The free (yes you read that right, FREE) Madrid Tote by Victory Patterns is a satisfying, quick make. If you're a beginner sewist this is a great pattern to try as it's straight forward and you get a really useful accessory at the end of it!
The Madrid Tote is a large but lightweight shopping tote which is easily customisable with just a few simple tweaks.
Firstly, for a basic but highly effective feature, the front pocket panel can be made out of a contrasting fabric. In my example below I've used the same fabric design in a contrasting pattern, both fabrics being left over from other garments (but not enough to make more clothing from them).
Secondly, the pattern calls for cotton webbing for the straps which come in a range of sizes and colours. I've used a more decorative type, but you could use sturdier, wider or more colourful straps. Go wild!
Alternatively, you can make your own straps, which I did the second time I made this tote bag. However, you need about 1.5m x 20cm of fabric down the grain unless you're prepared to piece together longer fabric scraps (which is what I did). Just fold it over inside out, sew, then carefully turn the strap inside out and press well.
Third, as the fabric I used was quite lightweight and I wanted this tote to be more of an everyday bag, I lined it using some black cotton lawn and put a layer of non-fusible interfacing in-between. I cut the tote pattern out of both lining layers, just 1.5cm short at the very top. Then I sewed the corners as per the instructions, turned them out the opposite way to the outer fabric, added an inside pocket (see below) and inserted them into the bag, folding over the top, pressing and topstitching as instructed to enclose all three layers.
Finally, I added an inside pocket to the lining of the back of the tote. I cut out a square the size of my intended pocket + 1.5cm on each side. I neatened the four edges using my overlocker - but you could do this with a zig-zag stitch on your regular machine - then folded the top edge over 1.5cm and topstitched it down. Then I pressed the other three edges in underneath and topstitched those three edges to the lining prior to inserting the lining.
The second time I made this tote I also added an identical pocket hidden under the large front contrast pocket. It just needed to be sewn on prior to adding the contrast pocket, ensuring it was well-hidden!
You could go even further with the customisations by adding a zip at the point of topstitching the top of the bag.
I liked this pattern so much I immediately cut out a second one as soon as the first was finished (as the first was intended for a gift) - a mark of a great pattern!
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