Monday 5 March 2012

Homemade gifts: A Tote Bag

I am feeling quite chuffed with myself! I made my sister a tote bag out of some material my Nana gave to me and some that I had left from textiles at school!

The bag is made in the pattern of St. Piran's flag. St. Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall, and today (5th March) is St. Piran's day! Dydh Sen Pyran lowen! <-- I bet you didn't know I had a Grade 1 Cornish language qualification! :D Go forth and eat a pasty, but not that Ginsters muck! BLEH! 

Top pasty tip: the best pasties north of Plymouth are from the West Cornwall Pasty Company. I was so excited to see a sign celebrating St. Piran's Day in their window when I lived in London. I ran in and started rabbiting at the cashier, but he didn't have a clue what I was on about. :(

Anyway, tote bags are simple to make. If you have durable material, you could make a single-thickness bag. I lined this bag because my sister tends to abuse bags, cramming them full of stuff!

I didn't have a pattern, so I kinda made up how to make it by examining other bags we own! The best part about it is that I made a pocket to hold a phone/wallet! :) It is high enough inside the bag to be reachable but not enough to let the items fall out or be pinched easily.
I am still learning how to sew so this simple project was educational yet achievable for me! I am ignoring any imperfections! The perfect is the enemy of the good!

3 comments:

Pamela said...

That is beautiful! What a great project.

gift bags said...

Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i've been waited for so long.

Astra said...

I made a tote too, also with a phone pocket i did sew the pocket closed by mistake and had to cut it open again LOL brilliant home made gift idea :)