To Market to Market .. with a Brand New Tote

I have been wanting to add market totes to my Etsy shop for a while now, and I finally have!  I am really excited about this because I spent so much time in my head trying to think of the best design for it.  I knew that I wanted it to be larger than your standard-sized grocery bag and that I wanted the user to be able to carry it on their shoulder.  I started with a basic design that I had made before from the July 2008 issue of Threads Magazine.  I made it larger and boxed out the sides of the bag with topstitching to add some structure.  Each side of the bag has a pocket, and I used the main fabric for the pocket and the lining fabric for the sides.  I think this gives it a really nice contrast.

This is how the first one turned out, using the Timeless Treasures April in Paris fabric for the main fabric and a black and white damask for the lining and sides:

I have only made four of these totes so far, but I have already found some neat fabric combinations for the main bag and lining:

I thought that this was a really striking and unexpected combination, and I don't think I would have thought to do it unless I had the lining fabric in my stash already.  I am really glad that I never used it for something else because I think this turned out perfectly.



I am going to be making a lot more of these totes and having a lot of fun picking out the fabric combinations!