The Finishing of the "Professional Tote"

Well, after a night of sleep, I decided to put zippered pockets into the lining instead of the patch pockets called for in the pattern.  I do like the zippered pockets so much better.  This is half the lining with its zipper.

I got the tote sewed together this morning but forgot to bring down my camera.  I ended  up using my phone so the pictures are not up to my standards but I was too lazy to climb the two flights of stairs to get the good camera!  Here the finished lining is sitting in the finished outside.  It was a struggle to turn the outside part right side out!!  This is heavy fabric.  The lining is a little more forgiving.  Don't know whether it is too visible in this picture but there is a zippered section in the middle of the lining as well.  That makes a total of four zippered pockets altogether in all different sizes.

Here is the top finishing zipper section pinned to the tote.  I really really hate this part as there are many layers and nothing wants to stay together and it is a terrible struggle under the sewing machine.  I can't imagine doing it with a less powerful machine.  As it was I  had to undo sections a couple of times to make sure I got all the layers included (lining, main part and placket).  I am going to do something different with the next one -- might even go so far as to not have the ability to zipper up.  I could also go with the technique I use in many of my purses of putting the main part into the lining, sewing around the top and then pull the main part through the opening made in the bottom of the lining.  This would be after I had inserted the zipper into the lining itself.

Ah, the bag is all completed now and I added a purchased zipper pull for that top zipper as you really really need one for this bag.  The bag probably weighs about a pound or two at this point!  I didn't get it done in time for my daughter's China trip but I am sure she will use it for future sojourns.  My orange kitty pestered me as I was finishing up the bag so we know how it will react to orange fur now (she has two orange kitties).  The brown definitely holds up better to the fur than the black!