Sewing Circle Tote: A Finish

Huge day today! I have made a bag. No, you heard me correctly, a bag! It has straps, pockets and zippers. The dreaded zipper has been conquered. That's right zipper, bow down to me.
This my friends is Elizabeth Hartman's Sewing Circle Tote

I have had this pattern in my hands for a couple of years now. It has been staring at me, taunting me. But since the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild has started their Sew Ins, I have been wanting to make this bag so that I have a proper carryall for all of my supplies and projects when I go to meet my guild mates for a sew day. And let's face it, I want to look good too and this bag does that!

One of the main features that sold me on this pattern was that I can carry my rulers and they will not be in the way of the handles. That drives me crazy. I now no longer have this problem...

And inside, the storage is never ending. It has five gathered pockets and three zippered pockets inside and four pockets on the outside. And it is a big bag, check out how much stuff I can get in there, and there is still lots of room!

The construction of this bag was no joke. I mean I have never had a bag this sturdy, it is going to last. I have to give props to the good ole' Kenmore for soldiering through the millions of layers to get this puppy done. I cannot even tell you how many needles were broke in the process, but it was epic.

I can't not show you some of the construction pics that I took along the way. Seriously, every new step was a serious triumph for me. I must say that if you are considering making a bag such as this, the pattern was excellent. Very detailed instructions with a lot of pictures.

I have to give a special shout out to my friend Jenn from A Quarter Inch From The Edge for taking this journey with me. I was afraid of the bag so I basically roped Jenn into making it with me as she is a much more accomplished sewist than I when it comes to things not quilt! In total I would say it took us three solid sewing day sessions to make this project, but it was worth it. And it is always more fun to sew together! Here is Jenn taking her construction pictures along the way

The biggest reward of this project is that I feel as though I could tackle other non-quilty projects, even things with zippers :) Oh and another plus...I have finished this just in time for MMQG Sew in next weekend! I am going to look so cool.

I basically want everyone in the world to see my new bag so this week I am going to link up everywhere:
Monday Maker
Anything Goes Mondays
Needle and Thread Thursday
I Quilt Thursdays
Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday!

So how about you? Have you conquered the zipper, or bag making in general? Would love to hear about it. Now I am off to put things in my bag and maybe carry it around the house. Yes, I will actually do that.
Adrienne

Oh I almost forgot, in case you are wondering about fabrics: I used Essex Yarn Dyed Linen in Black for the main bag, Denyse Schmidt Shelburne Falls for the Prints and for the lining, Kona Cotton in Oasis.