Not so "easy" Grocery Bag

Week Two:

OK. I have finished my first pattern made sewing project. I have to say the package lied that it was much harder than I thought! I had many times where I got frustrated and wanted to throw something (or burn the pattern.) I made it through eventually... after venting to my husband and having pure determination to finish my first project.

Here are some pictures...
First, after using the pattern to cut out the fabric.












Next: Adding the bias tape border around the handles... I found this to be one of the hardest parts and the only part of the project that I am not overly happy with how it came out... I would not consider using bias tape on inverted corners like this to be an easy task for a beginning sewer. Maybe that's just my opinion and lack of sewing skills though? Anyone have any wisdom they would like to share with me on this topic? I would love to be able to know how it should really work, should I need to do something similar in another project.


Here it is after doing french seams on the sides. The pattern is NOT CLEAR as to how this is supposed to be done. I found a blog, from another novice sewer, where she wrote about this pattern that linked me to a video on youtube that helped a lot more then the pattern did. (She also had trouble with this pattern, which made me feel a bit better about the whole thing!)
Here is the link to the video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvb2TaHUu-U

FINALLY the finished product!

It helped a lot to look at a step by step picture guide of another similar bag that I found here...
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=177482.0
I personally think the pocket should be a bit higher because once you load the bag full the pocket becomes rather useless... If I were to ever (not positive I will though) make it again, I would definitely move it up or make it taller. However, I am thinking that if I really wanted to make a bag like this then I would just use the link above because the bag from the link has no evil bias taping and it has cute lining inside!

Here's a little something else I made this week...

My husband made me a rice hot/cold pack for part of my Christmas present. He even used my sewing machine (I was totally shocked and impressed!)

He also bought some super cute fabric to make little covers for it too! Today I made one of the covers... no pattern or anything, I just measured it and went from there. I think it came out super cute! My husband knows me very well, I just LOVE this fabric!

Over all I am glad that I can say that I finished my first pattern project. It wasn't a huge failure so I will maybe try something else soon... really not sure what to try next. Any ideas for a beginning sewer?

Please leave me a comment with your thoughts, advice or ideas!