GIVEAWAY! Want to learn to sew a bag? "A Bag For All Reasons" Book Giveaway!

Why hello, my friends, on this lovely Tuesday! I have a giveaway for you guys. The kind folks over at Martha Pullen Company sent me a copy of Lisa Lam's "A Bag For All Reasons" to review and also offered to give a copy away to one of my readers.

I decided to try making the Compact Groceries Tote (thanks, Mindy, for the fabric!), since I'm constantly bringing packages to the post office. I was using a different bag, and just crumpling it up and throwing it back in my car once it was empty. 

What I like about this one is that it has a wrap around strap to fold up the bag and a clippy on it so I can attach it to my other bag, instead of just tossing it in the car willy-nilly. I like this bag a lot, and have actually been using it as my purse for the past few days. I can snap the wrap-around snap together and clip my keys onto it, which is cool, because I am always losing my keys.

Making the bag from the instructions in the book was pretty easy, and I didn't need to think too hard. Whenever I try to just sew a bag from scratch out of my head, I end up seam-ripping and having to think real hard. It was nice to have clear instructions to follow step by step. Also, there are full-size pull-out patterns in the back of the book, so you don't have to make your own out of tissue or whatever. I liked that a LOT. The only thing I had trouble with was the envelope-style bottom, but that was just me being crazy.

Anyway, I really like this book, and I'm not just saying that. The pull-out patterns: awesome. The book is spiral-bound, so it lays flat when you're working: awesome. And all the projects in the book (there are 12) are all really cute and functional and not too intimidating.

So! Do you waaaaant a copy? :) You should. This giveaway is open to folks in the US, Canada, and Europe. You can enter two ways: comment here and/or on the giveaway photo on my Facebook page. Please only comment once per place. I'll pick a random winner on Monday November 12th.

And guess what? if you just wanna GET the book, here's a code for 33% off at Martha Pullen: BAGS2012
And guess what ELSE?! If you want to make a compact groceries tote for yourself, you can find the whole project tutorial and pattern here. http://www.sccmag.com/bag-for-all-reasons/.