Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Poppies for Purse Palooza 2013

This weekend, I had the pleasure of sewing a tote bag for a friend .  She saw one of my tote bags when I visited her, and said, "That's the bag that I want you to make for me!"
"That bag" happened to be an Anita Vacation Tote bag, with a few extra "add-ons" that I made for myself. 
Let me tell you about it...

Pattern:  Anita Vacation Tote     PDF Pattern by eamylove  at Amy Made That!
This is a versatile tote pattern~  that can be made to look very sophisticated and used as a purse.. or used as  a carry-all on a vacation... or  a carry -on in a plane.


The Anita Vacation Tote    pdf pattern   available on Craftsy


an Anita Vacation Tote    made by  Susie last year 



Fabrics:  Poppy Love -   poppies,  black with dots, and zig zag  by Lisa Audit  for Wilmington Prints
              Quilters Linen -  rust   by Robert Kaufman
               Pellon Fusible Fleece  987FF

Dimensions:  final bag      13 inches wide   (10 inches at the bottom)
                                    13 inches high
                                     6 inches deep   
                                     Straps at 29 1/2 inches long

Original features :      magnetic snap closure
                               inner zippered pocket  8 1/2 inches wide
                               inner strip pocket (13 1/2 inches across)
                                long straps in 2 different fabrics

Extras for customizing:    made it with  2 magnetic snaps for closing
                                    added a second inner zippered pocket
                                    made 2 slip pockets on  inside  7 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inches
                                    added outer pockets:  front 13 inches wide by 10 inches high and
                                                                  back  divided into 2 pockets    7  wide  by 10 inches high
                                    added "R"  monogram  2 inch high
                                        

The custom tote:


Anita Vacation Tote    customized


The back side    with 2 out pockets


The huge front pocket.... great for a magazine.  Monogram R




Inside view....   a zippered pocket and a slip pocket on each side



Inner pockets...  have more of the  poppy fabric to enjoy



These bags are really fun to make, and Amy has provided excellent  step by step directions in the pdf pattern.  {The pattern calls for one zippered pocket and one row of pockets on the opposite side.  So you don't have to be intimidated if this is your first zippered pocket bag that you make.} 
My friend will  be using her bag as purse, and I know she will love all of the pockets, and especially  the  inner zippered pockets for securing her wallet and phone.


Anita Vacation Tote 




I will be linking up this tote purse  in Purse Palooza 2013,  over at Sew Sweetness.  Sara organized purse pattern reviews through all of October.   The bags that are being shared at  Sew Sweetness  are really beautiful and amazing!


I'm off to my sewing room!

...and linking up at  Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts


6 comments:

  1. What a great job, and the customized pockets are so pretty and practical, at the same time. Fabulous prints, too!

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  2. Sweet bag! Love the flower fabric and cuff.

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  3. Looks like a very well made bag!! I think you have thought of all the necessities to make it a great purse!!

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  4. Oh, fun totes! I love these projects and bringing a smile to a friend.

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  5. Excellent looking tote Susie! Well done. I have been dying to try Amy's pattern too. Can anyone join the purse palooza? I need to get on the ball with all these blog parties!

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