Three Cheers for Zippered Tote!

I’ve wanted to make a red, white, and blue purse for awhile and finished this just in time for Memorial Day! The original pattern was Charm Party Tote, a tote that was open at the top.

However, I wanted this to function more as a purse, so I added a zipper.

The bag has fusible fleece on the interior and exterior, and features some light quilting. I am going to experiment with using different combinations of fusible fleecing for the lining to see if I can find one that makes this less bulky. The outside uses 24 charm squares, and then I used the leftover squares to make the pockets.

6 thoughts on “Three Cheers for Zippered Tote!”

Mrs. S says:

June 1, 2010 at 6:57 am

Way to go Heather!

Reply
Monica says:

January 2, 2016 at 4:02 pm

Hello from Germany 🙂 ,

I’m sewing a lot for animal welfare projects ❤ . For a long time now I have been looking for an inset zipper like the one you showed.
You had planned to post a description of how to make this inset. Have I missed it?

I would be really, really grateful for a little hint on how to make it so I can add it to my oilcloth bags for the animal welfare auctions 🙂 .

Kindly, Monica

Reply
1. Keep It Thimble says:
  
  January 4, 2016 at 6:04 am
  
  Hello Monica,
  
  Thanks for commenting! No, you didn’t miss a tutorial on this as I haven’t written it yet :). I did find these two tutorials which should help:
  
  http://sewingnovice.com/2012/10/23/recessed-zipper-tutorial/
  
  For 2016 I hope to get back to posting on more regular basis!
  
  Reply
Monica says:

January 4, 2016 at 7:58 am

Thanks for your reply 🙂 .

I know the video and the tutorial of “sewingnovice” but they do it differently. There is this gap on the end of the zipper which I do not want.

However, I have found a Japanese (?) tutorial which could be the right method but I cannot read the Japanese instructions 😉 :

http://www.duitang.com/blog/?id=40461952

Reply
1. Keep It Thimble says:
  
  January 9, 2016 at 8:24 am
  
  Hi Monica,
  
  Sorry it took so long to reply back. I looked at the Japanese tutorial and it is not the same as what I did either. I will try to put something together on this in the next few weeks and get it posted. It’s pretty easy to do!
  
  Reply
  1. Monica says:
    
    January 9, 2016 at 7:26 pm
    
    I really look forward to your tutorial since I sew a lot of oilcloth bags for our animal welfare auctions. I tried the Japanese tutorial and it nearly drove me crazy 😉 .
    I’d be really glad to learn an easier way 🙂 .