Needles and a Pen » Knitting, Sewing, and Nursing School

Masthead header
Needles and a Pen bio picture
  • Welcome to my blog!

    Hi! I'm Traci. I'm a Registered Nurse who loves quilting, knitting, cross stitch, and the great outdoors. In my pre-scrubs life, I owned Real Photography, and you can still see my old wedding and portrait photography site here .

    I've created a map that shows links to our camping/hiking/general family fun review posts that you can find here. It's pretty much the coolest thing on this site. Thanks, Google!

    I great big puffy heart *love* comments, so please let me know you visited! I try to always reply!

multi-tasker tote

Anna Maria Horner came to my guild a couple of weeks ago but I wasn’t able to attend her talk or class (at first because we had camping plans, and then because instead of camping I was dying of scarlet fever had a raging case of strep throat).  To make myself feel better about the whole business I made a multi-tasker tot (without the benefit of the class).  Let me tell you, there were moments where I was very sad not to have a class for this one.  I think  it was step 8 where I had to bring in a ringer to figure out what in the heck was going on (my ringer was Nic, and we got it done).

This is the part where I tell you that I was inspired by the patchwork nursery versery print to use a bunch of different fabrics in this one.  That part is a lie.  I was inspired by the price of the nursery versery prints not to buy any more of them than entirely necessary, and then I had to punt with what I had on hand that coordinated and was big enough after washing/shrinking.  I’m pretty sad that the lining ends up showing up on the outside of the bag (you fold over the top of the bag to create the strap casing), but I’ll get over it.  😛  The orange polka dot straps and pink floral lining are both from Children at Play.

Overall, I like the bag.  And I will definitely like it more in April than I do at the start of fall. 😛

Melissa - I agree with you on ALL counts! I’m so glad I was there with (a) the pattern designer, and (b) others who had made the bag in the past and could dumb it down for me. I’m not too bright when it comes to following patterns. 🙂
I made mine with some of Amy Butler’s Soul Blossom, and it’s very springy. I’m wishing I’d made mine with some Flea Market Fancy or Field Study, instead. The good news is, I can make another any time I want! 🙂

Suzanne - I love your candor and hope you like the bag much sooner than April. 🙂

Gina - I love the little floral print peeking over the side. The Children at Play prints are perfect to combine with Nursery Versery!

Emily - This is so cute!!! The Country Mice in green is one of my favorite prints from this line!

Rachel at Stitched in Color - I’m glad you shared your process with choosing fabrics and making the bag. Bag making never goes easily for me! I see what you mean about it turning out quite springy. Sometimes it seems these collections release at opposite seasons =)