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Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review: Rosy Little Things Jane Market Bag

This post is part of Purse Palooza 2012.
For full schedule of guest post pattern reviews and prizes, click here!

Welcome to the 2nd purse pattern review of the day! This review comes to you courtesy of Lindsay from Lindsay Sews and also Craft Buds. Craft Buds is particularly awesome because you can find tips on sewing projects, weekly sewing-related giveaways from across the internet, and more! Lindsay also has a pattern shop!

Jane Market Bag - Purse Palooza

The Jane Market Bag by Rosy Little Things is a downloadable PDF sewing pattern that costs $6. The designer, Alicia Paulson, has created a cute grocery tote that is great for showing off coordinating prints. You can use up to three different fabrics for the exterior and a different print for the lining.

Jane Market Bag - Purse Palooza

The finished size for this tote is 11″ wide, 13″ tall and 8″ deep. Although the pattern says the bag has 16″ straps, the straps on my finished bag are about 7″ from the top of the bag, or 20″ from the bottom of the bag to the center of the shoulder straps.

Deep pockets on each side of the bag exterior are a nice feature. The bag and straps are foldable, and convenient to slip in your car or other purse for a grocery run. Although, depending on how cute your finished bag is, you’ll probably only want to use it for storing other fabric!

Jane Market Bag - Purse Palooza

1. What materials are needed to make the bag? What type of interfacing did you use? 

Supplies needed to sew the Jane Market Bag include:
– 3 half-yard cuts of fabric
– 1 eighth-yard cotton print (for the handles)
– Sewing machine, thread, and 8×11 piece of cardboard (optional) for the bag bottom.

I would add to the supplies list a 1.5 yard cut of fusible interfacing over your choice. I used Pellon 808. You may also use a lightweight woven interfacing like Pellon Shapeflex, if you’d like the bag to be more foldable.

2. What fabrics did you use to make yours? 

I used a print called Foxen by Holli Zollenger (available on Spoonflower) and Lush by Erin McMorris. For the handles, I used scraps from my stash, and for the lining, I used Kona Pale Flesh.

Jane Market Bag - Purse Palooza

3. Pattern Pieces (How many required, was it easy cutting everything out?) 

This tote pattern has no pattern pieces, just measurements to cut out. So easy!

4. Illustrations/Instructions (Were the instructions easy to understand? Were there step-by-step photos or graphics? Was anything unclear?) 

Here are a few photos of my bag in progress, although the PDF pattern has step-by-step photos and the instructions are easy to follow, even if it’s your first time making a lined bag.

Applying interfacing

Jane Market Bag - Purse Palooza

Stitching boxy corners

Jane Market Bag - Purse Palooza

Topstitching seams

5. Modifications (what changes did you make to the pattern and why?)

I didn’t make any major modifications to the pattern, but I’ve made it before and added piping to the pocket as an added detail.

I like the boxy look of the Jane Market Bag, so I’ve shown here what it would look like if you top-stitched (or pin-tucked) the four vertical folds of the bag, for structure. This is another version of the Jane Market Bag I made last fall. The fabrics are by Anna Maria Horner and Yoshiko Jinzenji. I also added a detail of piping to the top of the pocket on this version.

Back View: Jane Market Bag

6. Difficulty Level (beginner, confident beginner, intermediate, advanced)

I’d recommend this bag to a confident beginner, because of the easy to follow photos. But I think that any bag with a lining requires a little bit of courage to sew, until you’ve tried it once.

If you are looking for a simpler tote in the same style, here is a free tote bag pattern which has no pockets, features only two fabrics and uses webbing for the straps, so you don’t have to worry about sewing your own!

 Jane Market Bag by Rosy Little Things

7. Conclusion (Any final thoughts about the pattern…did you enjoy it? Would you make it again?)

I think this pattern is well worth the money, and is easy to use. I love the ability to show off a variety of favorite prints, and the portability of this tote is great. I’ve now made it twice, and I’ll probably make it again!

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17 thoughts on “Purse Palooza :: Pattern Review: Rosy Little Things Jane Market Bag

  1. TheBeasKnees says:

    I have been looking for a great market bag pattern and I love all the fabric and embellishment possibilities this pattern offers!

  2. Kristi says:

    cute cute fox bag….love it!

  3. Judith says:

    Love the fabric! Too cute for a market bag. Look great for shopping at the quilt store…..Judith, Texas

  4. Paula says:

    Love this tote!

  5. ♥Duff says:

    the Foxen fabric is really beautiful! I checked out the free tote as well (wow, easy..)–the webbing may be easier, faster, and less expensive, but I think your straps look more professional. :O)

  6. java diva says:

    Oh I love when bags fold up nicely & utilize coordinating prints.

  7. Wendy says:

    What a gorgeous bag!

  8. amy dame says:

    this looks like a great pattern! i really appreciate you pointing out some variation options – piping is always awesome, isn’t it?!

  9. hueisei says:

    Love the bag.

  10. I love your bag! I downloaded the pattern, thanks so much for sharing the link!

  11. Dayna says:

    This is such a great bag, and you have quite a knack for pairing fabrics. I’d really like to make this. The “boxy” version is my favorite. Thanks for sharing the details!

  12. Calikisses says:

    I love the foxes offset by the dots! So cute. Thanks for sharing your review!

  13. Great fabric/cutting choices — I think it looks great!

  14. Katy Cameron says:

    Love the fabrics you chose, although I don’t think I could bear to put my groceries anywhere near it!

  15. Those fabrics are to die for!

  16. Sharon says:

    I LOVE this pattern — have made it a couple of times. The fox fabric in the sample shown is super cute!

  17. Kathy H says:

    I love the market bags with the different fabrics in the center. So cute.

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