I have a confession. I've never used a paper pattern before. (Gasp! No!) I own quite a few, but have never actually used one. I felt kind of intimidated not knowing what those little triangles and dotted lines meant. Yesterday I decided that I would conquer my fear and start out with a bag. I mean, it says right there:  "It's So Easy."  They wouldn't lie, right?

It took me a while to cut out the pieces, because I wanted it to be perfect and had to figure out the stripe placement, but also partly because I kept looking things up (like those triangle figures) in The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing. They have everything under the sun in this book. I'm glad I bought it. Now I don't have to call my mom or look things up online so much. (Those little triangles are notches that you should cut outward, so as to match up your pattern later. Oh!)

This was also my first time making pleats, but the pattern did not lie: it was easy! 

I added in some phone and blackberry pockets. Essential for any bag, but this pattern did not include them.

Overall, I really like it. The fabric I used was the same that I covered my cork board in. I really wanted to make a purse out of some Echino fabric that I have (which I will make at some later date), but this was the test bag. The handles are a little too short for my liking, too.

Patterns and pleats: check. Lesson learned.