Bagmaking: The Window Shopper Tote - February BOTM 2016 by Mrs H

I knew when Samantha  said we were going to need a big print for her Bag of the Month  club bag, that I wanted to use this Frida print.

However I didn't actually own it already, so I had to go buy it. Gosh Alexander Henry ain't cheap

This bag has two outer pockets. A full width one on the back (although to be honest you can use it either way around) and a pouch on the front. This required serious fussy cutting to match up the patterns:

Urk! All that wasted fabric! (I also still needed to cut a gusset and a strap at this point) I do keep my scraps though so it won't get binned. There is also enough left to make a handbag. A small one :) 

So lets cut to the chase. Summary: Easy pattern to follow. No issues at all. Made gusset an inch wider. Used headliner to pad it out nicely. Bobs yer uncle! One huge tote finito.

Finally a bag is made - the Galloping Horses Tote

Bit of a change from the norm this one as a friend requested it.

This shopping bag is lightweight cotton canvas fabric - Clarke and Clarke galloping horses, Cath Kidston duck egg polka, and a duck egg stripe lining  - and I used a pattern which was Kwik Sew 0118 - a craft bag but suitable as a shopping tote.

I added two inner pockets as well as the 6 outer ones. Fairly quick to sew up but slightly tricky on the corners.

This would actually make a really good beach bag if you used some cotton laminate. Its not too labour intensive - and great for stashing bottles of sun lotion, drinks, flipflops etc. I did buy three lots of laminates the other week, but I really don't think I'll have time to get one done before our hols!

My friend seems very pleased thank goodness - its taken me a long time to start on this one as I just couldn't find the right pattern.