Travel Handmade: Professional Tote Bag Review

This post is part of the Travel Handmade series, for more great bag post click here!

Today I am going to be reviewing the Professional Tote Bag Pattern by The Creative Thimble and designer Laura Martell (she blogs over here!).

While the pattern says "tote bag" this bag is my all time favorite, carry all bag.  Perfect for a carry on.  It measures 18" wide x 15" tall x 5" deep--which is great for holding things like a plane ticket and passport, a book or eReader, and an extra set of clothes and toiletries.  Most definitely the biggest bag I have ever made, the fabric and stabilizer requirements had me a little worried (and can get a little pricey)--almost 3 1/2 yards total of the main, contrasting, and lining fabric and over 2 yards of heavy weight interfacing (I used Decor Bond by Pellon).  But I decided to carry on none the less, and am so glad I did because this bag fits everything!

Like I said, the pattern calls for a hefty amount of heavy weight stabilizer which means normal quilting cotton can be used without the bag losing it's professional looking shape-which I love!  So keeping things fun, I decided to go with these dinosaur, striped, and polk-a-dot prints by Michael Miller.

In my opinion, the most time consuming part of this entire bag is the prep work you need to do before you even sit down at your sewing machine.  There are over 16 pattern pieces (between bag body, interior, and pockets) for both the cotton fabric and the stabilizer--which can be overwhelming!  However, the pattern designer does included a labels page for you to cut apart and pin to your pieces as you go in order stay organized as you go--much appreciated!

Once I had all the pieces cut out, and then ironed all the stabilizer pieces to it's matching cotton piece, it really was smooth sailing from there.  The pattern designer did a great job of writing clear, easy to follow directions with lots of illustrations.  While sewing, there are spots where things can get a little rough because of all the layers--but with a new denim needle and my walking foot I was able to stay out of trouble!  My favorite part is how professional looking (probably all the topstitching) this bag really is and the fact that all of the seams are enclosed!  Brilliant!

If you notice, the side pockets have elastic cording and cord locks on them.  Two words: thrift store!  Look for things like winter coats and rain jackets--most of them have the cord stops and matching elastic cording.  Not to mention the zipper pulls you can find!

I would classify this pattern as intermediate to advanced--because of all the zippers and the button holes.   It is a great project to learn new and review your sewing skills because there are so many great elements to the bag.  In fact, I don't think I had touched a button hole since my 4-H sewing days!

This bag has already gotten tons of use just because it is so versatile.  It can fit anything and has lots of pockets to keep things secure.  From day trips to long travels, I know this bag will get lots of use!

Now that I have this bag under my sewing belt, it is time to tackle the Weekender Bag! :)  I will have one for The Sewing Summit!

xo, Megan


Please let me know if you have any questions and I will answer them here.