pattern

Spring Poolside Tote

Just wanted to first start out by saying that the Poolside Tote will be available for individual purchase on July 1st. Hopefully in just enough time to make for all your summer travels, although a Super Tote would be just as handy, just sayin.

This’ll be the last Poolside Tote I’ll torture you with until the individual PDF will be released for sale, I promise. I love this fabric!!! Love love. It’s a cotton dobby (a great texture to the fabric, sort of like bark cloth) and the colors are just so happy and springy. I paired it with some tough denim on the inside and Essex linen for the handles and accents.

I tried using Pellon’s Fusible Hair Canvas for the first time! I’d been really curious about it for a long time. I really liked using it, although I thought (or hoped) it would add a little more stiffness to the bag than it actually did. Overall though I like the way it turned out. I used the reverse side of my favorite denim as the lining.

I got all fancy with the key loop, a smidge of leather was calling my name!

I’m happy to report that this bag was flung around on a plane to quilt market and drug around for a few days and held up quite well.  For me I wouldn’t use it for an everyday bag or purse (except in this case it was really great for traveling), but I’ll be putting it to use this summer at the pool! This is the slip pocket version (there’s also a zippered pocket version) and I was worried a bit about keeping my cell phone safe with all the hustle and bustle of air travel, but it actually stayed quite nicely in the pocket. Gotta love options!

Pattern: Poolside Tote (available in the Bag of the Month Club now, or as a separate PDF coming in July)
Fabric: Dobby Birds from Miss Matatabi, Yarn Dyed Essex in Leather, denim

35 thoughts on “Spring Poolside Tote

  1. Sara Curtis says:

    I also love that fabric! Simple but interesting, and the color is fun but not too bold. I predict this pattern will be a big seller too!

  2. Jeni says:

    I love all the sweet details on this bag! And the fabric, GAH!

  3. Great bag and I LOVE the fabric too!

  4. I love it!!!!!! It looks GREAT!!
    Aljonushka from faraway Belarus

  5. Anya says:

    Cannot wait to buy the pattern and make my own!! I better start scoping out fabric now.

  6. RWL says:

    Love this! Can’t wait for the PDF!

  7. kristin says:

    ack i love it! you foul temptress you…

  8. Kristin says:

    I have been waiting for this pattern. You keep teasing us!

  9. Marta S. says:

    You just kill me with your awesome brain and amazing eye for fabric combos. Kill me. I cannot WAIT to make this!

  10. mANdarien says:

    It’s such a great bag !

  11. Ines says:

    So gorgeous!

    Greetings from Germany
    Ines♥

  12. Katy Cameron says:

    Love the fabrics you used for this!

  13. Gah – that fabric!! So awesome! Can’t wait for this pattern!!

  14. Meghan says:

    That fabric is awesome!! You seriously pick the best fabrics for your projects! Looking forward to the release of this pattern 🙂

  15. DKB says:

    That leather looks really great!

  16. There is nothing not to love about this bag! That fabric is wonderful.

  17. gail says:

    damn, anna, you are just SO GOOD. that fabric is is making me drool…

  18. Jake says:

    If you had to compare the stiffness of the hair interfacing you used on this bag with another more popular choice, which would it be? Is it stiffer than SF101? Not quite as stiff as CraftFuse808? Just curious. I use a lot of SF101 and often a sewin interlining as I haven’t met a fusible (other than SF101) that doesn’t wrinkle and dimple no mater how much I iron it…did you have that trouble with the hair stuff? The dimpling I mean?

    1. Anna says:

      It’s more stiff than sf101, but not as stiff as craftfuse. The hair canvas is a woven and is actually pretty wiggly. It fused reasonably well, no bubbles, but from what I remember it took a while to get it to stick.

  19. Sarah Watson says:

    I have to waiiit? Well, that’ll give me time to try and bang out some Road Trip cases.

  20. Delia says:

    ah! I love this so much. SOOOOOOO cute!

  21. what would it cost me to just BUY one from you? not the pattern…a bag….just like this one! it is gorgeous!

    1. Anna says:

      I might sell a few finished items (the pile is getting bigger!). I’d definitely announce it here on the blog.

  22. Very Shannon says:

    OMG! Love this! What a great bag Anna! Swoon!

  23. dana says:

    beautiful Anna! And it’s the perfect size.

  24. maninsanchez says:

    Can’t wait til July 1st !!! Im going on vacation before that and I would LOVE to take one of this with me! Please!! Could you consider selling it before July 1st? :):):):):)

    1. Anna says:

      I’m sorry! If you’d like, you can sign up for the bag of the month club and get the pattern right away. 🙂

  25. You’ve outdone yourself! The craftsmanship on this bag is amazing! How did your machine handle sewing through the leather on the key loop? Did you have to use a special needle? Again, just have to say, beautiful job!!!

    1. Anna says:

      awe thanks! I didn’t use a special needle, but my machine is a semi-industrial one. I’d try some thin leather and a size 16 needle and you should do fine! 🙂

  26. Joan says:

    Hi, I have been looking for a great tote/handbag to make my daughters for the holidays this year. After searching the web for a long time ,your patterns seem perfect. I am going to buy at least two but I would love to know what your “favorite denim ” is that you reference on your blog for this pattern? Can you share that info? and why is it your favorite?

    Thanks so much. I am so glad that I have found your blog and patterns.

    Joan

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Hi Joan!
      I’ve been getting a nice mid-weight denim at my local Hancock Fabrics. It’s a nice weight without being too thick and it’s a reasonable price! I’d suggest looking at your local fabric shop and see what they have for denims. 🙂

      1. Joan says:

        Hi Anna,
        Thank you for your reply. Your bags have such wonderful definition that I had hoped there was a magic denim that helped to create the structure. I guess it was just skill! Thank you again. I did purchase two patterns and I hope to start them soon.

        Joan

  27. cindy says:

    so very late but I know its what4 years since making that tote, do you recall what you used for the inner pink facing? Is that a canvas or from the outer fabric. I like how you pick your colors. Im not a fan of the overly crazy bright quilting fabrics for the outside of bags but yours are just the right amount of color to make it interesting.

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Hey Cindy! I’m pretty sure it’s a Kaffe Fassett shot cotton in Apricot: https://www.hawthornesupplyco.com/shot-cottons-fabric-collection-by-kaffe-fassett/wovens-in-apricot/B48290B638BE/

  28. cindy says:

    Not sure how you remembered that but appreciate you letting me know! I really like how you put colors together. Nothing overly flashy on the outside but just enough to give it a pop.

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