Nova Tote Pattern - Now Available

I finally sat down to work on my canvas bag pattern. I hosted an Instagram contest to name the pattern, and Clover and Violet had the winning name: Nova Tote. The pattern is available for sell now on Payhip. Previously, I had the pattern available on Craftsy with my free patterns, but I moved to Payhip due to VAT collection required when selling digital patterns to purchasers in the EU.

I drafted this pattern several months ago with the idea in mind to have a rugged bag with quick construction that can go from beach to market and features some of my favorite quilt blocks. Over the course of months, I have I made several different versions of the bag in two different sizes - small and medium. I have made it in duck canvas, quilting weight cotton over duck canvas base, home decor with Peltex interfacing, lined and unlined.

Chrissy Lux of Sew Lux Fabrics unveiled the most gorgeous tricked out version of the Nova Tote for her quilted bag entry of Sewvivor. I am in love with all the added details and quilted panels!

Basic features of the Nova Tote include:

 Two sizes in one pattern

Approximate dimensions:

Large size: 20" W x 7" D x 14 1/2" H; bottom 13" W; handle drop 10"

Medium size: 16" W x 6"D x 13" H; bottom 10" W; handle drop 8 1/2"

Durable double layer of canvas

Contrast bottom and straps

Quick construction

Featured quilt block pocket

Instructions to make a double star quilt block pocket

Comparable sized quilt blocks can be substituted for a wide variety of options

Bias or twill bound interior seams

Optional lining

I am very excited to offer this pattern, but I would be lying if I said that I am not nervous as this is my first in depth pattern. I hope you'll take a chance on a fledgling pattern designer. 

Patchwork Baby Steps Quilt Tutorial

One day early this summer, my 11 year old daughter, K, and I were doodling on graph paper and she drew the inspiration for this quilt. It was perfect timing as I have a friend due to have a baby girl soon, and I wanted to make her a quilt. My challenge was to find a way to quick piece K's design and make it fat quarter friendly because that is the bulk of my stash. More graph paper doodling ensued, and I had a plan to use either fat quarters or jelly roll strips.

Quilt size: 36" square

The quilt is composed of different five types of strip sets, which are then cross cut into 2.5" wide subsection strips and assembled into five different 12" block sets for a total of nine blocks.

Fabric requirements*
24 assorted fat quarter strips - 2.5" x 21" or 12 width of fabric jelly roll strips
white background - 1 1/3 yards

Cutting instructions
8 white 2.5" x width of fabric strips, cut each strip in half to 21" length*
5 white 4.5" x width of fabric strips, cut each strip in half to 21" length* (you may substitute with two 2.5" jelly roll strips)

*Do not cut into 21" lengths if you are using jelly roll strips

Make strip sets
Using your color strips and white strips, assemble five different types of strip sets as follows. You will make TWO strip sets of each type if you are using FQ strips; if you are using jelly roll strips for the color portion rather than fat quarters, you will have one long WOF strip set. 

There will be excess fabric leftover from the strip sets. I find it easier to waste a bit of fabric than to cut multiple length strip sets, but you can reduce the length of the second strip set (if using FQ) from 21" to 10" for each of the fabrics if you want to eliminate waste.You may also notice that strip set 1 upside down is the same as strip set 4, and strip set 2 upside down is the same as strip set 3, so you can combine those for the second strip sets if you don't mind more repeat in fabric prints.

Strip set 1:
1 1/2 strip sets needed if using FQs

Strip set 2:
1 1/2 strip sets needed if using FQs

Strip set 3:
1 1/4 strip sets needed if using FQs

Strip set 4:
1 1/4 strip sets needed if using FQs

Strip set 5:
1 1/4 strip sets needed if using FQs

Cross cut strip sets into subsets
Cross cut your strip sets into 2.5" wide strips. Each strip will be 2.5" x 12.5".

Assemble quilt blocks

Assemble subset strips into quilt blocks as follows:

Block A:

Make three

Block B:

Make two

Block C:

Make one

Block D:

Make one

Block E:

Make two

Assemble quilt top

Assemble quilt blocks in the following order to make the quilt top: