Puff tote

Hello, Eleanor here with another bag variation, this time with co-ordinating suffolk puffs, or yo-yos, stitched to the border. 

The material I used for the bag was the soft wrapping around a gift from a dear Aberdeenshire friend, Bobs, one of our past design guests, here. She knew I would eventually find a good use for the material, and this is my first project with it.

It's actually a print dating back to the 18th century, originating, not, as many believe, in France, but actually in Ireland. The French liked it so much, they set up a factory producing it in Jouy en Josas, and the fabric became known as Toile de Jouy. This particular print is called Lovers Toile,

 

Another popular print was

'The Miller, his Wife and his Ass' !

It's a sturdy, lined bag, (no, this is not the miller's wife, nor his ass)

with a beautiful traditional print, and one thing's for sure, no-one else will have one like it.

There are plenty of tote bag tutorials on here, here's one of mine, Pillowslip tote, and here's how you make  Suffolk Puffs, also known as YoYos!

Cut a square of fabric just over twice the width you want the finished puff to be, mine here is 7 inches:

 

Draw around something circular approximately the size you need, then cut it out:

 

Turn over a small hem and stitch all the way around with doubled thread for strength:

 

Back to where you started, grab the little knot and the trailing thread and pull:

 

Until it is all gathered up:

 

Tie the two ends together with several knots, and rethread the needle with all four strands, as you will use these to attach a button:

 

Stitch on your button and if wanted, sew all the way through to the back to attach onto your bag.

I chose 8 different toning buttons:

Oh, and  I still have enough fabric left to make a skirt. Watch this space.

Bye for now.

Comments

[Lynne V]

Lovely, I really like the Suffolk puffs. Thanks for the link for making tote bags.

[Carmen]

You can see how huuuuge it is when you look at the picture with you in. The print is gorgeous as is the bag :D

[Mandy]

Oooh.... it's been a while since I made a bag (from old curtain fabric)... your bag is fab!!
M x

[Suzanne]

I love this! I really must get to grips with using my sewing machine on fabric as well as paper :)

[alexa]

Great tutorial on the Suffolk puffs - they look so effective on that lovely tote bag.