Win an ecofriendly, handmade, vintage fabric market tote in my giveaway

I'm celebrating the start of another sun-filled week with a giveaway over on my Instagram feed. You have the chance to win an ecofriendly, handmade, vintage fabric market tote...

This market tote is handmade using vintage fabric. Fully lined with robust, oatmeal cotton. Perfect for taking to the shops or local market to stock up on provisions. Wide straps make this bag comfortable to carry. It would also be great for stashing yarn, carrying craft projects or as a book or beach bag... You can cram virtually anything into this handy tote...

To enter, head over to my Instagram account to see the full details. Good luck!

This giveaway is in no way associated with Instagram.

Open to worldwide entries.

Closes on Monday July 16th 2018.

Tutorial: foldaway market tote

This handy reusable tote folds away into it's own pocket. Perfect for storing in your purse for spontaneous shopping sprees. I have made mine from upcycled vintage fabric, but feel free to use any lightweight cotton. The following is a sewing tutorial for making this lovely tote. You will find full instructions and free pattern to download and print.


Foldaway market tote tutorial
You will need:
Fabric
Scissors
Thread
Pins
Pattern paper (squared)
Sewing machine
You will need a piece of material 84 x 71cm. Cut out the 4 main pieces plus a piece for the pocket 18 x 36cm. All seams are 1cm. You can find the pattern template for this tutorial below. It is not to scale and is for guidance only. You will need to make a template on pattern paper, I would recommend using squared paper so that you can achieve true straight edges.

I have also included the full two-page tutorial at the end of this blog post, you are welcome to print that out and work from those instructions.
Step 1. Fold the pocket piece with right sides {RS} together and stitch around the edge leaving a small gap.Trim the corners and turn right side out.

Step 2. Place the pocket with the fold at the top, centrally on the right side of one main bag piece. Stitch around 3 sides.

Step 3. Join the main pieces {RS} to {RS} at the tops of the handles. Neaten the raw edges by pinking or zig-zag machine stitch.

Step 4. Neaten all round the inside raw edge between the handles by pinking or zig-zag machine stitch.Then turn under and sew all around the edge making a curve at the corners.You may need to clip the corners slightly.

Step 5. Sew the bottom of the bag {RS} to {RS} and neaten the raw edges as before.

Step 6. Pin the side pieces {RS} to {RS} by lining the top edge to the mark on the main bag piece (about 7 inches from the top) and the bottom edge centrally to the bottom seam of the bag.

Step 7. Sew all around the seam leaving 10mm at the top. In each corner pivot your work keeping the needle down in the material. Neaten raw edges as before.

Step 8. Pink or zig-zag stitch around the side edge of the bag opening. Turn under and sew all around the edge. Turn bag right side out.

And there you have it, a strong, yet lightweight foldaway tote, handy for a multitude of uses.



You are welcome to print the following two instruction pages out and work from there.
I would love to hear any comments or see any photos of your finished foldaway market totes!
Copyright: This tutorial is intended for personal use only. Please don't make these market totes to sell. You are more than welcome to share this tutorial. but if you do, please could you link back to http://www.meyouandmagoo.co.uk

And finally, if you would like to follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest, you’re more than welcome!

I also sell a range of handmade goodies, including vintage fabric cushion covers, lavender filled rabbits and owls and a gorgeous range of vintage trims browse my shop by clicking this link

7-day Half Price Sale!

The Pouch blog has been really neglected recently...this is due to the disruption caused by moving house! We're nearly packed and ready to go, so I've decided to run a 7-day Mega Sale. Next week I will have to temporarily close my online stores to move house. I wanted to offer my customers a chance to grab a fantastic bargain before I shut-up shop for the next few weeks.

Check out my Half Price Sale Section here

There are so many bargains available in my sale section and they all have a whopping 50% reduction taken off the original price.

Like this Reversible market day tote in chocolate and toffee brown, reduced from £25 to just £12.50!

And all my vintage fabric peg bags are now reduced from £16 to just £8

Half Price Sale Section here

Vintage love: Lucozade tote bag

I haven't had the chance to blog for a while. There are big changes afoot in the Pouch household, namely relocating to a new town. We've spent three weeks tidying our entire house in preparation for photos and viewings. I don't think I've ever done so much decluttering and housework. I've even ironed my pillowcases which is so unlike me, it really is. So right at this precise time I can do with all the energy I can lay my hands on - which leads me onto this vintage, oilcloth Lucozade tote bag.

I love this tote bag because it reminds me of being ill as a child! Lucozade was only available from pharmacists in the olden days and was always wrapped in bright orange cellophane - which always struck me as a bit odd. Whenever I had a sore throat or some other childhood illness, my mum would buy some Lucozade from the local chemist. It had a bit of an old fashioned image and was associated with being ill!

Then in 1983 the product was completely rebranded. Today Lucozade is associated with sport and fitness at a high level. The brand is often seen sponsoring major sporting events - they are currently an official sponsor of the 2012 London Olympics. What's so amazing about the rebranding, is the product is still the same, but people's perceptions of it couldn't be more different to the 'orange cellophane' days. You can read about the rebranding here.

If you'd like to see more retro goodies, head on over to my "Vintage Finds" board over on Pinterest...

Follow Pouch : blogging + craft's board My Vintage Finds on Pinterest.

My first magazine tutorial!

I've just received a copy of the latest issue of the Handmade Living magazine and if I turn to page 78 I can see my first ever published tutorial!

It's for a Pouch foldaway market tote. This handy tote folds away into it's own pocket. Perfect for storing in your purse for spontaneous shopping sprees!

It's lovely to see it in print and I'm really pleased because they have asked me to design another item to be published as a tutorial later on in the year...

Unfortunately the pattern for the market tote was left out at publication stage. The editor of Handmade Living has added it to the Errata section of their blog. I have also included it here too.

July Tote Giveaway

I thought it was high time I ran another giveaway on my blog. Up for grabs is this bold and Summery Canvas Stripey Tote. made from sturdy canvas in shades of citrus orange, sunny yellow, lime green and pale purple.

Perfect for taking to the shops to stock up on provisions. Also makes a great knitting bag, book bag, gym bag, you can cram virtually anything into this handy tote.







How to enter:

mandatory - Leave a comment stating your favorite item from my Etsy store. This applies to both new and old followers.

Three additional ways to enter:
1. Become a follower of my blog. Leave a comment and let me know that you're new.
2. If you are already a follower of my blog (as of July 1st, 2010) and you choose to enter by leaving a comment, you will be entered twice in the giveaway. Although I've made a note of my followers, please remind me by stating 'I'm already a follower' when you leave a comment. This is a way to say thank you to everyone who's been reading my blog over the past few months!
3. Tweet this giveaway:
@pouchdesigns July Tote Giveaway http://pouchbags.blogspot.com/2010/06/july-tote-giveaway.html


**If you enter this giveaway, please state clearly your email address, OR your Facebook/Twitter/Etsy username, so I can contact you in case you win**

The giveaway is open to everyone in the world, and will run from July 1st 2010 through to Midnight (BST) on July 15th, 2010. I will pick a winner at random, and announce the winner on July 16th, 2010.

**UPDATE**
This giveaway is now closed, thanks to all who took part!

New Listing: Cobalt blue vintage fabric dilly tote

An eco-friendly tote made with vintage fabric featuring a stunning retro pattern in cobalt and light blue
Fully lined with recycled, indigo blue denim fabric



Perfect for lots of uses such as shopping, carrying books or you latest knitting project
Would also make a great baby-changing bag, this large tote is perfect for carrying baby paraphernalia
Features 2 large pockets
Comfortable wide strap, it wont cut into your shoulder



This tote has no visible seams, so it is reversible – making this two bags in one
Nice and roomy
eco-friendly, 100% recycled and one-of-a-kind

To view this dilly tote, please visit our online store

new listing: Vintage burnt orange and brown dilly tote

This is the latest Dilly tote from Pouch
I am completely in love with this recycled fabric, it features a classic vintage orange, brown and taupe pattern
Fully lined with jet black cotton fabric

Perfect for shopping, carrying college books or you latest knitting project
Would also make a great baby-changing bag, this large tote is perfect for carrying lots of baby paraphernalia
Comfortable wide strap, it wont cut into your shoulder
Features two internal pockets
Pretty and stylish, great for year-round use

Vintage burnt orange and brown dilly tote in our etsy store

new listing: orange zest and chocolate brown oversized tote

Here is the latest listing in Pouch's etsy shop!

Perfect for taking to your local market or grocery store to stock up on provisions
Also makes a great knitting bag, book bag, gym bag, diaper bag, you can carry many things in this handy tote!

Made with stunning vintage Irish linen fabric and fully lined with lime green cotton
The outside is made from floral vintage fabric in shades of tangerine orange, lemon yellow, crimson red and pure white on a rich chocolate background
It features 1 internal pocket in matching vintage linen, perfect for keeping mobile phone, keys, shopping lists etc
The handles are reinforced with jet black cotton webbing so that over time the handles will not stretch

forget plastic bags, use this stylish, eco-friendly alternative instead!

orange zest and chocolate brown oversized tote

Earth Day – 10% discount in our Etsy store

22nd April is Earth Day
The movement was set up to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment

We are offering 10% discount on a selection of vintage fabric totes, so you can ditch the plastic bags and use something much nicer instead.





Please follow the links to see our discounted vintage totes!
Reversible purple daisy market tote bag EARTH DAY

Blue tweed vintage fabric tote EARTH DAY

Reversible sunny yellow market tote bag EARTH DAY

Large tree hugger tote with pocket EARTH DAY

Delicate flowers navy corduroy tote EARTH DAY

Big blue flowers vintage fabric tote EARTH DAY

Recycled distressed denim tote bag EARTH DAY

Tree hugger vintage fabric tote EARTH DAY

English rose vintage fabric eco tote EARTH DAY


Other Etsy sellers are celebrating Earth Day, see Hedgewitch's blog for further details:
Earth Day at Hedgewitch