My favorite one is a bag made with rip-stop nylon with web straps and a pocket on the outside that you stuff the whole thing back into. It has a drawstring closure. Packs easily for travel, and you always have it for shopping or even laundry. I always keep one in the car. Quite handy!

I haven't got a favorite yet ... probably because I haven't made one yet! I have collected a pattern or two, but I just don't know if I will ever get to making them. I'm so busy with smaller quilting projects. But I keep wanting to.

Odessa

I'll be looking for a pattern today, too. I've volunteered at my church to help make some bags and the lady I'm helping said she was just making them as she went. I 'd like to have a pattern for something to start with. So, I'd love to see any on-line patterns.

Here's a link to a bag pattern I've had for over a year. I haven't made it yet, but have TWICE purchased fabric to use. So when I finally make it I'll be able to make two - and probably give one to my SIL.

I love the look of this bag because of the big grommets (1 5/8" drapery grommets) and the fabric handle. It should be strong and comfortable to carry. But the pattern is a little more complicated than some other bags I've seen.

I was looking at the fabrics for this bag in my stash yesterday and that's why I asked the QOTD question.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: Grids & Grommets Bag

My favorite bag is a tote by Marlous Designs called Amanda's Bag. I've made several for gifts and they all loved them. It has 4 outside pockets including a zippered one and four inside pockets. Go to the website -- lots of neat bags there -- I've made some of the others as well.

Geri

Here is a link that might be useful: Amanda's Bag

I've been collecting bag patterns for some time now but have only made two of them. A lot of them are based on the same principle which is basically making a pillow case type thing and then boxing the corners to create a flat bottom. Then you make a lining the same way and put them together. Fusible fleece or deco bond are usually used to give the bag some substance. The most recent one I made was called Catalina Sling by Pink Sand designs. It was a little more complicated and includes template pieces instead of a simple boxed bottom.

{{!gwi}}

The only bags that I have made are tote type simple without a pattern much like fran said staight sides with boxed corners and handles but I have given some thought to buying Nancy Z. patterns and makine some as gifts. Like the one fran made as well. Maybe in the future. Jayne

I'm still working on the favorite bag, but then it depends on what I want to use a bag for. My favorite knitting bag will be very different than my favorite quilting bag which will be different than my favorite handbag which will be different than my favorite book bag....I think you get the picture! So many bags, so little time!

Don't laugh but I've got a dirty little secret...I don't know how to sew!

How hard is it to learn to make a bag? I liked the Amanda bag that Geri posted about. Is that something that I could figure out?

When I was about 13 a friend's mom helped my friend and I make simple dresses. I remember you had to pay attention to the direction of the grain, and there were little notches that had to line up, but that's about all I know about sewing.

What do you mean you don't know how to sew -- aren't you a quilter?

I love the Charm Party Tote by Quilts Illustrated. It takes a charm pack and about a yard of fabric for lining and handle. It goes together quickly, uses fusible fleece so you can add some quilting or not, and it looks so pretty in every charm pack I've seen. It was the first tote I made, and her patterns are easy to read and straight-forward. I didn't sew before I quilted, and still feel I can only sew a straight line (no curved piecing, etc). I've bought and made many of the patterns, the Little Cupcake, Desk Deli (also adorable, for your lunch), Weekender,.. They're all fun and great.

Here is a link that might be useful: Quilts Illustrated Patterns

Quilts Illustrated has some great bags on their site. I have bookmarked that one. Thank you.

Just a suggestion to try -- I recently received a copy of the Quilt Magazine (April/May2010 edition) and in it there was a bag pattern that I made. I did reduce the size over all as I felt it was bigger than I wanted. It came out nice, easy to do, and I sent it to my daughter-in-law as one of her b/day gifts and she liked it alot.
Barbara

I was browsing through the books at Jo-Ann's the other day and saw one that showed how to make bags out of place mats. They are basically just sewed together with handles attached. They don't even need a lining. Of course, they don't have pockets and are not as finished looking as some others, but they were cute just the same.

I've made those place mat purses out of Christmas place mats and decorated them with fringe and beads and gave them as gifts at our family Xmas Eve gathering a few years back. They were a big hit. They are very easy and the time to buy the place mats is after Christmas at K-Mart -- got some for 75 -- 90% off.

Lola, I busted out laughing about you saying you didn't know how to sew - I don't consider myself as someone who knows how to sew either! When I was in the 9th grade eons ago the girls HAD to take Home Economics and 1/4 of the year was devoted to sewing. I failed the apron. And forget the dress! My mother didn't sew and didn't have a machine, and the teacher for that class was really mean and wouldn't show me how to even thread the machine. (I was out sick the first few days with something) so I REALLY HATED sewing. So what did my husband get me for our 1st anniversary??? A sewing machine! I thought he had gone mad! Anyway, I eventually used it on occasion to TRY to sew clothes and failed miserably, then years later got interested in making quilts, so I do fine with the quiltmaking but still don't know how to make clothes. It's a shame that I didn't take after my grandmother, who was a seamstress and did it for a living, wish I had payed more attention to it instead of running around with the boys shooting BB guns and climbing trees.

Ritaweeda, I'm with you! I can quilt, but I'm under the impression that sewing garments (and bags?) involves reading patterns and understanding a language that I'm not familiar with.

I certainly didn't mean to imply that quilting is not sewing or that it was in any way easier than sewing - I wouldn't know, and I've heard many of you say that it is harder because of the exact nature of quilting.

I can quilt. I can FMQ. I love my sewing machine. However, I don't have a clue how to put in a zipper and I don't know what the difference is between webbing and interfacing, etc.

Maybe one day I'll buy a pattern and give it a go - and ask LOTS of questions!

Lola

LOL! Sewing is sewing--stitching bits of fabric together. Quilting is different than garment/drapery/accessory construction, but I'd be willing to bet that if you can quilt, you can learn to do those things, if you wish to. I do both. I love quilting but I also love sewing other stuff too, especially if I can combine the two:

I'm with you damascusannie -- if you can quilt and read a quilting pattern, you can sew and figure out a sewing pattern, especially for a purse --- just keep it to a simple one without a zipper, but I bet you could figure out the zipper part in no time.

I have quite a few of those Quilts Illustrated bag patterns, they are just so cute!! I also have yet to actually start one, someday!!

OT - Annie can u post a pic of the quilt in front of your hands with the cream colored background, it looks GORGEOUS!!!

I make lots of simple totes for shopping, but I don't make bags to carry, LOL. I just shove my wallet in my pocket. I'm completely fashion retarded, and I don't care.

"I'm completely fashion retarded, and I don't care."

ROTFLMAO!

Lazy Girl designs also has cute patterns and a straight stitch easy way to sew on zippers for the Perfect Pouch and Runaround bags. I never sewed a zipper before this and her method is basically to tuck the zipper into the fabric crease and sew a straight line just like quilting. You do that on both sides and there is your zipper. I'm probably not explaining it that well, but it's a great method and if you can sew a straight line to quilt you can also use your 1/4" to sew on the zipper!

For someone who never sewed using a pattern, tote bags have been an easy, fun project. I've even learned how to put in snaps, which isn't all that complicated!

Here is a link that might be useful: Lazy Girl Designs