I was so pleased with the bag that I made with my niece over Christmas, that I decided to kick out a few more of them. One of them will be a gift, and one of them might be for me, but maybe not.
I used the same fabric from IKEA, but in the white on black colourway instead of the black on white. And just in case you did not read the previous posts, its the Everything Tote from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing.
They are huge, and super sturdy. I saw a picture of one of these that someone made, on Flickr, where they had put two babies in the bag for the photo. You could totally tote a couple of toddlers around in these, if your back was up to it. Hmm, I probably should have put the baby in one of these, but it was his nap time when I braved the ridiculously cold weather to get some nice natural light pictures.
Its hard to see in these photos, but I lined them with this watermelon pink fabric, with two cute orange inner pockets. I love orange a pink together. As I said, I might keep one, but I also might give them both away. I end up giving away a lot of the stuff I make. Its so rewarding when people like what you've made, and otherwise one can end up with closets full of more tote bags than you can use. Share the love, I say.
I have a great affinity to black and white prints, so I absolutely love these.
Posted by: Su | 01/02/2010 at 11:41 PM
Oh, well done!
I think C finds it appalling that I'm absolutely all about bags. You should see the treat I bought myself in England! Mmmm. You can NEVER have too many bags, I say. There's always an occasion to wear what you've got. The ones you made look great for second-hand bookshopping!
PS. My fave from this post is the one hanging higher than the other. Somehow it seems fairy-taleish to me. It looks like the sea...
Posted by: steph | 01/03/2010 at 10:34 AM
Oh Su, I am so with you on the black and white. I love, love LOVE high contrast pattern. And Steph, I would love to see what you got in England. And you are bang on about what I'm going to use this one for - lots of books. Also, you comment about the pattern looking like the sea was one of the things that attracted me to this fabric. It made me think of Japanese wood cut prints of waves. I love that stuff.
Posted by: finger thumb | 01/03/2010 at 07:57 PM
Well...I confess it's leather. Which, yes, is weird for a veg. But I can't stay away from leather. I love it. Not as much as wool, perhaps, and I will wear and have as much of that as I can (Colin calls me a sheepkiller because I have a gorgeous, soft, curly, and wonderful sheepskin in my office). I'm all about textiles. I have to learn to knit cableknit pillow covers...
Anyway, the bag. Well, it's more lovely in person. It's honey-coloured and has features that remind me of tack (as in horses). I love to wear it with my leather boots and jeans and a sweater coat and wool scarf...and the best part is, I can always close my eyes and think of England. :)
Posted by: steph | 01/03/2010 at 11:22 PM
If our camera was working, I'd take a pic because this picture doesn't do it justice at all: http://www.leathershop.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=8597. First off, mine's in the honey colour and that looks a million times nicer, and second, mine doesn't show the Addidas-looking details the way this pic does. Trust me, it's nicer in person. Also, yes, it cost a bloody fortune, but I bought it with the pounds C's parents gave me before I left! :)
Posted by: steph | 01/03/2010 at 11:33 PM
Here was another I wanted but the price...
http://www.leathershop.co.uk/product-detail.asp?prod=7642
I love double handles, and also satchels.
Posted by: steph | 01/03/2010 at 11:38 PM
love these bags...definitely want to make one soon. I have a yard of red and white ikea fabric that would be perfect for these.
Posted by: Rebekah | 01/04/2010 at 10:21 AM
Steph, those are beautiful! I have to admit I don't own a proper, real, adult bag like one of these. Mine are all mall knockoffs. Aldo is about the fanciest I ever get. But these are totally worth it.
And I don't know if a yard would be enough Rebekah, because the Handles are on the bias, and it takes up a lot of space when you cut them out. I ended up using other co-ordinating fabric for the handles. You might need a yard and a half.
Posted by: finger thumb | 01/04/2010 at 04:59 PM