My "Professional Tote"
 

Someone a while ago (up to a year ago) posted a tote from www.thecreativethimble.com and I remembered it as I thought the tote was perfect. So, when I went back to the states in May, I ordered the pattern and brought it back with me.

Today it reached a high of 95F in my sewing room--which is entirely too hot to quilt as I didn't want that much material touching me. So, I attempted this bag...and then, really, it was crazy due to how much interfacing you have to fuse, but I just kept on going, and was able to finish this bag today. I actually started on it yesterday, but spent several hours on it today.

It's the first bag I've made that I've really been excited about. The pattern is not for the "faint of heart". I'm glad I had done some basic bags before attempting this one.

Anyway, the main fabric started out a sheet that I purchased at the "upscale G & W Clothing" :) (don't remember which town) in the states and the lining was a curtain, probably from England and only the contrast fabric was purchased as fabric, from the Wichita Machine Quilter's convention I was able to go to in May.

Here are the pictures. Enjoy. Thanks so much for your inspiration, everyone. I am in shock that I was able to make something that look so nice. My son asked me, when he saw me carrying it, "Did you make that?" :) That's a wonderful compliment!

The Front: Has a zippered pocket for a passport and a pocket behind it for the boarding pass.
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The pockets (both sides) have a cord lock on it, with cording of your choice. I found some at a wholesale place near me, as well as the cord locks...thankfully very reasonably. (200 meters of cording was $3, and 200 cord locks, $6)
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The back side of the tote: has large pocket with a magnetic closure. This was the first time I had put one of these in. I had previously bought them (last year) off Ebay in a group of 25 after paying $3.00+ for ONE at the local quilt shop in Dade City, FL. (I considered it almost robbery.)

Above the magnetic closure is a luggage strap, so that it can be slipped over the handles of another piece of carryon luggage.

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Inside of the tote: A big zippered pocket for all those valuables that you don't want others to see or to accidentally slide out.
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One side of the lining had a big pocket subdivided into three pockets. The middle one holds my Kindle.
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The other side of the lining has a two pocket piece of fabric with a key fob. I decided to use a D ring with webbing. I had wanted pink cording for the outside to use in the two outside pockets but store only had red, white, black and orange. So I got my "pink fix" by using the webbing in pink.
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I attached a vinyl compartment to hold business cards...the first time I had sewn on vinyl.
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A closeup of of the magnetic closure.
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This was my first run of this pattern, but I love it and I'm sure it won't be my last. I was thinking how I could use embroidered pieces or possibly quilted pieces, etc.

Now you know more than you ever wanted to know about this pattern. I think that this bag has everything I need!

No, not more than I wanted to know... Just the right amount! Your bag is beautiful! I love your choice of fabrics and the pockets you chose. What a well thought out bag! It seams perfect, good for you and great job!

I was just in Krakow a couple of weeks ago and the weather was 60*~75*F. Glad I was there the because there was no a/c. This spoiled American would have melted :(. But we loved every minute we were there. What a beautiful city.

Congrats again on the bag. It's lovely~ Pat

No wonder it took you 2 days. It is wonderful! It has everything anyone would want. Gorgeous!

Beautiful bag. Love it.

It took me longer than that to make my first one and I am not a novice by any means. After I made the first one I swore I'd never make another one then I proceeded to make three more and teach three of my friends how to make their own. There is a new pattern out now just like this, but much smaller. Designed by the same person. It's called a Mini Professional Tote. I just finished one. I LOVE it! Here's a pic of the size difference.

You did a great job on yours.

Beautiful bag you can be proud of yourself, you did an excellent job! Happy quilting :)

You did a great job on it. Fast too. It took me longer on mine. I thought I'd never get all those pieces cut out. I love mine too.

WoW..nice bags. Those are perfect.

Beautiful, love your fabrics and even more that they were "recycled". :) I do know how hard they are to make. I made one for my daughter for Christmas one year and she has more comments on it. She uses it everyday in rainy Lex, KY. I just rain proofed the heck out of it.

Great bags - all those details!

That bag is pretty and looks so useful with all the pockets and zippers. Nice work and thanks for the warning about difficulty of pattern. If it took you two days it would probably take me two weeks. Thanks for sharing.

I would've loved to have had a bag like that when I went north in June. love the pattern-everything!

Beautiful bag. Really like the floral fabrics.

What a great bag that would be for traveling. Thanks for showing us all of the security details you included ...

I made one too, and it was really wonderful for traveling. Yours is beautiful.

What a wonderful bag you have made.

They seem to have added the magnetic snap on the outside pocket since I made mine. The last one I used Soft & Stable instead of the fusible batting. I liked the look better and it was lighter in weight.
you fabric choices are great and I'm impressed that you did it in 2 days. Good job

Great looking bag - and a place for everything that you need!

Awesome job, and thanks for including all the little extra details. The greatest ideas sometimes come from looking at the changes someone else thought of!

I love your bag. I haven't gotten up enough nerve to try one of these yet. You did a super job! So many compartments. Nice!!!

I made the big bag and thought it was too big for my everyday use, so I made another smaller one--I just cut down the measurements on the big one, but it looks about like your Mini-Professional. I made my DIL one of the original ones for her birthday.

Thank you so much for showing me the difference. I just saw that they made a smaller pattern and thought I might pick one up when I head back over on August 6. The Mini (which doesn't exactly look mini) looks more like a purse size which would be perfect. The large one seems perfect for travelling.

It's actually the perfect size for a purse. Big enough to hold everything I want to carry and small enough to deal with. I am truly loving mine. I put my sunglasses in the pocket on one side and a water bottle in the pocket of the other side. I am always struggling with what to do with my water bottle when I'm out and about and this took care of that problem. The center zipper pocket (which is quilted on the inside) holds my iPad Mini beautifully and I love that my cell phone fits in the smaller pocket on the purse front and all of my "stuff I need for today, but don't want to dig for" fits in the big pocket on the back side. Everything has a place. It's great.

Well done! Looks like a bag that will keep everything nicely organized.

Great job! I gotta have one!! From your description, I may have problems, but that is my kind of bag! Thank you so much for showing yours in such detail. It is beautiful!

Great bag. It looks like you have a pocket for everything. Love a bag with lots and lots of pockets. Well done.

You are talking about the "mini professional tote" right?

It does look like the "just right" size for a med. size purse. Will definitely check it out when I go to the states in about a week! :)

My sis is always looking for a BIG purse, so I'm thinking that this tote might be about right for her. I've already volunteered to give it to her--I'll use it to go over with and make something else for coming back with, probably.

That's gorgeous. I've made several of these totes (3 for my sister because she uses them so much that she wears them out). When I finished my first one, I felt like if I could make this tote, could make anything--LOL. The 2nd one didn't go any faster but it was easier since I understood all the instructions now.

You did a great job, love the prints.

Vera Bradley better watch out!!:)

Well designed and useful. Great job.

Oh WOW I love this bag and what a wonderful job you did. I myself have only made one bag and that a long time ago sitting beside my Best Friend for help and guidance. I would love to make more so might give it a try again. I love all the posts that every puts on of their bags they have made. They all give me inspiration to try more but I guess the inspiration has not reached the point where I want to say "I am making this today" oh well it will come and I will be patient for that day. Thanks for sharing your beautiful bag with us.
Pat

Yes I am talking about the Mini Professional Tote. I love that you showed your big tote and I'm so excited about the smaller tote that I just had to show you.

Your work is wonderful!!!

I reallylike your bag !

How wonderful! Great job on it too.

I love your tote. I have made about 10 of them. I only have one for me, the rest have all been for my girls etc. They are also great for a diaper bag. I am going to Myrtle Beach in a couple of weeks with my mom and 2 SIL. I am going to teach them how to make them. Hopefully I can make one for myself too. Not sure I will get to. I have a feeling my mom will need a lot of help. It will be fun though.

Great bags and very professional looking. Great job!

So is the challenge in making this bag figuring out the written directions or the complexity of the sewing (all of the compartments, etc.)? It looks like it would be very useful and well thought out.