Otter Tote Bag

Sea otters are a common sight in Monterey Bay. The bay's climate and rocky shores, along with the abundance of kelp forests, provide an ideal habitat for them. There is a marvelous exhibit of them in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I remember visiting with my daughter-in-law and how she was so enamored by their playful antics.Where better to buy fabric featuring these cute little critters than in the town of Pacific Grove on the Monterey Bay? Back Porch Fabrics is a local quilt shop, in Pacific Grove. In a recent trip to Back Porch Fabrics in May I bought some otter fabric and planned to make my daughter-in-law a simple tote bag. On a previous Back Porch Fabrics trip in September 2023 I had purchased a simple tote bag pattern designed and printed by Gail Abeloe, the owner of Back Porch Fabrics. I planned to use that pattern with the otter fabric. For the bag lining I chose a green speckled and wavy fabric that made me think of kelp, similar to what the otter is holding.

This bag is not bulked up with stabilizers and zippers and all the neat options of ByAnnie's type bags. Although those bags are lovely, I wanted something light weight that can be folded up and tossed wherever convenient, until needed. As a lightweight and washable option to add sturdiness, I inserted a removable mesh bottom, covered with the otter fabric, which gives the base of the bag some stability if desired. 

I also personalized the otter bag with a name label and added a fussy-cut interior pocket. The second photo is a view of the inside of the bag. The finished dimensions are 24" wide x 13" tall,  not counting handles.

Here is my daughter-in-law with her tote bag and her daughter.

I have used the Turn It Into a Tote pattern several times before with other novelty fabrics. I made a bag with a knitting theme, one with a boudoir bath theme, and one with a sassy lady theme. It is a great use for that novelty fabric I just cannot pass up. I used to say every novelty fabric is another quilt, but now, with this go-to pattern, it does not need to be. I can indulge my craving for unique fabric without fear of impulsive quilt proliferation.