Back to School Lunch Bags

We’ve got three heading to school this year:  our oldest is a sophomore (!!), Miss #2 is heading to all-day pre-K, and Mr. #3 will be at preschool three days a week once he turns two.  That’s three lunches most days of the week.  We’ve been sitting pretty on the lunchbox-rescued-from-yard-sales tip for a couple years, but this year, I felt the siren song of a new indulgence: laminated fabrics.

Ever since Anna Maria put out her Good Folks laminates, Westminster/Free Spirit has had the good sense to put some of their top designs out in this format.  These are not oilcloth, they’re the actual fabric coated in a thin layer of PVC laminate, and they’re positively fabulous to work with.  You can pleat and gather them, they’re supple and forgiving, and the prints are amazing.  I pulled from the selection we have in the shop and whipped up three new lunch bags for this new school year.

Yes, I said three.  Miss #1 loves hers so much she declined to be deprived of its company for the day to allow it to be part of this photo shoot.  Rest assured, it’s faboo.

I used Ellen’s free pattern from over at The Long Thread, and these whipped up in a snap!  I’m especially fond of the leather handles on Mr. O’s bag (the leather came from a salvaged interior designer swatch book).

Loving these, and very excited that all my Twitterfolk gave me excellent suggestions for bento boxes to put in them!  I ordered these via Cool Mom Picks, and also popped for some back-ups here.  Looking forward to whipping up school goodies all year long!

Happy stitching, y’all!

Project details:  Pink lunchbox was made from 1/4 yd of Lindy Leaf laminate from Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane, plus 1/2 yd of Bite Me quilt-weight cotton from Michal Miller.  Black lunchbox was made from 1/2 yd of Slim Dandy laminate from Nicey Jane and 1/2 yd of Rat Race quilt-weight cotton from Michael Miller.  Handles are in red 1″ cotton webbing and black remnant full-grain leather.