Lettuce Craft Critters Quilted Tote Bag - High Five Challenge Entry

When I heard @Abbeeroad’s awesome idea for an Challenge in honor of Lettuce Craft’s Fifth Anniversary, I knew what material I’d like to use for my entry. Fabric. Specifically the fabric of the LC Critters & Logo that I had printed up for the Midwest Meetup in 2023. Easy peasy decision. My wrist wasn’t working right yet, but I figured I could dig out the fabric and see what I had left, and start planning. Good thing I tried to pull it out all those weeks ago, because it turns out, it was all gone. I realized I had put up the last of it as little bundles in the Craft Stars Garage Sale.

I ordered more of the critter print from Spoonflower (which took a while to ship) and started looking for some good coordinates. I found a coral scissor print that I thought it was a deeper coral pink, like our logo. Oh well. I then found the light turquoise, with a design of “hand stitching”, and the deeper turquoise which has a scattering of safety pins on it. Those led me to the last print, the super cute scissors, buttons and stitching print on a white background. I now had FIVE awesome fabrics to work with!

For anyone curious, the prints are:
Scissors in Blush Pink from the Make Time Collection by Moda
Stitch in Time in Soft Aqua from Sew Wonderful by Paper + Cloth for Moda
Pin It Up in Aqua from Sew Wonderful by Paper + Cloth for Moda
Cut It Out in Powder from Sew Wonderful by Paper + Cloth for Moda

Since the critters were 5" squares, I went looking for good quilt blocks that use 5" squares; things like Sawtooth Stars. But I bumped into a suggestion of using them in Disappearing 9 Patch, and that just clicked. It would allow me to use more of the critters per side of the bag, without the whole thing becoming the size of a house. And would allow for a more patchwork feel.

It was pretty cute as a 4x4 layout, but it felt too narrow for a tote bag, so I used some of the white print to make an extra 9-Patch, and mixed those squares in too. Once laid out, and paired with the contrast print for the bottom, they felt much more balanced.

I used an all over stippling quilting for most of the bag panels, but I did something fun around each critter; wavy lines, flower petal like half circles, scribble loops, etc. The handles are a natural cotton webbing.

I had just made another tote last week, so I went with mostly the same pattern/tutorial, which called for a long inner pocket, stitched to divide it up. I did that one in the safety pin print, with divisions for pens, a smaller rectangle, and a larger one.

Then I added an extra pocket on the other side, out of the coral scissors. Just for fun, I lined it up with one of the small scissors in the lining, so they look like they continue up.

The tote is pretty big. 15" tall x 18" sides, with boxed corners that make it 5" wide. I loaded it up with two HUGE craft books, markers, small notebook, skein of yarn, etc, and it wasn’t full.

And guess what?!? Since it was inspired by our lovely little community, it’s going to a member of our community! I’ll be putting it up for sale in the next Craft Stars Garage Sale Fundraiser. I’m not certain yet, when that will be. Not before the holiday season, so probably in the spring of 2026. I hope whomever gets it, loves it, and gives it lots and lots of use.

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I love this!

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This is so gorgeous! Such beautiful work - I love all the thoughtful little details like the special quilting around the critters and lining up the prints - outstanding!!

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Beautiful and professional construction! How precious to see our LC Critters & Logo. With the challenge of your wrist, having to order more fabric and coordinating 5 patterns, you did so well.

I like that clever line up of the scissors in your lining and pocket. Actually, the scissors on the right edge pointing up look purposely done too. Good piecing work, pretty lining and nice boxed bottom too!

BTW, I have The Ultimate Crafts Compendium book too. Love it!

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The other book behind it is the Encyclopedia of Needlecrafts. It’s pretty great too. I’ve never made anything specific out of either of them, but I like pulling them out and browsing through them when I have no idea what I’d like to make. So full of inspiration.

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Was getting ready to type and ask about the 2nd book! :smile: And yours look hardbacked with dust jackets. Mine is paperback.

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This tote is AMAZING! I love it so much. I may need to visit spoonflower for some of that LC fabric coz I LOOOOVE it!

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Who wouldn’t want to use this? The prints are so great (although of course I’m partial to the meetup fabric).

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What a delightful way to celebrate the 5th anniversary! Top-quality quilting, super useful tote bag.

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Head over to the High Five Challenge and vote for your favorite entry by August 23!

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I enjoyed reading your explanation of how you created the tote bag! I have no quilting experience at all so it was very interesting reading about the process and the choices you made and the difficulties you had when getting out all together. It’s incredibly impressive! If I had to do that swirly loopy top stitching, mine would be criss-crossing everywhere😆
It’s so great that it can hold so much. I mean, it’s the perfect travel craft bag or the bag you bring with you when purchasing craft supplies. There is so much encouragement to purchase that item you aren’t sure you need (well, it fits in my bag, so…)
I will check out the books mentioned, thank you!

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Ack! The cute! I adore a good totebag and those colors and the overall look speak to my soul. So darn gorgeous.

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I completely missed this! I love this!

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Adorable. i will be putting in a bid for it!

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I am unhealthily obsessed with this. :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: Every little thing about it. Wow.

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Love, love this so much!

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:tada: Congratulations! Your adorable Craft Critters Quilted Tote is a FEATURED PROJECT!!! :tada:

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