DIY Carryall Bag | iThinkSew Noel Tote Bag Sewing Pattern Review

I hope you are all staying healthy during our current circumstances dealing with Covid-19. I have been staying home nearly 24/7 over the last 2 weeks and I’ve had a chance to catch up on projects from my winter sewing lineup that I shared in January.

My most recent make over this past weekend was the iThinkSew Noel Tote Bag! I have had this pattern in my collection for about a year now, and I’m glad I finally got around to making it! I wanted a big carryall tote that I could use for the gym or as an overnight bag, so I made the extra large size and it is incredibly spacious.

It took me a while to make this bag because I was on the hunt for the perfect fabric. I found this gorgeous watercolor lotus pattern on Spoonflower and knew it would be an awesome pattern for the exterior of my bag. I purchased 1 yard of the Cypress Cotton Canvas and it was just enough for the exterior of my bag.

I also found a fun watercolor chevron pattern that is an exact color match for the teal leaves on the exterior. I purchased 1 yard of their Petal Signature Cotton and unfortunately it wasn’t enough to line all of the interior pieces as recommended by the pattern. However, it worked out because I decided to line the external side pockets with white fabric instead, which I like much more aesthetically.

I really like that this bag has an interior pocket for zipping up things like a card wallet, headphones, or other small items. There is nothing worse than having your bag accidentally spill over and having all your small items fall out! You could also easily make this bag without the zipper if you don’t find it necessary.

What I appreciate most about this bag is that it has very large side pockets that are big enough to fit my 32 oz water bottle! I don’t always want my water bottle mixed in with my other items as I’d like to have easy access to it even if my bag is zipped up.

Lastly, as I mentioned before, this bag is incredibly spacious. I am able to fit my pair of figure skates, clothing, and accessories and still have plenty of room for more! With the bag zipped, I could fit in at least one more outfit or maybe a zip bag filled with makeup or other toiletries. With the bag unzipped, I was able to fit in an extra pair of shoes and outfit.

If you’re looking for a great carryall bag that you can use for the gym, beach, or overnight, the extra large version of the Noel Tote Bag is perfect! The pattern is easy to follow and the smaller versions can make great gifts as well. I know that I will definitely be making more in the future in various sizes!

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