For my first sewing project of the year, I made a tote bag. It’s simple and something I’ve completed before, but I tried a new pattern.
Before this, the last thing I sewed was this jacket. It was my first jacket. I wanted a simple reset after that–something I knew I could finish quickly.
The Pattern
I found this sewing pattern. It’s from Core Fabrics and the best part is that it’s free. I’ve purchased fabric from this online store before, so I was familiar with them.
The pattern is formatted to print on A4 paper, the normal 8.5×11 and larger A0 paper that needs to be printed at a print shop.
I prefer to use Fedex to print the pattern in A0. It saves time from having to cut and paste the 8.5×11 sheets; however, this does cost and requires an extra trip to the store. The convenience outweighs the costs for me.
The Fabric
I chose a brown canvas fabric from Hobby Lobby.
I tend to sew tote bags with canvas fabric as I find it to be the most durable. Choosing brown was somewhat outside of my comfort zone. I enjoy neutrals, but chocolate brown is a color I don’t sew with very often.
The Thread
For the thread, I wanted something fun and out of the box. I already had neon green and pastel blue in my sewing stash. I had difficulty choosing between the two, so I decided to use both. This was helpful because it also reinforced the seams by using double thread.
I enjoyed the contrast of the mixed blue/green thread on the brown canvas. It was an exciting touch.
The Outcome
This project took little time. It was easily completed on a Saturday. I highly recommend this pattern. It can be duplicated with various prints and additions.
Fun Additions
- Embroidery
- Iron-on Patches
- Patchwork Fabric
- Different color pockets than body
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