London Calling!

time to break out the ol' sewing machine. for a girl's weekend, i decided to make my friends each a tote bag. with the theme of the party already decided as a celebration of london, i went on a search for london/england themed fabric. i ended up finding four different designs from a company just outside of london , one of which i used for a table runner which i will post soon. i found three designs that worked perfectly for making the bag. i didn't use a bought pattern. i looked at other tote bags i had and began to plan and design. 

i was able to make two tote bags per yard. the final cutting measurements were 22 inches across and 19 inches tall. the straps, depending on the length you prefer, were two yards long, each.  it took on average three days to complete each. since i am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to creating and designing stuff, i was measuring all the time... making sure not to have a crooked seam, a slanted side, odd pattern placement. i also always had an iron on hand to make sure everything was nice and smooth and that the seams turned out nicely, especially when i did the straps, which were the most difficult part to accomplish.  i did add a liner for each bag, to add protection the patterned fabric itself and to add some stability to the bag. 

the final products came out perfectly. i still have yet to make myself one. the girls loved them. i added these craft tags to the bags, so when i handed them out, i knew who got what bag. they are 100% cotton so easily washed on the gently cycle. i was very happy with this project, considering it was the first time i had a used a sewing machine since middle school home econ class.