Happy Friday everyone! I’m so happy to introduce you to my newest pattern, the Hillside Tote. The thing that gets me most excited about this crossbody bag is the ability to feature a favorite fabric for the exterior pockets and strap. I don’t know about you, but I have a stack of precious fabrics I have saved for just the right project. I feel like this tote is a no-brainer when it comes to using those favorites, seems like a winner every time!

I think it’s perfect for on the go when you want something a little simpler but still keep organized. It’s a classic crossbody with a zip top closure, and I’m hoping it will be one you will want to make over and over again.

Click here to purchase, grab your copy today through Sunday for 20% off!

Back View

Interior View

Mini Size

Regular Size

I love a list of features, so here’s one for the Hillside Tote:

• includes front and back exterior pockets and interior pocket
• zip top closure to keep your important belonging secure
• adjustable strap makes it wearable in any season
• perfect for gifting
• make a regular size or mini

The Hillside Tote is a fun spin off that combines the best worlds of both my Wool + Wax Tote pattern and my Redwood Tote pattern. It combines the simplicity of the Wool + Wax with the organization and crossbody style of the Redwood. I’m always inspired to bring you something you can sew in a short amount of time and really highlight the beautiful fabrics. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do! I’ll be sharing my testers finished totes along with a few more samples I made (I couldn’t stop!).

Click here for more information and to purchase

Today through Sunday only (ends Sunday at midnight CDT) pick up your copy for 20% off!

The front exterior pocket has your choice of either a metal snap (as shown in my samples) or a pronged magnetic snap! The back exterior pocket is divided in two. You could easily swap which pocket style you prefer on the front and back or do two of the same style pocket. An exterior pocket is a must-have for me, I absolutely need one for my phone and keys and extras are just a bonus for things I reach for over and over again. I also include an option for using a single fabric exterior.

Pattern: Hillside Tote Pattern
Fabrics: featuring Surface by Amy van Luijk for Figo Fabrics, lining is Andover Chambray in Denim

I do have hardware kits  available in my shop (it’s the same 1″-width hardware as the Redwood Tote). If you need zippers the mini uses a 10″ zip and the regular size uses a 12″ zip. I also have snap starter kits (they include the setting tools and a starter set of snaps) and refills if you are going for the metal snap route.

Photo Credit Carrie Bostick Hoge

Photo Credit Carrie Bostick Hoge

I’m super happy to share with you the project I designed for the newest issue of Making Magazine No. 8/Forest, a wood carrier! (You can pick up a copy in my shop now!) Now that cooler weather is upon us for some of us in the Northern Hemisphere I hope that those of you who burn wood for heat might enjoy this project. It would also be great for taking along on camping trips! I could also see myself corralling some kindling in this carrier for when my family makes our backyard fire pit next summer. It would be so handy to keep firewood nearby.

Carrie asked me to design a wood carrier for this issue and it was so fun trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t! Thank goodness my parents had just moved to a cabin with a wood burning heat source. It was nice to bounce some ideas around with them.

I like that the carrier is two toned and that the bottom layer is a double layer of thickness. It has a super handy closure (that you could omit if you wanted to keep things even simpler) that Ashley suggested and I had fun playing around with designing. It’s also great for those random scraps of canvas you might have laying around from other projects, or just as easy to find a combination you like using yardage!

Photo Credit Carrie Bostick Hoge

I do have a few copies of the new Forest issue in my shop if you’d like to purchase one. It’s packed with so many great things including lots of sewing projects (plus knitting and crafting and other articles). I’m looking forward to trying out a project this fall now that I have a few deadline met. How exciting!

Photo Credit Carrie Bostick Hoge

This project will be released as a stand alone PDF pattern April 15th, 2020. For now enjoy it in the magazine along with tons of other patterns and inspiration.

Fabric: Waxed Canvas from AL Frances Textiles on Etsy
Buckle: Buckleguy
Polyester webbing: SewingSupplies on Etsy (khaki tan and dark khaki)

Photo Credit Carrie Bostick Hoge

I haven’t made a Compass Bag for a while, and I’m so glad I took the time to make this new sample! I honestly forgot how fun it is to sew. I think some might look at this pattern and think it’s too complicated for them to sew, but it really isn’t too difficult! I really love seeing the Compass Totes that others have made, they are really awesome! If you’d want to take a look, check out the #compassbag on Instagram for some ideas.

So after I made the waxed canvas Explorer Tote, I was curious to try the Waxer Canvas on the Compass Bag. I hadn’t made one yet using waxed canvas and I knew this would be a great one to try. If you’re at all intimidated by working with waxed canvas, I highly encourage you to try this Waxer Canvas by Robert Kaufman.

I’m used to working with heavier weight waxed canvases, but this 8.3 oz. weight is really perfect in my opinion. The lighter weight means it’s a bit easier to get through your machine and bends more easily than a heavier waxed canvas. I do sew both this and heavier weight on my home machine. I don’t own an industrial machine, although I get asked all the time if you have to have one to use these fabrics. The answer is no! 🙂 All I’d recommend is a heavy needle in a size 14 or 16 (denim or Microtex) and a walking foot if your machine doesn’t like to handle a lot of layers with its regular foot. I’d recommend trying a smaller project (zippered pouch) or basic tote if it’s your first time working with waxed canvas. It’ll give you a good feel for how it handles in your particular machine without committing to a long or difficult sew.

This is the small size of the Compass Bag (it has two sizes) and I really love it. This is the shorter fixed length shoulder strap.

Pattern: Compass Bag (small)
Fabric: Waxer Canvas (in Cider) and Big Sur Canvas (Smoky Beige) both by Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Here’s a small list of shops that carry Waxer Canvas (be sure to check with your local shop as well!):

Jones & Vandermeer, Bijou Lovely, Three Little Birds, Sewtopia., Crimson Tate, Bolt Fabric, Sew to Speak

Here’s a google search (includes Etsy and Fabric.com).

If you are a shop owner or if your local shop carries Waxer Canvas please let me know! I’d love to add the links to this post. Thank you!