a 12' square bag, with 1/2" seam allowances.
Then lay out your squares.

 Stitch together, press open seam allowances and topstitch 1/8" from each side of seam.  The topstitching accomplishes a couple of things here, it reinforces the seams, helps the seams lay neater since this bag is not lined inside, and adds a little more detail.  I choose to topstitch mine with pink thread to complement my applique.

You would think that pink thread on blue denim would show up better but no.  Squint real hard, maybe you will be able to see it. :)
APPLIQUE:
Now to add the bird applique.  You can find the pattern here. bird applique
Cut one of the body and one of the wing.

First, using a zigzag stitch, stitch the wing to the body.  Like so.

Then, zigzag stitch the body to the bag.  When placing the bird on the bag, keep in mind that you will "lose" about an inch from the bottom of the bag.  (This happens after adding the corner gussets to create a base for the bag.)

After the bird is all stitched on, find a button for his eye and stitch that on.  (For some reason I always wait to do this last. But go ahead, save yourself a lot of pain and suffering and do it now.)

Next, stitch the bottom seam, press, and topstitch.  Then stitch the side seams.

Now we need to make a gusset to help give the tote a bottom.  With the bag wrong side out, line up the side seam to the bottom seam to create a triangle, pin, and mark 1" from the outside edge.  Here's a picture to help.

Stitch the line that you marked.  Turn it right side out to make sure that everything stayed lined up, then back to wrong side out to trim  the bulk of the "triangle" away.  Then back to right side out.

Turn under about 1/2" inch on top side of bag and hem.

HANDLES:
Now cut two strips of denim that measure about 4"x27".  Press the strips in half long ways, then fold in from each side to meet the first press, and press.  It should look like this.

Fold it all together and topstitch down each side of handle about 1/4" from edge.

Now, at the top of the bag, measure in 1 1/2" from each side seam and place a pin.  I'm going to call this a "pin fence".  Normally I would say measure and pin the handle to the bag, but that many layers of denim is awful thick to pin through.  So, I make a pin fence and hold the handle in place while I stitch it.

There are a couple of methods you could use to attach the handle.  I choose to simply stitch over the hem stitching, going back and forth a couple of times.

And that's it.  Now you can go shopping with your brand new tote!

I plan on adding some more applique patterns in the future so keep watching for them. :)

Pretty Pink Flowers Scarf

I am just loving this scarf.  If you are a fast crocheter, wouldn't this make a great Valentine's gift?  Or if it takes you a bit longer to finish a project, how about a Mother's Day gift?  This pattern works up very quickly.

So, on with it.  Yarn.  I used one skein of Red Heart super saver yarn (7 oz./364 yds.) and made this scarf and a coordinating hat which I will post next week.

Use hook J.

Chain 24.
R1 . Sc in second stitch from hook and each stitch across. (23 sc)
R2.  Ch 4, turn.  Skip first st, tr in next 6 st's.  Ch 4,* yarn over twice, insert hook in 4'th ch from hook, draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through two loops on hook, yarn over and draw through two loops on hook*, repeat once. (3 loops remain on hook).  Skip next two st's, *yarn over twice and insert hook in next st,, draw up a loop. Yarn over and draw through two loops on hook, yarn over and draw throug two loops on hook*, repeat twice more (6 loops remain on hook).  Skip next three st's, repeat between second set *, 9 loops remain on hook.  Yarn over and draw through all 9 loops.  Ch 4, repeat between first set of *, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.  Skip next two st's, tr in next st and in remaining 6 st's.
R3.  Ch 4 ,turn. skip first st, tr in next 6 st's.  Ch 2, [ *yarn over twice and insert hook into middle of flower started on previous row, draw up a loop. Yarn over and draw through two loops on hook, yarn over and draw through two loops on hook*, repeat 2 more times. (4 loops remain on hook) Yarn over and draw through all 4 loops.] Ch 3.  Repeat between brackets.  Ch 2, tr in next st and in remaining 6 st's.
R4.  Ch 3, turn.  Skip first st, dc in next 6 st's. Sc 2 in ch 2 space, 1 sc in tip of petal, 3 sc in ch 3 space, 1 sc in tip of petal, 2 sc in ch 2 sp.  Dc in next 7 st's.
Repeat R2-4 until scarf is nearly 5' long, about 26 times.
Repeat R2.
Repeat R3.
Final Row.  Ch 1, turn. Skip first st and sc in each remaining st and ch space for a total of 23 sc.
Fringe.  Cut 46-47 pieces of yarn about 10" long. To make fringe, fold one piece of yarn in half, draw hook through st, catch loop of yarn and pull through stitch.  Then pull the two ends of yarn piece (opposite of loop side) through loop and pull tight.  Repeat in each st on both ends of the scarf. Trim ends of fringe even if needed.  (I let my starting and ending piece of yarn be part of the fringe and pulled it through the loop along with the fringe.)

And there you have it!  It's really not as difficult as it sounds, it's actually very easy once you work a flower and can see what you are doing.  If you get stuck, let me know and I will try to help.

One more picture just because I love this scarf so much. :)