ballerina tote bag
I love giving handmade gifts to little kids because, 1) they are easy to please, and 2) my kids are super proud to give gifts that "my mommy made!" This little tote bag went to a ballet-loving four-year-old for her birthday.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun stitching up this ballerina girl and adding little details. To make the skirt, I cut a long rectangle of tulle and gathered it up using a basting stitch. When it was the same width as her leotard, I top stitched over the gathering. The flower at her waist was made using teeny tiny rick rack and this flower tutoral at Ucreate.
No tutorial for the bag, but it is similar in construction to my Spring Tote, substituting rick rack for piping in the top seam and the handles are sewn into the seam instead of wrapping around the outside. I love making tote bags because they are so simple. I don't even measure my fabric most of the time. Cut two longish rectangles of fabric and you're good to go. :) Yes, I am that lazy.
The ballerina girl was inspired by the felt paper dolls at Love, Charla Anne (I dare you to click over to her blog and spend less than an hour exploring its lovely contents). And happy news ... the pattern for her adorable dollhouse and dolls is being released in her etsy shop this week. You better believe it is going on my to-make list for Christmas. Ruby is going to flip.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun stitching up this ballerina girl and adding little details. To make the skirt, I cut a long rectangle of tulle and gathered it up using a basting stitch. When it was the same width as her leotard, I top stitched over the gathering. The flower at her waist was made using teeny tiny rick rack and this flower tutoral at Ucreate.