Now, I love a great tote bag and one that has pockets and looks stylish for every occasion. I am loving the palm leaf and tropical island vibe feel for fabrics. I not only love them in my home décor but also wearing them. The leaf print gives off vacation island vibes and that’s the exact look I was going for.

I love huge tote bags that have space for the many things I love to carry, like my large beach towel, books, sunglasses, snacks and a cold beverage of choice. I wanted to create something that was stylish and big enough to hold my everyday items and comfortable to hold.

The fabric I am using is outdoor fabric and I chose the same type of fabric for the lining. I used my Brother Project Runway CE1100PRW to sew this bag. It’s a great beginner friendly machine that I have had for years and still gets the job done. One thing I love about this machine is that I am able to use universal sewing feet for my various projects. I always recommend it to new sewers as Brother, is a trusted Women’s Choice Award brand among women. Knowing that the Brother Sewing Machines has earned the Women’s Choice Award also helps set my mind at ease knowing that other women recommend it as well.

 Now let’s get into the bag making. Download the pattern here: Bag Instructions

 I created the simple pattern for this bag by sketching my idea of what I wanted. I had a similar bag in college but never came across one that was the size nor with the handles I wanted. So, when you sew what do you do? You create it! I loved the sleek look of the dark mahogany handles and thought it paired nicely and knew that I wanted the bag to come out on the sides more and include drawstrings.

 For the bag you will need the following supplies: