While I Was Away (2) -- In Praise of Purlbee's 40-Minute Tote Bag Pattern

For other ladies across a considerable age span, I made tote bags with this pattern from Purlbee, which is perfect. I like that the tote is lined and also that it has width at the bottom, which gives the bag shape and more holding capacity. I made five totes in a three-step assembly line. I cut all the bags out at once on a cutting board--quilt-cutting fashion, then made the all the inside and outside bags, and then made the angled ends and put them together. To make it easy I used webbing for the handles and was relieved that it was very easy to sew with the machine. It was fun to match the outside and  inside fabrics. Here they are.

 

Cheerful bag for a young lady.

 

These blue bags are for ladies who live near lakes and the sea.

These two pink print bags were lined with off-white cotton from two old curtains.

It takes so little time to make these totes--which can be any size you like--that when a young visitor was unexpectedly coming, I made one real quick for her. This took 35 minutes, since I knew exactly what I was doing. So if you have your machine out and a stash of fabric, the 40-minute tote is a great spur-of-the-moment gift for someone or a great gift for a birthday with perhaps some baked goods or seeds in it or other little gift inside. I made this smaller bag of four fat quarters I had in my stash. I am hoping to make a couple totes for myself to take to work in the summer.