My reflections on the humble tote

Is it just me, or are tote bags are everywhere? They’re stuffed in the bottom of your drawer, hanging on a door knob, and very often your first sewing project because of how accessible the pattern is, though that particular tote may not be your go to for everyday use.
 
It’s part of the reason I wanted to make the Day Tote pattern and workshop. Beginner sewists deserve to make a bag that lasts and not waste their efforts on a practice project. 

I did some digging into why we even have so many tote bags in the first place. 
 
Did you know that tote bags were actually designed to lug ice? The first tote was registered by an American outdoors company called L.L.Bean in 1944, and since then was cleverly used as a marketing tool for bookshops like the Strand to get their name and address out and about on the streets of New York. 

But when we all realised that we shouldn't be using so many plastic bags, then came the overproduction of tote bags, often made in cotton that is even worse for the environment. A bit of a scary fact, but a study by the UK Environment Agency found that cotton canvas bags have to be reused at least 131 times before they can match the amount of carbon used in making a single disposable plastic bag.

I set about making my own tote bag mainly because I wanted a casual bag that isn’t a vacuum of space to lose my keys in.
 
Taking ownership of the design from the fabric curation with contrast piping, choosing the pockets and also the colour of the handles (this was particularly tricky!) has been such a fun design process and it's exciting that everyone will have their own design process with the elements of this piece.

This workshop and pattern has been made with complete beginners front of mind but it's the perfect project for anyone interested in making a sturdy, roomy bag for the everyday, especially with holidays and beach days around the corner. It's also an opportunity to use piping and sewing on straps, which you may not have had the chance to learn when making garments.
 
I would love to see your Day Totes and how they are the canvas (mind the pun) for your creativity.