.Sidekick Tote.

Last week we said goodbye to the our lovely family daycare lady. Once my kids stop day-time naps, I send them to her house once a week so that I can squeeze in a work day amidst the business of life with four kids. She isn't just any family day carer either - at Cindy's house the kids do the most amazing things! They get dirty (like really dirty!) discovering all sorts of things about nature, they make their own paper and do crafts from recycled materials, lots and lots of cooking, felting, the most imaginative role play including a special fairy who steals children's lunch boxes and hides them around the house and so much more. Going to Cindy's house was such a treat for my children and we were sad to see her retire.

 

I wanted to make Cindy something special to say thankyou and goodbye and thought that she might like a new bag to tote her belongings around in...one that is big enough just for her stuff now that she isn't carting around nappies and wipes and drink bottles for the littlies!

After a quick look through my patterns I settled on the Sidekick Tote from Noodlehead. I made a Sidekick Tote for myself a couple of years ago and still use it all the time.

I made the large sized bag with the flat front pocket. For the exterior fabric I used some linen/rayon blend fabric with shot cotton on the top section to add a colour pop. The pocket fabric is an oldie by Echino and the bag is lined in the same. Once again, the recessed zipper top (that Anna does so well in her patterns) is my favourite feature of the bag. The only thing I did differently is to use cotton webbing for my handles because I really don't like making bag handles from fabric! And I don't think they look good after lots of use either.

SUPPLIES:
Noodlehead, Sidekick Tote pattern
Robert Kaufman Brussels Washer linen blend in natural
Kaffe Fassett shot cotton in eucalypitus
Echino Bonbon in green