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:
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...
