scarlet14

check out www.studiocatdesign.com she has a separate purse inset that may just work for you

Bubbie

What about after you've quilted the fabric (quilt sandwich, but before you sew into the bag), you make a long pocket (end to end of bag, but only as deep as you want the pocked - small or medium - making the pocket with french seams top and bottom - leaving edges open for turning). You would be able to sew pocked in place when doing your side seams, so you would only have to tack the pocket in place by hand so as to not take away from your quilting. Just a thought. Good luck, I'm sure someone else will have a better idea.

trolleystation

I make bags and purses and make a removable purse organizer for each from a tutorial at www.purseket.cpm. Your can remove everything and change to another bag in a flash

KenmoreGal2

Thank you for continuing to give me more excellent ideas! I'll be trying out a while bunch of new techniques with my next "generation" of bags.

stichinluvr

Why don't you attach the pockets to the lining and just quilt the top and batting, then put it together? That's what I do, or if you don't lik quilting this way, use muslin and then you can add your pretty fabric for the lining.

KenmoreGal2

After reading and re-reading all the advice, I mushed up a lot of it and came up with a solution which works well for me. It's actually quite simple but effective, I think it's what stitchnluver was describing. I would never have thought it up myself though!!

So I quilted the top, batting and a piece of muslin. Here it is.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]518584[/ATTACH]

Then I made a lining the same size and put pockets on it.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]518585[/ATTACH]
All I have to do now is to sew the side edges of the bag together, inside out. That means the front, batting, backing and lining. Like this.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]518586[/ATTACH]

Then I can proceed to add the finishing touches like the gussets, turn the top down or add a binding and add handles.

So thanks all for contributing. This method is just a teeny tiny bit more work than my previous method and I think it looks way better.

I edited to add that when I originally thought of adding a separate lining, I was making it way more complicated in my head. In the past when I made a lining, it was essentially a 2nd bag complete with the gusssets and I fitted it inside the finished outer bag. This method of adding the lining during the bag construction is so much easier.

Rose Bagwell

I put the pockets on the lining before joining to actual bag.

pjnesler

Lots of good ideas, I'm planning on making a bag soon, needed ideas too!

mom-6

When I make totes I usually put pockets on the outside as well as the inside. They may or may not all be the same size. Since I often use upholstery fabric or denim, there is often no quilting as I don't add batting. I sometimes put an additional outside pocket on the gusset if it is a wide enough for a cell phone.

rocklady

[ATTACH=CONFIG]518643[/ATTACH]

This is the tote I recently made. It's supposed to be made from 6 fat quarters. The pattern is from Whistle Pig Creek Productions, Six pack Stack, Reversible Fat Quarter Tote. I have spring fabrics on the inside and fall colors on the outside - reversible. And it's good sized. Pockets on both sides and two on the inside. Love it. I didn't have fat quarters so made my own.