For Pleats Sake

I verilly love this pleaty bag.  I made it during a triple bill episode of Wife Swap  - crappy weekend telly at it's absolute finest, love it!   This is a simple to put together bag, but I think the pleats and the smart leather handles make this simple tote look quite refined. 

I'm keeping the prototype to use as my posh-er groceries bag.  It's so roomy and it's perfect for carting around one's higher-end groceries purveyed from one's local food hall, artisan baker and 'new world' deli, daahhlink.   ...I wish...

Whatcha think?   If enough of you request it in the comments I'll fix up a freebie tute to make this bag for yer!

**UPDATE*** Oookaaaayyy!  I hear ya loud and clear.  Thank for your lovley comments. Please give me couple of weeks (or so - like I am moving house V sooon) to fix up the tute.  :)

Click on the pics to enlarge.

  The pattern is just a simple rectangle.   The clamshell curvy top edge is formed of 6 evenly spaced pleats. The pleats are also topstitched with contrast green to match the green stitching on the handles.

  The straps are these leather bag handles which I have stitched on using contrast green embroidery silk (which looks dead cool close-up).  The leather handles make the bag look like a "yum, where did you buy that?"  kind of bag.  The bag wouldn't look the same (or as posh) with fabric straps.

  Close up of the 'business end'.

   Inside pleat action.  The pleats not only shape the bag, but they reinforce the bag top as well.  The bag bottom is flat - tho you can't see that in the pic.

Golly I actually look kinda tall in this pic.  Hurrah, bonus!  This bag is roomy and can easily hold milk, bread, newspaper, parma ham, dried porcini, French Pave loaf, dried Udon noodles, asparagus bundle, a pat of Brittany salt crystal butter, a block of Manchego cheese, Kikkoman soya sauce, jars of harrisa, olive tapenade and marinated anchovies, a bunch of dried French lavender and...hahahaha!

If enough of you request it in the comments, I'll fix up a freebie tute to make this bag for you :)

**UPDATE*** Oookaaaayyy!  I hear ya loud and clear.  Thank for your lovley comments. Please give me couple of weeks (or so - like I am moving house V sooon) to fix up the tute.  :)

Right I'm off to make myself a cuppa and to write the first newsletter I've written in flipping ages - I'm going to put front & back cover pics of my booky: 'The Bag Making Bible' inside the letter...