This was a pretty straightforward project – simple tote bag. One that was large enough to accommodate my cutting mat, and has a pocket to hold my 6 x 28 ruler and rotary cutter. Perfect for hauling to craft nights, or just around the house.
overcome your fear of needles
by Jodi 11 Comments
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really cute!
Love the Colours!!! Lovely project!!
Excellent idea! I end up travelling with my cutting mat pretty frequently since I use it in some of the classes I teach. I’ll have to whip up a tote like this to make transport easier! P.S. Love the pocket for the ruler!
It was necessary for me. I couldnt haul the mat AND my machine AND a project bag. 🙂
fabulous!
I want to have you over to sew! Great tote! I have been pondering options for storing my cutting mats when not in use… but to be able to just pick it up and go, now that’s thinking!!
I’ve been storing it in the tote on a coat rack. The mat bends a bit when hanging a long time, but not too bad.
And see you soon!!
Love looking at your projects on your site.
Here’s a suggestion for the cutting board tote and anything else that is big and might be carrying weight. Sew/attach your straps to the main bag in longer stretches so the weight will pull from a more distributed area rather than one spot. The strap attachment might be stronger and lay flat if you sewed along the strap towards the top of the bag creating a rectangle shape rather than a square.
I recently made a computer tote bag for a laptop and it is heavy. I actually had the straps as a continous circle and sewed the straps from the opening on one side of the bag, around and down under the bag back to the other side of the opening.
Hope this makes sense.
Cheers!
I actually thought about setting them wider apart, and for a heavier load that would be best, but because the mat is so bendy, I was worried it would buckle inward while carrying.
Add layers of various sized pockets inside and out before sewing the two layers together: smaller ones for templates, etc.
Use masonite or foamcore/foamboard to stabilize. Cut it the overall size of the bag. Consider wrapping handles the entire length of the bag. You can also shorten the straps to carry in your hands and/or add one longer strap at either end of the top for a shoulder strap.
Use plastic/vinyl as a “window” for the smaller exterior pockets. Bind with contrasting fabric. Screen mesh (the plastic kind) works well, too.