Dresden Bag
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Colorful Dresden Tote Bag with Vintage 30’s Fabrics

January 15, 2014 / 22 Comments

Dresden Tote Bag

Dresden Bag

Today I am sharing with you the Dresden Tote Bag that I made for my grandmother as a Christmas present. She loves 30’s reproduction fabrics and has made several quilts out of them.  All of which I am crazy about.

I had originally made this Dresden (also known as Dresden Plate) to go on the back of my Rainbow Tumbler Quilt and decided against it.  I stored it for a future project, thinking possibly a pillow.

Then one day the whole project just popped in my head.

I had some peltex interfacing and my thoughts went like this… “I should make a tote… for Memaw for Christmas… and I can put the Dresden on the front because that is so her taste… and I should put it on the striped fabric I have!”

Yes, the same fabric as my curtains in the picture above.  Projects usually do not come to me that easy.  Usually there is much more thinking, planning, and over analyzing involved.

Dresden Tote Bag

For the front of the Dresden Tote Bag, I used iron-on adhesive to attach the Dresden to the bag fabric and then I hand appliquéd all around the edges.  I did this prior to assembling the bag.  

Dresden Plate on Tote Bag
Dresden Plate Tote Bag

I also made scrappy handles and interior lining with the 30’s fabrics.  This is a good size tote measuring at 12″ by 12″ and 3″ deep.  It is very sturdy and can carry a lot! She was crazy about the Dresden Tote Bag and could not wait to take it to her sewing group to show it off.

I am going to deviate from the topic for a moment… when I start taking pictures, my little helper shows up.  I have two cats, Artemis and Apollo.  Apollo is the snuggler.  This guy is Artemis and he is not a snuggler at all.

He is mischievous and always up to something.  As soon as I start taking pictures he loves to get in the middle of it.  This is also his room that he adopted as his own.  He spends many hours in here sleeping and if I have guests staying in it, he paws at the door to try to get in.  He definitely has his quirks!

Dresden Tote Bag

Back on topic…

Last year I started making Christmas presents early.  Below are bags I made for my grandmother.

Middle – Hexagon Bag

Right – Fabric Basket

I thought the stiff basket would be great for her sewing stuff and it has pockets on the outside all the way around.  Great for holding lots of little sewing trinkets.  I purchased the measuring tape fabric when I was with her and planned on using it for a project for her.  The blues and the fabrics in this bag fit her personality so well.  She was crazy about it and put her crocheting stuff in it right away.  It was a perfect fit!

Sewing Project Collage

Last year, the early Christmas sewing really worked out well for me… for the first time.  Usually I am over due on my handmade gifts.  Not this year.  Better planning and starting early were key.  Hopefully I can pull that off again this year.

If you did any Christmas present sewing… how did that go for you?  Did it go as planned?  I would love to hear some stories!

Happy Sewing!
Candace

You can find projects and quilt patterns for sale in my Etsy shop.

Saltwater Quilts Etsy Shop

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22 Comments

  • Salsy

    January 15, 2014 at 8:08 am Reply

    Hi Candace..your photos are always a treat. I am not fond of dresdens myself..but it looks like a great gift for your grandmother. Love the stiff bag. I made a few snappy bags for friends…they got snapped up..and are fun to make.

  • Anonymous

    January 15, 2014 at 3:26 pm Reply

    These are lovely. I'm completely taken with the basket! It's perfect for works-in-progress. I'll go look at your other posts and see if there's a tutorial…. (Is there?)

    Yes, I did some Christmas sewing (a few pics here: http://kaesey.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/welcome-2014/) and it was down to the wire. I made quilts for my kids, a felt bracelet for my husband, and an owl needlepoint kit for my niece. Despite planning ahead, I found myself finishing the binding on my son's quilt at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Whoops! At least everything was under the tree on Christmas morning and the kids were happy. Next year: start earlier!!

  • Anonymous

    January 15, 2014 at 5:14 pm Reply

    A thoughtful gift–how wonderful to sharing a love of sewing with your grandmother. Did she (or you?!) happen to make the wedding ring quilt? I love the greens.

  • SIMPLESEW

    January 15, 2014 at 5:21 pm Reply

    Love the bag, and I am working on one and have some dresdens made with my favorite Moda by Bonnie and Camille, Can you tell me where you bought the blue measuring tape, I love it. Did you use quilters cotton for your bag or different type of fabric? it looks nice a sturdy. I need a Grandma diaper bag.. I usually get rippling in my handles and I hate that, I dont see that in your bag, would appreciate any tips you could share on that. Thank you

  • Sweet Woodruff

    January 19, 2014 at 1:53 am Reply

    I'm drooling over your bag as I read your post, then I get to the photo of your cat, bag and plate wall. Such a pretty photo. You have excellent taste in fabrics and a good eye for composition. Have a good week.

  • Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD

    January 19, 2014 at 1:39 pm Reply

    Fabulous Candace, colour/fabric choice just perfect as always, I'm not surprised Memaw was keen to show it off. I've promised myself to get ahead of the game this year with my Christmas makes – turned out September wasn't soon enough to open what turned out to be a sweatshop in my sewing room – don't hold me to it though! 😀

  • Karen

    January 19, 2014 at 4:08 pm Reply

    The bag is just beautiful and I love the addition of the dresden plate applique. I tried to be better with my Christmas present sewing and I was…I finished the last thing two days before! LOL I did manage to make five aprons, two bags, one notebook cover, three dishtowels, three crocheted dish cloths, two dresses, two blouses, a Christmas stocking, and a couple of other small things to give as gifts. I started just after Halloween. This year I am going to start in the summer!!

  • genie

    January 20, 2014 at 12:09 am Reply

    Candace….What a precious bag. I adore the reproduction fabrics and they worked out beautifully in this Dresden. The stripe made for a wonderful contrast. What a treasure for your grandmother. genie

  • Saltwater Quilts

    January 20, 2014 at 4:49 am Reply

    Thank you! The measuring tape fabric is called Made with Love Tape Measure in Aqua by Moda and it is a lightweight cotton duck. I purchased it at a quilt store around two years ago, but if you google it you should be able to find it. There is a lot of it on ebay.

    The pattern calls for duck fabric and a thick interfacing (Peltex 71F). It is a very stiff basket. I used regular quilt fabric for the pocket fabric on the outside and for the lining of the basket. I didn't have any trouble with the handles rippling, but that is probably because the stiff interfacing is the iron-on type and it helps keep the handle stiff and the handle fabric smooth and in place. I find that using a walking foot when making handles in general, helps to keep the layers from shifting and stretching. As far as the pattern goes, I would suggest making the inside a little smaller than the outside. The pattern instructs you to make an inside basket and an outside basket and then you stack them together and sew them up to make one. However the inside and outside baskets are the exact same size so they don't fit well together. That is the only change I would make to the pattern.

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