One of the things I'm most looking forward to this spring is shopping at the various St. Louis farmer's markets (Soulard and Tower Grove are my favorites). I always like to bring several tote bags with me when I go, since I inevitably end up buying way more stuff than I plan. Luckily, it is easy to make yourself a new tote bag in a matter of hours with this DIY.
I found this project in Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing, a great collection of easy sewing projects that I received as a gift from a friend a few years back. Lots of the projects, including this one, don't even require a pattern, which makes them easy to customize to your desired specifications.
Here's what you will need:
Fabric-
5/8 yard medium-weight cotton or linen (for the top panel and the handles)
1/2 yard of contrasting cotton or linen (for the bottom panel)
I really like using contrasting patterns, but contrasting solid colors would be great too. You should preshrink your fabric by washing, drying and pressing before you start.
Sewing supplies-
Thread
Yardstick or measuring tape
Fabric marker
Sewing scissors
Straight pins
All seams are 1/2 inch unless otherwise stated. A 1/2 inch seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.
Step 1: cut out all pieces from the fabric
Measure and mark the dimensions below directly onto the wrong side of your fabric, using your yardstick and fabric marker. Then cut out each piece following the marked lines.
Cut 1 main panel: 14" wide X 33" tall (or wider/taller depending on dimensions you desire)
Cut 2 handles: 4"wide X 21" tall (or taller depending on how long you want your handles to be)
Cut 1 contrasting bottom panel: 14" wide X 11" tall (or wider)
Step 2: make the handles
A. With the wrong side of one of the handle pieces facing up, on the short (4") sides, fold over 1/2" toward the center and press. Trim the corners at a 45-degree angle to reduce the bulk, making sure not to clip the stitching.
B. With the wrong side of the handle piece facing up, fold each long side toward the center of the handle, so that the raw edges meet at the crease. Press, then fold it in half lengthwise. Press again. Edge stitch the three open sides of the handle by stitching close to the edge, beginning on one short side at the fold, then up the long side, and down the other short side. Make sure you stitch through all the layers of fabric. Backstitch at each end.
C. Repeat Steps 2A and 2B to make the other handle. Set both handles aside.
Step 3: make the tote bag
A. With the wrong side of the bottom panel facing up, on each long (14") side, fold over 1/2" toward the center of the panel, then press. This creates the top edge of the bottom panel. With the wrong sides together, fold the bottom panel in half, matching up the opposite folded edges. Press a crease on the fold, then open the fabric with the right side facing up. Set aside.
B. With the wrong sides of the main panel together, fold it in half, matching up the two short (14") sides. Press a crease on the fold, then open the fabric with the right side facing up. With the right side facing up, pin the bottom panel to the right side of the main panel, matching up the creased center folds and the raw edges on the sides.
C. While keeping the center folds of both pieces aligned, edge stitch the two finished edges of the bottom panel to the main panel, making sure you stitch through all the layers of fabric.
D. With the right sides together, fold the tote in half on the crease, matching up the raw edges. Pin in place, making sure the bottom panel has not shifted on the main panel. Stitch one side together, from the bottom folded edge to the top unfinished edge of the tote, backstitching at each end. Repeat for the other side of the tote. Press the seams open and stitch each raw edge with a zigzag stitch to keep the seams from fraying.
Step 4: Finish the tote
A. On the top (unstitched) edge, fold over 1/2" toward the wrong side (inside of the tote), then press. Fold over another 1" and press. Stitch a 7/8" seam, making sure you stitch through all the layers.
B. To place the handles on one side of the tote, measure 4" in from each side seam. Mark the points with pins. Place the ends of the handles inside the tote, matching up the bottom edges of the handle with the finished hem of the tote 1" down from the top edge. Align the outside stitched edges of the handle with the pins, making sure the handle is not twisted.
C. Attach the handles by edge stitching a rectangle: With the wrong side (inside) of the tote facing up, edge stitch the bottom edge of the handle to the tote, stopping just before you reach the side edge of the handle. Without lifting the needle out of the fabric, turn the tote 90 degrees and stitch down the next side, stopping just before you reach the top edge of the tote. Without lifting the needle, turn 90 degrees and stitch parallel to the top edge of the tote, stopping just before you reach the other side edge of the handle. Without lifting the needle, stitch down the other side edge of the handle to complete the rectangle.
D. Repeat Steps 4B and 4C to attach the other handle to the opposite side of the tote.
E. Turn the bag right-side out and press.
Hope you all enjoy creating your new spring totes as much as I did!
I found this project in Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing, a great collection of easy sewing projects that I received as a gift from a friend a few years back. Lots of the projects, including this one, don't even require a pattern, which makes them easy to customize to your desired specifications.
Here's what you will need:
Fabric-
5/8 yard medium-weight cotton or linen (for the top panel and the handles)
1/2 yard of contrasting cotton or linen (for the bottom panel)
I really like using contrasting patterns, but contrasting solid colors would be great too. You should preshrink your fabric by washing, drying and pressing before you start.
Sewing supplies-
Thread
Yardstick or measuring tape
Fabric marker
Sewing scissors
Straight pins
All seams are 1/2 inch unless otherwise stated. A 1/2 inch seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.
Step 1: cut out all pieces from the fabric
Measure and mark the dimensions below directly onto the wrong side of your fabric, using your yardstick and fabric marker. Then cut out each piece following the marked lines.
Cut 1 main panel: 14" wide X 33" tall (or wider/taller depending on dimensions you desire)
Cut 2 handles: 4"wide X 21" tall (or taller depending on how long you want your handles to be)
Cut 1 contrasting bottom panel: 14" wide X 11" tall (or wider)
Step 2: make the handles
A. With the wrong side of one of the handle pieces facing up, on the short (4") sides, fold over 1/2" toward the center and press. Trim the corners at a 45-degree angle to reduce the bulk, making sure not to clip the stitching.
B. With the wrong side of the handle piece facing up, fold each long side toward the center of the handle, so that the raw edges meet at the crease. Press, then fold it in half lengthwise. Press again. Edge stitch the three open sides of the handle by stitching close to the edge, beginning on one short side at the fold, then up the long side, and down the other short side. Make sure you stitch through all the layers of fabric. Backstitch at each end.
C. Repeat Steps 2A and 2B to make the other handle. Set both handles aside.
Step 3: make the tote bag
A. With the wrong side of the bottom panel facing up, on each long (14") side, fold over 1/2" toward the center of the panel, then press. This creates the top edge of the bottom panel. With the wrong sides together, fold the bottom panel in half, matching up the opposite folded edges. Press a crease on the fold, then open the fabric with the right side facing up. Set aside.
B. With the wrong sides of the main panel together, fold it in half, matching up the two short (14") sides. Press a crease on the fold, then open the fabric with the right side facing up. With the right side facing up, pin the bottom panel to the right side of the main panel, matching up the creased center folds and the raw edges on the sides.
C. While keeping the center folds of both pieces aligned, edge stitch the two finished edges of the bottom panel to the main panel, making sure you stitch through all the layers of fabric.
D. With the right sides together, fold the tote in half on the crease, matching up the raw edges. Pin in place, making sure the bottom panel has not shifted on the main panel. Stitch one side together, from the bottom folded edge to the top unfinished edge of the tote, backstitching at each end. Repeat for the other side of the tote. Press the seams open and stitch each raw edge with a zigzag stitch to keep the seams from fraying.
Step 4: Finish the tote
A. On the top (unstitched) edge, fold over 1/2" toward the wrong side (inside of the tote), then press. Fold over another 1" and press. Stitch a 7/8" seam, making sure you stitch through all the layers.
B. To place the handles on one side of the tote, measure 4" in from each side seam. Mark the points with pins. Place the ends of the handles inside the tote, matching up the bottom edges of the handle with the finished hem of the tote 1" down from the top edge. Align the outside stitched edges of the handle with the pins, making sure the handle is not twisted.
C. Attach the handles by edge stitching a rectangle: With the wrong side (inside) of the tote facing up, edge stitch the bottom edge of the handle to the tote, stopping just before you reach the side edge of the handle. Without lifting the needle out of the fabric, turn the tote 90 degrees and stitch down the next side, stopping just before you reach the top edge of the tote. Without lifting the needle, turn 90 degrees and stitch parallel to the top edge of the tote, stopping just before you reach the other side edge of the handle. Without lifting the needle, stitch down the other side edge of the handle to complete the rectangle.
D. Repeat Steps 4B and 4C to attach the other handle to the opposite side of the tote.
E. Turn the bag right-side out and press.
Hope you all enjoy creating your new spring totes as much as I did!
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