Megan Travel Tote and Sidekick Tote

I recently got to test a new pattern from Michelle of Uniquely Michelle.  Well, it is actually a pattern for a bag in two different sizes.  I made the largest bag, The Megan Travel Tote.

How big is the Megan Travel Tote?  Really big!!! The finished size is 19" x 15" x 7.5" D.  It is large enough to pack for a long weekend and then some.  To help you see how big it is, I took mega rolls of paper towels to see how many it would hold.  The answer is 6 with a little room to spare and still have the ability to zip it closed.

The other size is called the Sidekick Tote.  It is smaller and is great for everyday.  It measures                  15" W x 12" H x 4" D.  Both of the bags look the same except for size.

Let's talk about the pockets first.  There are 12 of them! There are 7 slip pockets, 2 expandable slip pockets, 2 zipper pockets and a padded tablet pocket.

Here is a great look at the inside and many of the pockets.  You can see the 2 side pockets have elastic around the top and are great for keeping water bottles in place.  You can see here, also, that the top is closed with a separating zipper.  This allows the top to open wide while packing.

The slip pockets on the exterior have piping.  The base of the bag is reinforced for a heavy load.  The straps have strap pads to make it easier on the shoulder. This is a great pattern from Uniquely Michelle and you get both sizes.  It is an intermediate pattern.  There are directions for making with a fleece batting or with foam .  I used the fleece because of the size.  I wanted it to be easier to store and fold up a little, but if I made the Sidekick Tote, I would probably used the foam.  Patterns from Uniquely Michelle are easy to follow with great directions and pictures to help along the way.  You can get the pattern here and check out Michelle's other patterns.