It would appear that every summer (I really do have some catching up to do) I feel the need to make a new bag - a bag that I'm happy to get sandy at the beach, and that's a good size to take on holiday or days out and about. This past summer I made the gorgeous and roomy Merchant and Mills' Orton bag, an oh-so-stylish oversize beach bag (see my version here) but I also wanted a more everyday size, goes with most things bag. I remembered a pattern I had kept from the first issue of love sewing mag - the slouchy boho tote - which looked just the thing
The finished bag is similar to the original... When I first saw the pattern I liked the curved boxed base and thought that the pieces were curved, though it was difficult to see much detail as the bag had been made in a busy paisley print. It was only when I came to make the bag that I discovered that the base was boxed and then other pleats added to somehow produce the curved shape. This all seemed a bit fussy for what I hoped to be a fairly plain bag, so I simply boxed the base. I also decided to only do two rows of stitching at the top, to stitch the facings, though the original has a few rows of stitching.
Another plan for my bag was leather straps, these lovely tan straps are the leather and buckle set from Merchant and Mills. I have the lovely Anna (of delightful noodle-head) to thank for my leather bag handle obsession, and have plans to make many more bags - mainly from Anna's book! And while I really do like this bag, and have been using it well into the autumn, I think I will continue my bag making with other patterns. I may have some navy waxed canvas and dreamy Rifle Paper Co sitting ready...
