I have been watching my granddaughters in Garrison, ND, and haven’t been in my sewing studio. So I thought I’d share with you the latest Sandhill Sling that I made.

This is the last project that I finished before I left DC. Also the last project on the Juki TL-18 for a few months. It is such a great machine to use with heavy fabric. Or for anything stitchy. If I had driven back to North Dakota it would have come with me. But we went on a plane and Athena was my carry-on. (Goodbye really cool machine until Winter!)

Anyhow…..

I made this tote for my daughter-in-law Lauri. I gave her the alligator print sling a couple of years ago and she wore it out. (Not my sewing, the fabric started to fray!)

I was planning to make her one for her birthday but I didn’t even get my machine until after the big day so that didn’t happen. Since it wasn’t going to be a birthday surprise, I asked Lauri to pick out the fabric.

I said “go out to Etsy, search for canvas fabric.”

Lauri typically goes for circular patterns so I was surprised by her choice.

I forgot to take photos of the fabric before I made the sling but I was able to pull these pics from Etsy.

This was Japanese fabric but coming from China and it surpised me by arriving in a little more than a week! And I had a couple other projects that I was working on so I pushed the fabric to the side.

And I was giving that fabric the side eye. There was not one print that matched. Totally out of my comfort zone!

Meanwhile, I ordered the hardware from Wawak.com. Plus thread and a few different colors of zippers. (I wasn’t sure which print I would use for the zippered gusset.)

Side note. For my bags and totes and baskets and boxes, I use Gutermann Tera 60 Polyester Thread–Tex 50. It’s VERY strong and I don’t worry about my seams giving out. I order it from Wawak.com. It works great in the Juki but for my Brother that I have in my sewing studio in ND, I can use it for the upper thread but have to use a thinner thread in the bobbin.

And I procrastinated. I just couldn’t decide what prints were going to on which part. I finally picked one for the gusset and the rest fell into place.

I had one week left before our flight which should have been plenty of time to finish this bag but then I realized that I forgot to order one piece of hardware. Gnashing of teeth. The part I needed–the swivel hook for the strap–was STEP TWO! So I needed it NOW!

Wawak.com is fast but Amazon is faster and that’s where I turned. It was delivered just in time.

This canvas is very lightweight. I ordered 1 1/2 yards thinking I might make a second Sandhill sling but then decided that the fabric was light enough that I could also use it for the interior.

This is my sixth Sandhill Sling. With each one I change them up a little.

I put two strap holders on the bottom so the strap can be either on the right shoulder or left.

All of them get a swivel hook on the inside for a key leash.

I also add a zipper pocket on the interior. This time I made it similar to the zipper pocket on the exterior. A little less deep. Next time I might just make the exact pocket. (It’s really easy.)

I always like to add a little bling.

I love Noodlehead patterns–I think I have made three different ones. But I do not like the drop in lining for the Sandhill Sling. I have made the lining that way twice. It is almost painful and I was never happy with the final product.

Then I started following Siahswag’s YouTube video for binding the lining. Easier. And it turns out well. In order to use this method, you can follow Noodlehead’s instruction up to adding the gusset. Then you have to flip over to the Youtube video from Siahswag. The only problem I had with this method was you really have to trim the seams down in order for the 1/2″ binding to fit over them. I stitched the seams at 3/8″ then trimmed them down to 1/4″.

Of all of my bag patterns–my own designs and those that I have purchased–the Sandhill Sling is my favorite. It’s just the right size for what I need to carry and I can go handsfree. Two important points for me especially when I have my little grandson with me or I’m just going for a walk and want to take along a few items. This version of the Sandhill Sling is delivered and I hope it holds up a little better than the last one I made for Lauri. And I hope to make a new one for me very soon!