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Totebags, carryalls, backpacks, and their kin are the working bags in our lives, essential companions on every kind of trip from the daily business commute to a well-planned annual vacation. It seems we no longer can leave the house without carrying something! Making bags like these is great fun for a number of reasons. For one thing, there is no limit to the design potential! A simple tote-bag is so quick to make that you can experiment with all sorts of stitching and decorative techniques without investing a great deal of time. But perhaps the best reason to make such bags is to get exactly the size and shape you need, with pockets that will exactly accommodate the gear you will put into them. These tote bags last forever
On the following pages are designs for bags of every shape and description, as well as plenty of ideas for special carriers to meet special requirements. Remember your friends and family members when you look at the photos—a new custom-made carryall is a thoughtful gift. Fabric choices Most carryalls, totes, and bags of this sort are intended to carry a good-sized load. If this is a consideration for your own project, look for medium to heavy firmly woven fabric with little or no stretch. Sturdy cotton, linen, and hemp—or blends of these—will work well for many of the models shown in this book, and in fact are the fabrics chosen by many of the designers. These fabrics are easy to sew and to press, and will wear quite well. Stores that sell decorator fabrics usually have a good selection of slipcover-weight cottons and cotton blends, and these are especially suitable for totebags and carryalls. Often such fabrics are finished for soil and stain resistance, a plus where wearability is concerned. The finish will not withstand laundering or repeated dry cleaning. Heavier decorator fabrics, such as upholstery materials, can be interesting for bags too. Beware of those that are coated on the wrong side; the slip-resistant coating causes stitching difficulties. If your heart is set on such a fabric, try using a coated needle or needle lubricant to prevent skipped stitches. Fabrics made specifically for outdoor wear—Cordura and the like—produce exceptionally durable bags. These also may call for some adjustments in stitching techniques. Practice with a scrap to find the best stitch tension and length, and the best needle to use with the fabric.
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