Pattern Review: Artista Tote

Why I chose this pattern:
My oldest daughter is turning 4 in a few weeks and I wanted to make her birthday party guests something nice to take home instead of giving the typical goody bag of candy and stickers. I am a fan of Mindy Leone's patterns (Frog Legs and Ponytails) and I knew she had this cute crayon tote pattern that I've been wanting to try for a while.

Difficulty Level: Anyone. This tote is easy prepare and sew. The directions are clear and easy to follow as I've found with all of her patterns.

What I Loved:
The simplicity of the pattern....all the pieces are rectangles cut with a rotary cutter. No cutting and pinning pattern pieces!

What I Didn't Love:
Nothing (although I did change the button closure to a velcro one to make it easier for the kids...and I didn't have any cute buttons on hand).

Suggested Changes: Although the pattern is fine just the way it is, I will make a few changes in my next version. I will add velcro at the corners of the tote so it closes more securely. I also top-stitched my pockets (you all know I love my top-stitching). I did eliminate the rick rack on mine simply because I didn't have any. It came out just as nice without it.

Tips:

Mindy suggests using pins as guidance for the seams that you create to make the crayon holder separations. I don't like sewing straight lines by "eye", so I used a light fabric pencil to draw the lines instead.

Would I Recommend It? Yes! Support a fellow crafter and purchase this pattern here. You will be able to download it almost immediately.