A Sunflower Tote Bag

Did you know that there are several colouring mediums that we use that can be heat set onto fabric? Inktense blocks and inktense pencils are the ones I tend to reach for when crafting with fabric and  decorating items like bags. I made myself a bag recently using some supermarket fat quarters and added a sunflower pocket. 

Here is what I used:

XL Doodle Art sunflower stamp

Versafine Clair ink

Calico 

Inktense blocks

Embroidery thread

5 coordinating fat quarters (Mine were from Aldi)

Braid

Material for straps and lining (I used a pillowcase) 

First I stamped the sunflower using the Versafine Clair ink onto the calico. I find this easiest to do using a stamp press as the magnets secure the cloth at the right tension. Versafine Clair isn't advertised as an ink to use on fabric, but having dropped a stamp inked with it on my jeans, it hasn't washed out after 3 washes, so it is fine to use! 😂 Then I painted the sunflower with the inktense blocks and a water brush (inktense pencils would work equally well). Once this is complete, iron it to heat set it. 

Next I cut 4 different strips from the fat quarters each 55cm x 10cm and sewed these together. I added a 10 cm strip at the top and bottom too, adding some braid over the seam. 

I attached the sunflower panel to a 17 x 25cm rectangle of the fat quarter using blanket stitch and made a pocket on the front of the bag, before sewing up the side seams.

Finally I made straps and a lining from a pillowcase and attached around the top. 

Here is the finished bag.

I fancy making a few more of these - I'm thinking a seaside themed one next! 

Thanks for looking!