The blue hexagon tote bag
One of my craft projects this year was to cover up the printed logo on a simple, white tote that I got for free at my last job. I wanted to make it more of a hand decorated tote bag instead of me becoming their walking advertising pillar. I did not mind the commercial logo that was on the white tote really, but since I already own many of the same brand I felt that one of those could benefit a change. And I like to use crafted items, because in that way they look a little bit more me.
So I decorated a tote bag with a hexagon EPP flower. I have a huge sack of hexagons, both loose and sewn together into hexie flowers, that was given to me from an older quilting lady that was decluttering… She no longer felt that she had the eye-sight for hand-sewing. This bag is a glorious treasure trove of vintage fabric fun. Not all is in my style or taste, but all are still usable and full of potential.
For my first tote I picked one big, blue chunk of already sewn together hexagons and pinned it over the print. Then I sewed tiny little stitches all around the outer rim of the hexagon mass to attach it. It did take a while, but it was so worth it.
The tote is now a DIY project and a joy to hitch up your shoulder and use.
Since it was blue I gave it to my mother and she said she liked it. But that left me with nothing, so I took another tote from my stash in the entryway and decorated it as well, so that I got a tote bag that I could use myself. I’ll show that in another post.
These days everyone needs a fabric tote bag for grocery shopping, and in general carrying things around. I try to always store one in my handbag and one in my backpack, so that I am not without one when I am out and about. It’s perfect for thrifting, but also for carrying groceries home even though my favorite one is Dunderklumpen one, because it has long straps so that I can carry it on my shoulder instead of in my hand.
I have had the intention of sewing more iHanna Style tote bags for years now. I even have a big pile of fabrics I’ve gathered together that would be perfect for such sewing. Kind of thicker, furniture cloth, sturdy enough to carry a heavy load. But when ever I think of it, I find myself rather cutting out images from a magazine or gluing something into an altered book… I don’t think it means I should give up on the thought, but maybe I need to reconsider mass producing tote bags out of all that lovely fabrics (to give away or list in the shop) and just make one or two for myself. That would be enough work and enough for me.
I might also make a few as Christmas gifts, because everyone could use another (patterned and colorful) tote I think. Or maybe I should just not do things that I am no longer drawn to? I just don’t know how to give up on my ideas, it is my weakness.
What would you do?
❤ You might also enjoy previous blog post about my EPP craft experiments
This post is part of NaBloPoMo where I write 30 blog posts in November. Thanks for reading and leaving me a comment, it encourages me to keep going. To follow along subscribe to blog posts via email or RSS. I also have a sweet Substack Newsletter about art, craft and creativity that you might want to sign up for so that we can keep in touch in the future. I’d love that. On instagram I’m @ihannas and on YouTube Studio iHanna. Take care and stay creative friends.
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Hanna, you and my sister would get on great. She loves to do this sort of thing too. Either sewing patches like this, or glue gunning stuff to other stuff. Anything crafty and she’s be sat at the table with you. By the way, the bag looks great. I’d buy one of those.
Creatives everywhere, unite, I say. You are very creative as well, in other ways perhaps, but the world is your oyster as they say. Thanks, I’m so glad you think the bag looks good too.
I think it’s lovely, but if it doesn’t bring you joy to do it, maybe let the idea go?
Isn’t that the thing though… It might give me joy to sew them but then I when I never do it I just don’t know. The fabrics are so beautiful I have a hard time letting them to even when I know I should. Life is hard, haha.
Super cute! I love to stumble across old quilts or even just quilt pieces in antique and thrift stores. Some of my favorite finds!
Wow, you are so lucky to be able to stumble across old quilts in thrift stores in the US. Here that never ever happens, I’m not sure why. But that’s okay too, I do not need any more materials really.
Oh, and now you have my email if you wanted to shoot me some questions about Substack.