An Easy Dish Towel Tote Bag for Mother’s Day

It’s the week before Jacob’s graduation as you know, and I found I just didn’t have time to do my ‘super’ newsletter. So I’ll be posting when I can this week. It’s probably for the best since I’ve done quite a few easy sewing projects this week in an effort to get the house ready for the party. :o) I’d hate to have to cut the instructions or photos short.

Today’s project is super fast and so easy that you or your kids could do it in a jiffy.  I thought it was a great gift idea, just in time for Mother’s day! I didn’t plan this…it just popped in my head. :o)

Recently, I was given the most enchanting secret sister gift…darling spatulas, cookie cutters and heavy cotton dish towels all in a matching bag. The colors were just fabulous! So bright and springy. 

Sadly, the dish towels don’t match my kitchen..which is decorated in Americana blue and white. The neon green was just a wee bit too bright.  But I was just entranced by the festive colors and happy floral designs and had to do ‘something’ with this lovely fabric.

It just happens I’d been wanting a ‘spring’ tote bag to take with me on errands and to church. Wow—how did she know this was the perfect fabric for my purposes?  

I know there are ‘neater’ ways to do this project, but it was late at night after a long day of sewing covers for the patio furniture and I was too tired to come up with something ‘ideal’.  Using a Serger really made this project a snap! I bet I spent a whole 20 minutes on the project.

What do you need? Just two sturdy cotton dishtowels, thread and 2 yards of 1 to 1 1/2” wide grosgrain ribbon. 

 

Here are the steps:

1. Sew the two dishtowels right sides together across the short ends. Turn right side out. Now you have a ‘lined’ rectangle though the sides are still open. You could baste the side edges closed to make things easier.
2. Cut two lengths of ribbon of about 31” each or whatever fits comfortably for the receiver. A child’s bag could be shorter.
3. Fold under one inch on each end and place the ribbons on the outside of one end of the rectangle and pin in place as shown. Do the same for the other end. (The short ends are the openings of the bag when sewn together.)
4. Stitch squares and x’s at the bottom of each ribbon and again near the bags’ edge for reinforcement. 

 

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1. 
   Fold the rectangle (with the handles tucked inside) right sides together. Stitch the side seams closed. Cut off the thick excess. (can be saved for making the bow) Finish the edge with zig-zag stitching if you like.
2. Optional: For a semi-flat bottom, open the bag out on each side so that about one inch of fabric is laying to the right and left of the seams. This will make a point where the sides seams meet the bottom of the bag.
3. Pinch this ‘point’ and stitch across the horizontal fold. You can tack the point to the inside of the bag for extra strength in the bottom of the bag, or just cut off the point and edge finish the seam with zig-zag stitching.

Now turn the bag right side out and fill it with goodies for Grandma..or ‘Mom’. :o) (Optional~ You can make a bow with the trimmings and sew it on the front.)

I hope you have a great week! I have so many neat projects to share this week and next!

• Tuesday Tea~ Giving the Precious Gift of ‘Undivided’ Attention
• Old-fashioned Chicken Pot Pie with Decorated Crust
• The Surreal Beauty of Sago Palms and Magnolia Blossoms
• Simple Covers for Outdoor Patio Cushions
• The Shocking Side-Effects of Artificial Sweeteners (as experienced by me!)
• When a Child Worships God…Photo Story

How are you planning to celebrate Mother’s Day?  I’d love to hear your ideas…:o)

Linking to BTNOP Metamorphasis Monday :o)
and Raising Homemakers' Wednesday Link Up

 

Like Me...a Mother's Day poem and song

Like Me...

A squirming babe lies in my arms,

with adoring eyes, so quick to charm.

Chubby cheeks, a precious pout,

capricious curls, legs short and stout.

She's a miracle in every way,

like a flower, blooming day by day.

A gift from God, yet just a loan,

since a baby's soul one cannot own.

Though I teach and train so carefully,

I find, instead, she's watching me!

How much like Jesus I must be,

if a Godly child I hope to be.

As our days wing by in rapid flight,

I pray for God's grace to be.

A living light, a beacon bright,

for a child who'll be ...so much...

 ......Like me..

by Donna Rodgers...written when Rebekah was a baby.

 click here to listen

An Absolutely Lovely Mother's Day

Do you have a picture in your mind of the 'perfect' Mother's Day? Well, I can assure you that I do! Is there any mother who doesn't?  My perfect Mother's day would start out like this...

 photo credit

I'd like to have a lovely breakfast out on the deck in the the morning....

and of course I'd like some flowers...like the ones Rebekah arranged for me yesterday...

Walk in the Woods by Christian L. Rodgers

In the afternoon, we could go for a walk in the woods--You never know what you will find around here...

And of course...I don't want to cook. That goes without saying. I'm sure Tim or Rebekah could grill some steaks or chicken for us...

And I might could even talk Rebekah into making us some chocolate covered strawberries... She could just click here for easy instructions for how to do the whole meal  Hint...hint...



Between the whole family efforts, I think we could have a lovely Mother's Day dinner...

And after the dishes are done...(not by me of course! :o)  then we could spend the evening playing board games....

And after the kids were off to bed...we could watch my favorite movie, "Miss Potter"...It's not a movie about motherhood in particular...It's for any woman... It's all about romance, art, imagination, beautiful English countryside vistas, writing, children's story books and even dancing... It does have a great lesson for mothers though..to believe in your children's dreams and giftings. Even your youngest children would love this movie. :o)

And that would be the perfect ending to my perfectly lovely... Mother's Day...

 What would make your Mother's Day....just about perfect?

Happy Mother's Day!

PS. Don't forget about my great Followers Are Special Giveaway. Click on the sunflower on the sidebar. I'll be announcing the two winners on May 1st.  The Artistic Mother and The Ultimate Cheapksate are the prizes!