Take a Stand, Stand Up Tote

I tested a few patterns for Annie Unrein recently (byAnnie creator of Soft and Stable and designer of dozens of patterns). This Stand Up Tote was one of them. It was designed to go with the Running With Scissors Organizer (that I also tested and will post later this week). The pattern for testing had both all in one pattern, but Annie decided to separate them into 2 separate patterns so that it wasn't such a long pattern. I told her I thought it would better in 2 patterns. By making 2 separate patterns, she added a larger tote to the pattern, so that you have 2 sizes of this tote in one pattern. This one I made is now the smaller size and there is also a larger version in the pattern.

I really love this and have been using it lately as a handbag and it works out really well. I am right handed and the only thing I would change is to make the zipper open on the opposite side it is now. I will do that with the next bag I make. I have an order to make one already for a friend, so I will make that change when I start the bag.

I did make my accent strip on the front of the bag with decorative stitches and rickrack (the pattern does have a fabric only accent strip, but not with decorative stitches, which is my own artsy addition). That's the change I made, but the rest I did follow the pattern instructions.

The front of the bag has the fabric accent strip and a zippered pocket. On the back of the bag there is another zippered pocket (but no fabric accent strip). The strap is adjustable and it clips to the bag on each side, so you can remove the strap if you want to remove it.

Rickrack and decorative stitches to enhance the fabric accent strip. I added some crystals and French knots too. I quilted it in wavy lines.

The side of the bag has a loop to tuck the excess zipper into when carrying the bag. You need a long zipper because this bag opens up nice and wide.

See inside how wide it opens up and there are 2 divided mesh slip pockets with fold over elastic binding the top of the mesh. 

The mesh allows you to see what is inside the pockets.

I really love this bag and will make the large one too, but first I need to make the custom order for this size.

I will post the Running with Scissors Organizer Tool Case in a day or 2. When the tool case is unzipped and fully open it will lay over this tote, so that you can access your sewing tools from either side. But both of these items work nicely on their own too.
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