Verity Vintage Studio: April 2023

It's my day on the Hollyhock Lane fabric tour! This lovely new spring collection by Poppie Cotton has so many pretty florals and pastels.

I debated for a while what I wanted to make, but I knew it had to use the cute panel (would be so adorable for fussy cutting on a quilt block!) Finally from time constraints I opted for a couple of smaller projects.

First up – a reversible tote bag! I didn't use a pattern for this, but it was super fun and easy.

For one side...I cut two sections of panel, making the repeat come out even. For the other side, I did two pieced panels the same size and quilted each to a piece of cotton batting.

I sewed each pair of tote sides together with a 2” strip of fabric for the bottom and sides. You have to clip the corners of the connecting strip, but otherwise very simple.

Then I just had to place them inside each other with wrong sides together and bind the top like I would any other quilty project. Instant reversible, with the inside just as cute no matter which side is out.

To make the handles also reversible, as well as add decoration, I used purchased round handles from my stash and sewed them down with a folded small doily. The doily halves make the perfect reversible handle holders, plus add pretty details.

I think my sister made these for me a while ago, and this was the perfect use for them!

When the tote was finished, I wanted to play more with the panel possibilities, so I used a section of the panel and stitched it to a section of pieced strips to make a placemat. This didn't make quite a large enough placemat size, so I thought about adding a pieced border on the top and bottom, but then had the idea for ruffles.

It was a very happy thought and I'm so pleased with how they turned out!

The ruffles add the required extra height, as well as some really fun little details. Plus they go so well with the fabric style.

They look so pretty on my table now that it's springtime, and my children love to look at the pictures while they are eating. The ones with ducks are an especial favorite.

Technically these could be reversible too if you want (I just used a piece of print fabric to back them), if you take care to sew the ruffle neatly so there is no obvious wrong side.

We use placemats constantly to help keep the tablecloth clean, so these will get a lot of real use! It's such a pleasure to make things that are both practical and pretty, especially with such lovely fabric. Thank you Poppie Cotton!