Polka Dot Embroidered Tote Bag

Some simple embroidery on bright polka dot fabric turned into a sweet little tote bag.

Red and white polka dot is a favourite pattern of mine, and last November the lovely Caroline from CJ Made had a sewing supplies giveaway that I was lucky enough to win which contained a load of red and white polka dot fabric. I made a top for myself and with some of the left overs I thought I'd try a little embroidery inspired something that I'd seen on pinterest.

source: Harujion Design

To make an embroidered polka dot tote bag you will need:

1 x piece of polka dot fabric 36cm(14") x 77cm(30") for the main body of the bag

2 x pieces of polka dot fabric 10cm(4") x 61cm(24") for the handles

Embroidery thread in your choice of colours, mine are DMC 3824, 3753, 3819 and 973

A sharp needle, scissors, sewing machine, sewing thread

First you need to decide on a design and where you want it. I did a band of flowers to run across the top of the bag. The rest is a centralised band of running stitch. This is a gift for my niece so I added her name to the back too just as an added extra. Just make sure any fancy design element is at least 3" away from the short edge of the fabric or it will get in the way of the top hem later.

The embroidery is worked with 3 strands of thread throughout.

Starting roughly in the centre, stitch about 5" (12cm) of running stitch then lazy daisy flowers on 3 dots in a row, then continue with running stitch the full length of the fabric.

Then pick another colour and repeat the process, doing the same number of rows each side of your original central one.

I did 3 lines of each of my 4 colours so 12 lines in total. To add the name on the back I used a water-soluble marker to write in a fancy font where the last line of stitching was due to go, then worked it in backstitch.

I then waited about for nearly 3 months and this birthday was imminent to make it up into a bag. You don't have to wait this long! Originally this was going to be a cushion but my brother and his family are moving overseas later this year and I suddenly realised that a cushion would just be an extra bulky thing to pack. A bag can roll up to nearly nothing and just tuck in a case so a much better present under the circumstances. Maybe it was just as well I didn't rush to make the cushion cover after all!

So, now it's time to turn your embroidered piece into a tote. Start by pressing everything with the iron, then fold the main piece in half WRONG SIDES TOGETHER and using a small seam allowance (1/4" or 1/2 cm ish) sew up either side. Now turn the bag inside out, press the edges flat and then stitch these seams again, this time with a 1/2" or 1.25cm seam allowance.

This makes a french seam which just makes the inside a bit tidier, especially for people like me who don't have an overlocker (serger). Turn the bag back out the right way and admire your lovely neat seams. 

Fold and press a narrow hem at the top open edge then fold over again an inch (2.5cm) Pin but don't sew yet.

Now make the handles, make both the same. Fold and press a narrow hem on both long sides of your handle pieces, then fold in half again, lining up the edges.

Top stitch down both sides.

Tuck one end of one handle under the hem you made on the front of the main bag piece, about 5cm (2") from the side seam.

Fold it back up on itself and secure with a pin. Repeat for the other end of the handle on the other side of the bag, making sure your handle is smooth and not twisted.

Now repeat on the back half of the bag with the other handle. 

Top stitch round the top of the bag, just away for the hem edge. Repeat another line of top stitching around the top edge of the bag.

See how nice and neat that french seam makes the inside - makes me so happy!

Basketweave Knit Cowl

A free knitted cowl pattern perfect for beginners or experienced knitters who just want a quick and easy project.

Sometimes if I'm let loose in a shop that sells balls of wool and yarn they call to me and I am forced to buy them and take them home. Then I have to think of something to make with them. 
Most of my purchases are made like this, I fall in love with the yarn then have to find a pattern. I think the other way round is probably easier but the yarn calls when the yarn calls.

I bought 3 balls of this beautiful multicoloured yarn a little while ago.

It's Illusion by Hayfield and comes in a few different colour ways with magical names like Abracadabra, Enchant and Presto. I had to buy 3 because there was an offer and it would be rude not to. I chose 3 different shades, thinking a 100g ball would be enough for a scarf, hat or other winter warmer type thing.
I used 1 ball for a child sized scarf for one of my niece's birthday present. I didn't take photos but it was a simple crochet scarf with big ol' tassels on the ends. Maybe one day I'll make another similar one and take some photos and write up a pattern, on this occasion I just needed it quickly as her birthday was looming!
Ball number 2, Abracadabra, is this lovely black, blue, green and purple mix that I used for this simple cowl in a basketweave knitted pattern. 

Basketweave is such a simple pattern and there are lots of different versions. You only need to be able to knit and purl to do this - easy peasy!

My basketweave is 4 knits, followed by 4 purls, kind of like doing a really wide rib, then after 4 rows you switch and the knits sit on top of the purls and visa versa. Now it's kind of like an enormous moss stitch.
What I love about this pattern is:

• it is completely reversible, which means you can wear the cowl in loads of different ways.
• it doesn't roll up at the sides like stocking stitch.
• it doesn't pull in and become narrow like rib.

The finished cowl measures 26cm(10") x 76cm(30") and it joins with 3 buttons.

You could easily add additional button holes if you wanted more buttons. I used old buttons from my stash so they are all sightly different, which I kind of like. The buttons are not just a decorative feature though, joining the cowl like this makes it more versatile to wear.
I've found a few different ways to wear it but I'm sure there are loads more.

Just pop it over your head as a simple tube.

 With just the top button done up

 Undo the buttons, give it a twist and then do the buttons up again. This is my favourite as the twist makes it hang nicely. Here you can see how the knit is double sided - you can twist it as much as you like and it makes no difference what side is showing.

You could make your cowl longer or shorter if you like, just knit it to the length you want. You could make it wider or narrower too, just cast on more or less stitches at the beginning, as long as it's in multiples of 4 you can please yourself. 

This photo show how this length hangs round my neck, to give you an idea. (I have the 1 twist in it here too) 

The yarn I've used is DK, which is by far the most common type in the UK. I believe it's the equivalent to a light worsted in the US. You can use any yarn that's close enough, this is definitely not an exact science type project. I used 5.5mm knitting needles which is a larger than the button band suggested for this yarn. The bigger needles make the finish knit nice and floppy.

Basketweave Knit Cowl pattern

You will need:

100g ball of DK or equivalent (you won't need the full 100g though, I had about 1/4 of the ball left)

5.5mm knitting needles

3 fairly large buttons

Cast on 44 stitches

row 1: *k4, p4 repeat from * to end

row 2: *p4, k4 repeat from * to end

row 3: repeat row 1

row 4: repeat row 2

row 5: repeat row 2

row 6: repeat row 1

row 7: repeat row 2

row 8: repeat row 1

These 8 rows form the pattern.
Work the 8 rows 20 times in total (the work should measure about 73cm (29") at this point)

Buttonhole row 1: pattern 5, cast of 2, pattern 14, cast off 2, pattern 14, cast off 2, pattern to end.

Buttonhole row 2: pattern 5, cast on 2, pattern 14, cast on 2, pattern 14, cast on 2, pattern to end.

Continue in pattern for 6 more rows then cast off in pattern.

Sew on the button, lining them up with the button holes. Sew in the ends.

8 rows seems like a lot to memorise for a pattern if you are a beginner but trust me, it's really really simple. You will see how it's building up in no time at all and won't need to refer to the pattern after a couple of repeats.
My buttons are all just under an inch in diameter, but these button holes are plenty big enough if you use buttons that are a bit larger. The knit is very floppy and loose. If your buttons are smaller then I'd recommend making your buttonholes smaller by only casting off 1 stitch instead of 2. 

Let me know below if you have any questions, and if you do make a basketweave cowl I'd love to see it so do tag me in any Facebook, Twitter or Instagram shares. 

You might also be interested in:

Harry Potter Scarf Pattern

I can make you that hat

Pom Pom Scarf Refashion

Doctor Who Scarf Bracelets

I'll be linking up at these great link parties