Lunch bag pattern & fabric

I am looking to make lunch bags for the kids when they return to school.  Firstly, has anyone tried making them with neoprene?  Does it work well as an insulator?  Second, would you recommend a traditional "sack"style with neoprene or more of a tote style?  Not sure how rigid it would be or if it could stand up.  Or if neoprene isn't the fav fabric, what works best?

Sew Mama Sew has a lunch bag pattern, but I haven't tried it yet.  Here's the link: http://www.sewmamasew.com/ccp0-prodshow/PTFTLB.html.  I've never worked with neoprene, but I can't imagine it would easy to work with.  I know the fabric.com carries insul-Birght which I've used to insulate pot-holders and water bottle holders.  It's easy to sew through and holds heat/cold pretty well.  You can even wash and dry it. 

I had one of those BuiltNY neoprene lunch bags for years which I thought was just sort of ick.  It was frumpy and heavy and retained moisture, so spills could be messy, but it did insulate pretty well.  Recently I decided to upgrade and made a new lunch bag using the pattern on SMS. I made the lining from oilcloth (actually an old Ikea tablecloth) and made the handle detachable with a button at one side so I could loop it over the handle of my main work bag, for hands free carrying.  I used a thick batting for the interlining and it insulates well enough for me. If I made it again I would probably use a magnetic snap instead of velcro for the closure, and I'd make the top flap a little longer. It was a fun pattern and the result is way cuter than neoprene, and very functional.  I use it every day.

Does anyone even know where to purchase neoprene?

I just made a 'snack bag' - but it could easily fit a lunch or - depending on what you take to lunch - the pattern could be made larger. The tutorial is over on the Lazy Seamstresses blog http://lazyseamstress.blogspot.com/search/label/Bags%20and%20Purses.



I blogged about it here:  http://life-is-a-musical.blogspot.com/2008/09/snack-bags.html.

Beth

Anyone have a good pattern for sewing sandwich wraps? I want to cut down on my use of plastic baggies and I know you can buy sandwich wraps but how can I make one?!

From the looks of it, it's a hexagon with velcro tabs sewn at the top and bottom.  You could even use oilcloth, laminated cotton or polyurethane laminate coated (PUL) fabric.  I want to try some as well, but haven't... yet...