There's been a bit more sewing from the book Weekend Sewing this summer (making it officially and by far the book I've sewn the most from). The Farmer's Market Tote! I have to confess that my first impression of this marvelous creation was actually far less than marvelous. In fact, after sewing it, I was totally unimpressed with the result - it was nothing but a big floppy pile of fabric (see above).
But then! Oh, but then, my friends, I started to fill this thing up...and up....and up with stuff. And with each addition to the bag of more 'stuff', it filled right out and became this super roomy, super sturdy, super comfy and easy to hold fabulous Mary Poppins of a bag. And I instantly fell in love with it's prettiness and purposefulness.
(A quick sewing note or two: The
first edition of this book calls for too little yardage. You can find
all the errata here, and it's been corrected in subsequent printings, I
believe. As for the fabric, I'm sorry that I have no source on that. It
was a shower curtain of a friend of a friend, then her shower curtain,
and then something else I can't remember, and now a market bag (well,
actually two because I made another one). Repurposing indeed!)
All summer long this bag has accompanied me to the farmer's market with me where I've filled it to the brim with all the food I really should be buying anyway; to the farm where it's held my entire share quite comfortably even in the height of an abundant season; and to every beach picnic and family gathering we've attended. Always full, full, full.
For an over-packer such as myself (when it comes to food, that is), a bag such as this is very important. When I'm met with the usual "you're bringing all that?", I can quickly respond with 'but it's just one bag!' And that's totally true. How great is that? And I'm not even kidding you - that loaded up bag above is holding no less than three gallon mason jars full of food. Not to mention water bottles for six. And maybe even some chocolate for Mama somewhere deep down in there (shhh....).
