Surprise the beader on your holiday list with a custom tool tote. These pretty totes are a great way to carry tools and supplies to bead class. Personalize it with a rhinestone monogram or design, or embellish it with beads and charms. You can include beading tools, beads, a gift certificate or more; whatever you decide, it will be a gift from the heart. Some notes before you start: The tote is soft, so before you start laying out the rhinestones, put something inside of it to keep it firm while you work. The patterns we chose for this project were done freehand by laying the rhinestones on the fabric until we were happy with the placement and then attaching them with the Bejeweler. The stones will move around while you work, we found that if you start with the larger rhinestones or a prominent part of your design first and work outward, your design will be less apt to shift around. You may be more comfortable drawing your pattern ahead of time using a quilting pen or other disappearing ink. Test it first on an area that won't be seen to make sure it is compatible with your fabric.
Step one: Plug in the Bejeweler and allow it to heat up for at least 7 minutes. DO NOT touch the tip. It will be HOT. Lay out the rhinestones. Using the Bejeweler, attach the Swarovski hotfix to your tote. For help using the Bejeweler please see our Handy Tips section. Sew the 12mm rose ab Swarovski margarita bead and a 8/0 ceylon banana cream Toho bead onto the tote as you would a button. String the Margarita bead, the Toho and then run the needle back through the Margarita bead before tying off.
Step two: On the back of the tote we chose to do a monogram. As with the front, lay out the rhinestones until you are happy with the placement. Attach the Swarovski hotfix to the tote. Sew the Swarovski margarita beads to the tote as described above. Also check out our Silk Tool Totes Section for many more styles of tool totes that you can embellish.
Approximate size: 9x7 inches Estimated time: Under three hours Difficulty level: Intermediate
Tools Used: Bejeweler pro ergonomic (BEJEWELER-P, qty. 1) White Power Pro™ - 28 Yards, .006-inch (10lb test) (BF28WH06) #10 short beading needles (NEED-09)
List of Components: Blue swirl tool tote (TOOL-171, qty. 1) 3700 12mm Margarita bead rose ab (3700-ROSAB12, qty. 2) 3700 10mm Margarita bead rose ab (3700-ROSAB10, qty. 1) 3700 10mm Margarita bead fuchsia ab (3700-FUSAB10, qty 2) 3700 8mm Margarita bead fuchsia ab (3700-FUSAB8, qty. 1) H2028 Hotfix flatbacks ss16 fuchsia (H2028-FU16, qty. 52) H2028 Hotfix flatbacks ss12 jonquil ab (H2028-JONAB12, qty. 77) H2028 Hotfix flatback ss12 sand opal (H2028-SOP12, qty. 39) Toho bead round 8/0 Ceylon banana cream (TBRD8-142, qty.1)
