I was very excited to dig into my new stash of jeans that I brought back from North Dakota.

And I knew exactly where to start.

A denim shopping tote, of course!

I know, I’ve posted about my shopping totes about 100 times. But I still like making them and I might have a few new readers that don’t know about this pattern. It’s free. It’s easy. And whenever a new sewist starts making them, they can’t quit. One member of my Sew Cool and Crafty Workshop actually went out and bought a new sewing machine just to make more! Her husband asked her, “how many bags do you need?” But there is no answer to that because her sisters all needed at least one plus all of her non-crafty friends. Another member is now going to craft fairs and selling them because she is also obsessed with sewing MORE bags.

So here’s the link to the FREE tutorial: Basic Shopping Tote.

This tote went to my neighbors that watched my house this summer as a Thank You gift. They did more than watch, they filled the pool, watered the plants, dusted whenever we had interested buyers looking at the house. I offered to pay them, but nope, they wouldn’t accept money.

So I made a bag and filled it with fun things. (There was also a large container of homemade chocolate cookies that I added after I took this photo!)

I like to put something in the pocket.

This time the pocket peep was a mermaid!

This mermaid is based on a free pattern from Wee Wonderful. So cute!

I already have another bag cut out from the denim stash based on the Firefly Tote from Noodlehead. Just waiting for supplies and time to sew it!