Making a Portsmith Tote

This is why I keep the equivalent of a small Joann Fabrics store in my house: When I get hit with the urge to make something, I don’t want to have to search hither and yon for needed supplies. I wish I had picked up a few (minor) supplies from the Klum House booth at Sew Expo, but I can make do.

I started working on the Portsmith Tote yesterday afternoon. I need a break from garments and fitting.

I’m making the original pattern and adding the zipper and lining extensions because I want this to be a fairly beefy tote. The outer fabric is Klum House waxed canvas in burgundy with a black base. The lining is a black-and-white abstract print that I’ve interfaced with SF101.

I love the look of my Necchi BV’s stitching—so straight and perfect! (I used one of my compensating feet for the edgestitching.)

The pattern says total time for making is 1-2 hours. That’s accurate, perhaps, for the original pattern, but adding the zipper and lining increases the production time. I spent an entire hour just cutting and interfacing the lining pieces. (The pattern doesn’t call for interfacing the lining, but I like the added structure provided by the interfacing.)

Klum House patterns are well done, with lots of thoughtful touches in the design.

The baby quilt is heading off in the mail today. I may start cutting fabric for a new quilt this week.

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I would love to go see this exhibit at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives:

The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives is proud to present “Sew Butte,” showcasing Virgil Sargent’s collection of sewing machines, beautiful textiles provided by Rediscoveries, and intricately crafted quilts from the Quilting Guild. Items will be on display until May 17th. 

Maybe I can squeak in a trip sometime in April. It’s a 3-1/2 hour trip down, and I could do that in one day if I leave early enough. Or make an overnight of it. I don’t travel east of the mountains much and it would be nice to take a leisurely tour.

Virgil Sargent, and the exhibit with his collection of machines, was profiled on a recent “Montana Moment” on the NBC affiliate here.