Super Tote!

It's no secret that I LOVE tote bags! My family likes to tease me because I keep my quilting projects separated in tote bags lined up in one corner of my sewing/living room. A real bag lady! I also like a tote for when I travel. It has to be large with lots of pockets, and must fit under the airline seat in front of me. Let others fill the overhead bins with huge wheelie bags, - when I want my ereader, or my snack, I don't even have to get up!

My previous bag for this purpose was Noodlehead's Nikki tote, blogged about here in Feb 2012.
When I saw the new Noodlehead pattern for the Super Tote, I knew it was perfect for me.

I don't know about you, you are probably lots more sensible, but when I have a project calling to me, I want to start RIGHT AWAY! The Nikki tote suffered from this, as the fabric available to me in home decorator weight was more a case of finding "I can live with it" rather than " I love it".

I prefer my bags to be in heavier fabric because I'm always lugging heavy stuff onto the plane. Don't ask, it's quite a variety! From yards of fabric, vintage T shirts, to Sudoku books. So when I had the opportunity to choose some fabric for the Super Tote from Terry's Fabrics in England, I gave the task my full attention. I knew I wanted 100% cotton, and then I wallowed in all the lovely colours and designs in home decorator weight.

I'm not a terribly experienced bag maker, and the pattern is quite lengthy, but it all goes together beautifully. I started cutting on Thursday, and finished on Monday. Oh ,and life went on as well in that time!

Here's the front:

The back:

This is the gusset, one of my favourite parts:

Inside the bag, showing the recessed zipper and the elasticized pockets:

The front again showing the front pocket open:

Lastly, here's how it will look being carried. Isn't it pretty?!!

I was in a real rush to finish this bag, I will be travelling in less than a week.
Next time I will put two inside zip pockets in the lining above the elasticized pockets.
I would also have liked a magnetic clasp holding the front pocket closed. Instead I used a large old fashioned snap fastening. It works fine!

The fabric is
Charnwood  mimosa
Bowden mimosa
and Dotty in smoke

all are from terrysfabrics.co.uk

Till next time,

Sue


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