cogimadeDare to do it your way.
A big tote in natural-coloured cotton with a black pocket and black binding. It has no lining; the seams are finished with binding made from the same black fabric.
For now there are only photos. If enough of you ask, I will turn it into a step-by-step guide.
It was made to order as a natural alternative to big plastic carrier bags. I kept to the dimensions I was given and used black only for the details: the pocket and the binding.
Since the tote has no lining, I tried finishing the seams with binding strips cut from the same black fabric. The binding also firmed up the edges, so the bag keeps its shape better. I made the pocket too wide, though, and its outer part gaped. In the end I sewed a small piece of hook-and-loop tape to the middle of the top edge to keep it shut. Next time I'll make it narrower.