A "Very Simple" (but cool!) Tote

So there I was, browsing through some of my favorite blogs the other day, when I hit Camp Follower Bags and Quilts and read Tia's tutorial for a "Very Simple Tote".  I just love Tia's work.  I  followed one of her tutes a long time ago and couldn't WAIT to try this one out!  Only...

Ooops. Yeah. No room on the cutting table. I finished putting the Log Cabin blocks together first (will share soon!), moved that aside, then got started!

I grabbed a BDU pant leg that had a fairly good cargo pocket and followed along with Tia's tute on my iPad.

Man.  That's a pretty crummy-looking flap on the pocket, isn't it? Seriously. All worn through where the button hits - a clear sign that instead of ironing her husband's uniforms herself, someone sent them out to the Quartermaster laundry. What a laz oh, wait!

No. This is one of my husband's old uniforms. Never mind.  (I ♥ the QM Laundry!)

Under the pocket was a pleat of some sort.  In order to keep everything nice and squared up, I stitched it flat.

Why, yes.  That IS pink thread.  Variegated pink - King Tut 926, Red Sea.  I liked how it looked on the camo, so I did this, too:

I couldn't help myself.  Did I mention I decided to line mine?  In hot pink camo?  Tia's tute was so easy to follow that I thought I'd make it more complicated for myself.  LOL.  Even with that, it was a piece of cake!

For the interior pocket, I decided to use a chest pocket from a BDU blouse.  I backed that, too - in a zebra print.

Inside pocket; SGT Zim in the background, standing guard

Why not, right?  Then I thought I should do some pink quilting on that, too:

It seemed like the right thing to do.

For the binding, I used the zebra print.  In this next photo, you can see that pinned in place - and can get a look at the inside of the tote:

Oh, yeah.  I added the heart (a fray-edge appliqué) to cover up that area over the button.

Instead of making fabric straps, I used a black polypro.  I also decided not to tuck them into the binding like Tia did but added them after I had the binding on.



Tell me that doesn't look totally cute!  And hey, I knew making "strong boxes" on dog collars would come in handy in other endeavors!

I thought I'd add a side tab from the uniform as a closure thing.  I'm not sure why.

I think because I liked it so much on Patty's bag!

I sewed the button on with the pink thread, too.  I used my Grandma Z's thimble.  I'm not sure what she'd think of this project, but I think she'd like that I was thinking about her!

Also note the nail used to secure the button at the right interval.  I wanted a little more "give" to this than normal - a longer shank, if you will - since the BDU fab is thick.

Here it is, all done!

And a look at the back:

And now... a look inside:

Isn't that cool?!?!

Tia, this was SO much fun!  Your instructions were great!  Photos where I needed/wanted them, and enough verbiage to explain it all in the simplest terms!  Thank you so much for sharing your VERY cool tote!!!  I can see making this again SOON, and adding even more little extras!

Thanks to all for reading!