Panel Tote Bag Tutorial

It was one of those simple projects that I thought turned out looking like a million bucks and the panel is what makes it. You could also cut a center square from any fabric that you want to feature!

These fish are too cute not to share! The original pattern can be found here on etsy but I wanted to share some modifications and tips to make them a little easier.

English Paper Piecing (EPP) is one of the oldest piecing techniques and simply means using paper as temporary backing in order to get precise seams. You can create any number of shapes with this technique, but there's a reason that the humble hexagon is so popular - hexagons fit together in a number of pleasing combinations and the corners make for easy basting. The small size of the hexagons can put a surprisingly rapid dent in your scrap pile.

I love Easter eggs. There's something delightful about the elevation of such an ordinary, every day object into colour and pattern and life: it's spring and rebirth and all the good things we've been longing for through the long, white winter. This year, in addition to dying real eggs, I wanted to make something a little more permanent and a little more playful. It was a perfect time to dig into my quilting scraps.

I love the Square-in-a-Square block for its simplicity, but it’s also terrific for learning to handle bias edges, and practicing great points. It’s also one of my favorites for using novelty or feature fabrics in the centers.

So, I ran into a little problem. It turns out that, when making a tutorial, I'm not so great at remembering to take pictures! I guess this is really more like a cross between a process and a tutorial. Hopefully it's somewhat helpful.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to leave summer in my rear view mirror just yet. Luckily, now that I have this bag with its pop of color ruffle, blue and white stripe and classic brown leather – I’ve got the perfect accessory to transition into Fall without leaving the color of summer behind.

This block has been called many things over the years, dating as far back as 1907, from a Friendship block to a Hearth and Home block, but I think Star Crossed might be a better name for it, so that's what I'm calling it.