Simple Tote Bag
Fabric requirements
Large Tote:
Pocket 6.5” x 11”
Straps (can use webbing) 5” x 28.5” [You can make these any
length you wish] Cut 2
Body outside 18” x 44”
Lining 18” x 44”
Small Tote:
Pocket 6.5” x 11”
Straps (can use webbing) 5” x 28.5” [You can make these any
length you wish] Cut 2
Body outside 15” x 30”
Lining 15” x 30”
Assembly
1.
Pocket
[You could add two pockets if you wanted or change the size of them]
a.
Fold the pocket piece in half, right sides
together.
b.
Sew on two sides (not on the side opposite the
fold.) Trim the corners.
c.
Turn right side out and press.
d.
Top Stitch the folded edge.
e.
Take the bag lining and lay the pocket where you
want it placed.
f.
Then flip the pocket with the folded edge facing
down. [Make sure the pocket is situated in the spot you want it.]
g.
Sew across the raw edge.
h.
Fold the pocket towards the top of the bag and
pin in place.
2. Stitch
around the three sides of the pocket, leaving the top open. Backstitch at both
top edges. Bag body
a.
Fold the bag body in half, right sides together.
b.
Stitch along both sides using a ½” seam. [this
adds more stability to the bag]
3. Boxing the corners [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e1l_FMnp9I&t=325s ]
a.
Lay the bag flat with the seam centered and
facing up. It will look like a triangle.
b.
Mark 2” from the tip and draw a line (this is
what you will be sewing on). Do this on both sides.
c.
Pin in place and sew on the drawn line. Back
stitch on each ends for stability.
4. Lining – Follow steps 2 & 3 above.
5. Straps [If you are using the premade
webbing, you don’t do this step]
a.
Take you strap fabric and lay it wrong side up
and fold in half the long way. Press
b.
Open your fabric and fold the edge of each side
to the middle. Press
c.
Fold the two pressed edges together and clip or
pin in place.
d.
Top Stitch 1/8” or as close as you can to both
long edges.
e.
Top Stitch ¼” away from the stitching on both
sides.
6. Assembling the bag
a.
Turn the outside of the bag right side out.
b.
Straps
i. Take
the straps and place them where you want them. I used 2.5” from the seams. Pin in
place, leaving about ½” into the seam line.
ii. Make
sure the straps and pointing to the bottom of the bag. [You want to sew them
into the seam.]
iii. Do
this on both sides of the bag making sure the straps line up with each other.
iv. Stitch
the straps on using a 1/8” seam.
c.
Keep the lining of the bag inside out.
d.
Assembly
i. Place
the lining over the bag (right sides of lining touching right sides of the
outside), matching the top unsewn edges.
ii. Line
up the seams and make sure the straps are inside the bag. I like to clip the
straps in place so they don’t move.
iii. Clip
or pin in place making sure to leave an opening larger than your fist to turn
the bag between the handles. I use double pins to make sure I don’t sew the
opening closed.
iv. Sew
around the top of the bag leaving an opening with a ½” seam. When you go over
the straps, backstitch a couple of times for stability.
e.
Final step
i. Turn
the bag right side out.
ii. Stuff
the lining into the bag.
iii. Make
sure the top edge is nice and crisp by pressing it in place. I use clips.
iv. Stitch
the lining closed at the opening, using a 1/8” seam by Top Stitching around the
top of the bag using a 1/8” from the edge. You might want to go over the
handles more than once.
v. Do
a second topstitching about ¼” from the previous topstitch.
7.
You are done. Once you make more than one of the
bags, it takes about an hour to do.
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