Tote Bag Review

My mom recently asked me to make a tote bag for her that would stand up on its own.  Now, I call myself a quilter in the strictest sense of the word, i.e. I don't really sew items that aren't quilts.  I knew that I was going to have to find a pattern to follow...no winging this project or designing it as I go. 

Here's the result:

This bag's pattern comes from Amy Butler's book Little Stitches for Little Ones.  The book is really beautiful, and I just love flipping through the pages to see the lovely projects she has in there.

However, there are lots of words in the instructions and not nearly enough pictures, which made it a difficult project for me.  I had to learn a lot of things as I went along...things I would have known if I had been an experienced seamstress, no doubt.  Before two years ago, I don't think I had ever even touched a sewing machine.

It took several days for me to complete, but I have finally done it!  It feels good to know that I can successfully follow a pattern.  My last attempt to follow a pattern for something other than a quilt resulted in a pile of fabric in my trash can, and I don't throw away fabric; that's just how mad it made me!

It doesn't stand up as well as the photographs in the book indicate, but it's not totally floppy either.  I think I'll go ahead and call it a success.  I think...