Super (tote) sewing day, part two

Off I went back to Aneela's this morning to hopefully finish the super totes. When I got there I discovered Mrs Hoey had cheated overnight, and while holding my tote and sewing machine hostage, had done a bit of extra work on her tote.  To be fair, as Aneela pointed out, I did cheat on the straps....

I won't tell you anything about Aneela's as I don't want to spoil her surprise, but suffice to say it's lovely and sooooooooo pretty.  I believe she's planning to blog it tomorrow, so do hop over to Comfort Stitching to see her version.

My hopes of a quick finish were soon dashed as the inside is by far the hardest bit of this bag. Also, I was gutted to realise that the purple zip I happily bought yesterday was completely the wrong type of purple - the fabric is a much more reddy shade, so in my photos the zip looks blue.  Thankfully it doesn't look as odd in reality. Anyway I managed to get the recessed zip panel into the front and back lining pieces, but putting the gusset in was a lot more challenging. 3 times I tried it sitting down at the sewing desk and would it fit?  I came very close to throwing my toys out of my pram!! Eventually I stood up at the ironing board and it worked perfectly - don't ask me why.  So then, eventually I was at the final bit, the sewing together of outside and inside, and thanks to a little bit of distraction for the opposition in the form of homework about bats (as you do!) I had managed to pull ahead in the race to the finish line.

I'm really pleased with the finished bag, and am hatching plots to make a shallower version as a handbag - I'll keep you posted on that one.  In the meantime, this little beauty had me working on it for two hours picking and cutting fabrics on Friday, about 6,5 hours with it yesterday and another 4 hours today.  Can someone who has not been trying to make it with a friend let me know how long it really takes???!