Tote Bag...

I finished this bag last week, but couldn't show you until Australia Post delivered it to its new home. Yes, I know I said I was quilting all that time, but this was a surprise for my sister... a birthday present. Now that it has arrived, safe and sound, I can show you.

The pattern I used is one I drafted myself when I made my solids only tote. I've added five internal pockets, two on one side and three on the other. You can never have too many pockets!!!

The bag closes with a magnetic clasp and has a keyring, so there's no fumbling for lost items at the bottom of the bag.

Deciding on fabrics was the hardest part of making this bag. My sister wears a lot of black clothing, so I knew it had to co-ordinate with black. Like me, her favourite bags are black leather. Hmmm.... I'm not up to sewing leather yet. Stay tuned though, because I will be sewing with leather soon; perhaps later this month. The leather has been purchased. Maybe it will be a leather bag next year sis... LOL!!!

I love black and white combined with red, but that just didn't seem to go with the clothes my sister wears. I looked at LOTS of black and white fabric, most of which seemed to remind me of granny prints... definitely not on!!! I took a chance on the black, white and gold floral fabric. Putting the chosen fabric with solid black looked OK, but when I added a bone colour to the mix, it worked well. It's amazing how adding a small amount of one colour can alter the look so much. Here, I've separated the floral and the black fabric with bone coloured piping.

I almost kept the bag for myself, as I'm rather pleased with how it turned out. The pictures show me wearing the bag. As I mentioned earlier in the post, I used the pattern I made for my solids only tote. I've rectified the fact that there were no photos of me wearing that bag. The same pattern giving two completely different looks.

I'm joining in the fun with Purse Palooza and will be adding my bag to the Flickr Group. Thanks Sew Sweetness for organising and co-ordinating.

Of course I'll also be adding this to our ongoing Bags and Totes Link Party. This will be the 196th bag linked up!!! 

I have another bag in this style planned. Family members with a birthday coming up, be warned. If you'd like a say in colours and fabrics, let me know. It may, or may not, be for you.

I've started writing a tutorial for this bag. Stay tuned...

... Pam