Do you have that one fabric that you’re hanging onto for the “perfect project?” Well, for me this is the fabric. I knew I’d had it for a while, but wasn’t sure exactly how long, so I went through my records and discovered I bought it from Fabric Spark in 2014! It’s called Poetry, in Teal and is part of the Garden of Earthly Delights collection designed by Studio KM for Free Spirit. You probably already know that I’m a bird lover, and I tend to gravitate toward fabrics with birds. I think this print is so pretty, with its saturated colours and how it makes the black and white bird pop. The bird is quite large, so I was just waiting for the right project that called for something in this scale. Along came the Fiesta Tote! As usual, I’m often inspired by the pattern name to choose my fabrics. I also knew that the pattern would be released in Spring, so I wanted something bright and cheerful.

Polka Dots! These polka dots are from Jackie McFee’s Opposites Attract collection and they work perfectly with the black and white from the exterior of the bag.

Now about the pattern: the Fiesta Tote was written for a bag making retreat that just wrapped up in the UK. Samantha (aka Mrs. H) wanted attendees to have some special patterns to work on during the retreat, so she actually designed 3 new patterns. This one was designed for beginners, or intermediate “bagineers” looking for a quick sew. There’s also the Toiletry Tote and the Machine Bag. You can buy them all as a bundle, or each one individually.

The Fiesta Tote has a rounded bottom, achieved with darts, and a removable adjustable strap, plus small handles. It also features interior slip pocket and interior zippered pocket. The main compartment is closed with a magnetic snap. The approximate dimensions are about 14″ wide by about 11″ tall.

I used webbing for my handles and strap, which is what is called for in the pattern and really allows for the bag to come together quickly. Some testers made their own, for a more custom look. I used D rings to attach my strap, but you could also use a triangle ring. The rivets are optional, but I love the extra touch to tie in all the coordinating hardware.

The pattern includes instructions to place an exterior zippered pocket, but I omitted mine in order to keep my focal point.

If you’ve been wanting to dive in to bagmaking, this pattern is a great place to start. It offers a taste of hardware, a small variety of interfacing and a beautiful bag at the end! Find the pattern here, or to purchase the bundle, click here.