A cute bag, one small error.

I bought this fabric a while back with the intention of making a tote bag just big enough for a few Pampered Chef Catalogs, and more recently, my substitute teaching binder. Sadly, I let the project slide to the way-side, finishing Christmas quilts and even a Christmas present that wasn't complete until the middle of this month.

I had cut out the outside and the inside pieces and sewed the inside pocket. Then I cleaned, put it all way, and hadn't looked at again. This week, I decided I would wrap up the project!

I started by making the straps, which took hours to turn inside out. The first one was a breeze. I used a safety pin to push the fabric through. One the second strap, however, my safety pin popped off about half way through. I was too far along to pull it back out and start over, and I wasn't far enough along to make it an easy fix without a safety pin. I was half temped to just start over, but I thought that would be quite a waste, so I just kept working. Eventually it came out, and after a quick ironing they looked great.

I sewed the straps to the outside, and sewed the pocket to the inside. I then matched up the liner and the outside and sewed it all together.

Then I noticed my error, my straps go the wrong way. When the bag is full, and I throw the tote over my shoulder, the straps have to twist behind so the bag will lay flat. I think I have a solution. I think I will gather the straps at the top with a two to three inch tube of fabric, scrunchy style. Then I will be able to throw my bag over the shoulder that way and all will lay correctly!

That was really something I should have considered more carefully before I started the project. Overall, however, I'm pleased with my bright and crazy bag. And it's the perfect size for my days spent at the schools!