Tutorial: The States I Love..

I'm a Cali-Texa-fornian...

My heart belongs to 2 states.

I grew up in Northern California & Texas.

Fell in love in Texas, took our love to California.

It's simple: I was raised by my momma here in CA, around my senior year of High School, I was sent to TX to finish school (reasons for another day, a different post)

Summers and whatever free vacation time we had prior to this big move were spent in TX with my dad. Once I permanently moved there.. It was love.

Naturally I grew to know both places as "home"

I fell in love in TX (Mr. Husband and I met there)
We call CA our home (after a lot of debate)

I don't have much CA/TX love with me besides the tattoo on my forearm:  it's the CA bear that's on the flag with a Nautical Star that you find on the El Paso Mountain.

So on to the tutorial:

States I love Tote Bag

(after the jump)

Materials:
Freezer paper
Fabric paint ( I'm using the brand Tulip in colors: Ebony Matte, Crimson Red Matte, Yellow Velvet, Marine Blue Matte)
Sewing Machine
Self healing cutting board (a piece of cardboard is OK too)
pencil
paint brush
X-acto Knife
Fabric (4 pieces of solid color or 2 solid 2 print (print for the lining) and 2 pieces 12.5' by 4' print fabric)
and 2 4.5'x32' fabric piece for handles
& Heavy weight fusible interface

1. Cut out four pieces of your fabric  (2 outside, 2 lining) and 2 fusible interface. Here's the outline I'm going with already interfaced, Its a super simple bag, obviously go with a color and print would look good for you. This bag is approx. 13 inches at it's tallest and 12 inches at its widest. The best thing to do to curve the bottom of your bag is to get a bowl, turn it upside down and trace around it.

2. Trace your state onto the dull side of the freezer paper. I got my states from 50states, great for grabbing just the outline. I copied the image to photoshop, and traced over my screen (shhh, don't tell my husband!)

3. CAREFULLY cut out your image with your x-acto knife. It doesn't have to be perfect. Honestly to me: the messier the better, it shows character..

4. Waxy side down, iron the freezer paper onto the right side of your fabric. Make sure its all down and secure then paint. Make sure and let it dry a bit in between coats. (Tip: place cardboard of napkins under the fabric so when it leaks through, it wouldn't ruin whatever surface you're working on)

While we wait for it to dry we'll move on with the rest of our tote..

Sew the two lining fabrics together. you'll leave about a 2' gap on the bottom of bag (this to pull fabric through) 

With right sides together place the outer tote into the lining of tote. Sew top of tote. any frays or mistakes will be hidden now :)

5. We'll pull fabric through 2' gap under tote.

6. Sew gap shut.

7. Handles are interfaced too, we'll fold sides in, then fold in half creating an almost 1.5' high handle at the end.

8. Those are the 2 handles together, now we stitch the opening side shut. I always stitch the other side only because I think it looks weird to only have 1 side stitched, whatever tickles your fancy..

9. Pin and sew handle around base of tote, creating a sturdier hold.

and then we have:

finished product.

So yeah, I need to work on my tutorial language but... I'm tired. haha. Hope you enjoyed, and if you decide to make one with the State you love, email me! I wanna see!!

Hasta!!

{linking up here}