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Monday, August 2, 2021

Tote

I made a tote to take as a sample to the guild meeting.

I even wrote up the directions for how I make them.

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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