It's a Pattern Parade!

When Amy Barickman at Indygo Junction asked me if I wanted to play along for her Pattern Parade, I was thrilled! I met Amy at Quilt Market last year and she is just as lovely as she looks. 

Don't know about Indygo Junction OR Amy Barickman? Well why not? Here's a little bio...

Indygo Junction Inc., founded by creative entrepreneur Amy Barickman, is an established sewing and crafts business that offers stylish and timeless high-quality patterns and a variety of idea-rich project books. Amy continues to work with artists and designers from around the world to create unique projects, having sold over 2 million books and sewing patterns. 

With a fresh, fashion-forward style, IndygoJunction.com connects creative enthusiasts of all ages. LIKE us on Facebook to receive a free ePattern PDF & sign up for our eNewsletter for a free eBook featuring a purse pattern, embroidery design and small quilt. 

 

There she is. Isn't she cute?

For today's stop on the tour, I'm going to show you this groovy Urban Tote purse pattern. Now, I had every intention of being a Very Good Girl and making this bag up - I even had a funky orphan block all ready to show off in the middle, like this:

- however clearly I am a Very Naughty Girl and haven't done that. What I HAVE done is to read the pattern through closely, so I can tell you how easy this bag is to put together. The instructions are so clear and easy to follow. I am SO not the bag maker, but I think even I could make this one up! Plus you've got the added bonus of being able to show off a block, some embroidery of a favourite piece of fabric in the centre panel.

The bag has a sturdy frame and a wide mouth so you can stuff it full of all that shizzle we all carry around with us. It would make an awesome craft tote too. And it has plenty of discreet pockets on the sides and and inside too for even more storage space. You can finish it off with fun hardware to add make the bag your own. 

Want to make it? I bet you do, 'cause I know I did! Well guess what, you can win a copy of the pattern: 

AND also this extra gorgeous Michael Miller fabric to make it!

To enter you can simply leave a comment on this post letting me know what you would put in the centre panel of the bag. Please make sure to leave an email address so I can contact you, or I will have to redraw the giveaway. The winner will be selected by random draw next Friday, June 22 at 5pm AEST.

As an extra surprise, you can collect a secret letter each day from all the blogs on the tour - my blog's letter is 

That's right, "V". Which stands for Very Very Nice if You Win. Because at the end of the tour, you can unscramble all the letters you collected to create the mystery phrase, then enter it at the Indygo Junction blog to win the Grand Prize. Woohoo!

And guess what else? You don't even have to win the giveaway to get a little giftie - as a special gift to Last Piece readers, Indygo Junction is giving you all a coupon for 20% off your next IndygoJunction.com order. Your code is PPBT4 and it expires at the end of the blog tour on July 13^th.

Make sure and follow along to see what everyone else gets up to!

June 6 – Indygo Junction Kick-Off Post 

June 9th - Nancy Zieman Blog 

June 11 - Sew Much Ado 

June 13 - Designs in Machine Embroidery 

June 15 - The Last Piece

June 18 - Lazy Girl 

June 20 - Sew Weekly 

June 22 - Tula Pink 

June 26 - Sew Mama Sew

June 28 - Mama Said Sew 

July 2 – Skip to my Lou 

July 6 - Indygo Junction Tour Finale

 

 

Comments

[Danielle]

Ooh that is a very cute bag, and very cute fabric! I reckon I would do a + and x block to go in the middle of the bag. And I would make sure I made a pact with someone to actually make the bag instead of have it languish on a pile of 'one day' projects! Fingers crossed.

[reba jane]

This would make a great bag for a zoo docent. I would put the face of a favorite animal in the center. So many things could be done with this bag!

[Lauri]

Gorgeous bag! What I want to put in the middle is a letter 'L' (my first initial) that is styled just like your 'V', so I really hope someone on this tour has a cool 'L'!

[Linda Thyme2sew]

Cute, cute bag! I would embroider a design for the center( I have some salt box houses to embroider) or I would piece a design. Love the fabric too! So many possible things to do with this pattern!! I make bags and this one appeals as you can open wide!! Important!

[Deb]

I would put a vintage hankie in the middle, or one of those cute Loralie girls I have somewhere in my stash, or a piece of the quilt top I never finished, or a chunk of that gorgeous chenille that's been tucked away in a box, or a fleur de lis to represent my state of Louisiana...

All that being said, I would probably change my mind and look around my sewing room and spy something I haven't thought of yet!!

[Jeanne Zukowski]

Love this bag would be great to carry a craft project. Also love the letter V would like the letter Z in the same style to put in the center.
JeanneZ
OnTheGo731@Aol.com

[Sue Shapr]

I love totes to begin with and have oodles of blocks to use for centers. I make up a lot of totes for gifts and myself, but you can not have too many. I also have liked all your patterns that I have at the present. THANKS!

[Lynn]

Great bag! I have a few orphan blocks that would look wonderful in the center of the bag...or I might embroider something! Great giveaway. Thank you.

[Dawn]

I'm likely to change my mind 50 times before I settle on a design, but I would probably piece some lovely little scraps from my sewing room and machine embroider them with a fun design. Or maybe embellish the panel with buttons or other trimmings.

[Mary on Lake Pulaski]

I have an Aneela Hoey embroidery design that I completed without knowing how I was going to use it. It would be perfect on the outside of this bag!

[Sharon Buford]

I would do a wonky letter "C" for my daughter - these are her fav colors right now and I think she would LOVE this purse

[Jean Guenther]

I love the mix of fabric and the color choices. I would just have to be selfish and do my own initials! I do a lot of monograms for others......this one...not!
Love the purse size also.

[Lori Smanski]

Oh what an adorable bag. Hmmmmm I think I would embroider butterflys and flowers and make it a summre tote. I have never made a bag before. But would love to give it a try.
Thanks for the chance to win.

[Sherry]

I am not sure what I would put there but I do have several worn pieces of embroidery that could be placed on the side of the bag, or I could embroider the name or initial of the person I would make it for.

[Monaquilts]

I know, maybe an old embroidery piece of linen, or a section of an old quilt and use denim for the remainder of the bag! I hope I win!

[Anne-Marie Binet]

I would put a wonky pound sign block and add X and O in some of the spaces to make it look like a tic-tac-toe! Thanks for this giveaway!

[beth]

Not sure what design I will put in my bag yet!

[Andgal0603]

I would put a quilt block on it I love the bag design!

[Karen Wiebe]

I think I would put an embroideres initial ( like K)!! Or a favorite fabric picture.:)

[Beth]

I would definitely have to embroider something special on my embroidery machine.

[Vivian Oaks]

I would LOVE to make a purse from that pattern!! It would probably take some time to figure out, but I'd definitely use a Carol Doak paper-pieced block for the center. The problem would be deciding which one. I have a whole slew of her books, and her patterns are gorgeous!!! I'm also a member of her online yahoo group! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

[Shari W.]

I got 'em, I got 'em! 2 blocks for a minimum of 2 purses. A Red Work Celtic dragon I embroidered several years ago and a BlueWork crowing rooster from a few years ago. I loved the designs and stitched 'em not knowing what I would use them for. This bag would be so perfect for them. Also, thinking a bit ahead, I'd quilt a lovely 'A' (or maybe stitch one) to use for the center. It would be for my sons girlfriend for her birthday in Dec.
Sooooo many possibilities it's mind boggling.

[Gill]

Great bag pattern! I love birds so I'd put a paper pieced bird in the centre panel! I found a great pattern recently at sewhooked!

[Mary Sue W]

I'd add an embroidered design from my favorite website: Urban Threads. She has really wonderful designs.

[Sue Reents]

Love love love this pattern. You opened my creative mind to all kinds of possibilities. I think for one I could put a hand embroidery from a table runner on the middle panel with vintage floral fabric. Also put a black & white stripe in the middle & embroidery a big red poppy on it. Then make the rest of the bag black & white. I would love to win so I can start creating. Love it.

[Denise J.]

I am not sure what I would put in the center but I do love the big dot like the one in the picture.

[Terri]

Hi Sarah! I was just looking at that pattern last night in a flyer I received from Indygo Junction. It's really very clever, I think, and I know exactly what I would put in that center panel. I have a piece of vintage needlepoint (with strawberries on it) that would look fabulous!

[Donna G]

Hi, i will make this bag using a yummy Michael Miller pinkish flower print. I have a hat in it and have been saving some to make a matching bag.

[Barbara G]

I have some super cute Kitty Cucumber panels that would look marvelous - especially on a diaper bag version!

[Jodi]

A modern monogram will look great on those polka dots!