This tote bag is easy to sew and complete with pockets on the outside for all your treasures. It is the perfect size for taking shopping, to the library or to the nearest quilt shop to fill with new fabrics that you must just have. No matter what day it is, we are sure you will find something to fill this bag with. Make one for yourself and more for your friends. These bags look great in just about any fabric.
Supplies Needed and Cutting Instructions:
When we made our two bag samples, we used all the same fabric for the pocket section, bag outside and lining. You could easily break this down however and use different fabrics for each. We have included the fabric requirements for three ways the bag can be made: bag all in the same fabric, bag with a different lining and finally the bag, lining and pocket fabric all different. Pick the one that you like the best or try them all.
Project Requirements
If you make the bag all from the same fabric - 2 meters (2 ¼ yards)
If you make the bag and pockets from one fabric - 1.40 meters (1 1/2 Yards)
Lining for this bag - 0.60 meters (5/8 Yards)
If you make the bag from one fabric - 1.10 meters (1 1/4 Yards)
Lining for this bag - 0.60 meters (5/8 Yards)
And Pockets for this bag from a different fabric - 0.35 meters (3/8 Yards)
Large Button
Cotton Batting
Cutting Instructions
If you wish, you can use the cutting instructions below to make paper pattern pieces to be used to cut out your fabric. You can also use these measurements to cut the fabric directly using a rotary cutter, mat and cutter. Use the method that you are most comfortable with.
Bag Outside - two pieces 19" x 19"
Bag Lining - two pieces 19" x 19"
Batting - two pieces 19" x 19"
Pockets - two 11" x 19"
Straps - Three strips 3" x 42" for a total of approximately 120"
Batting (for inside straps) - 1 ½" wide and length for approximately 120"
Button Tab - 4" x 12"
General Instructions
All seam allowances are 1.5cm (5/8") unless otherwise stated.
Pre-shrink all fabric by pre-washing and drying.
Straps
Attach the cut batting strips together using a zig zag machine stitch or a hand whip stitch. This creates a flat seam where the batting is joined.
Attach the strap strips together by doing the following. Lay the strips perpendicular to each other with right sides together. Mark a diagonal line on the top strip from corner to corner. Stitch down the marked line. Trim the seam allowance to ¼" to remove the excess bulk and press the seam.
Taking the long fabric strip that you have just joined together, press under a ¼" seam to the wrong side along the entire length of the fabric strip. Next, on the opposite side (the long side of the strip again but not the one that you have just pressed a ¼" seam on) place the batting strip that you have joined together on the right side. Pin and stitch in place. Roll the batting to the wrong side of the fabric and press. This places the batting on the wrong side of the strap strip with one finished edge.
Join the long batting strip together the same way as described above. Trim excess fabric and batting - press seam. NOTE - Be sure at this point that there are NO twists in the strip. What you are making is one complete circle. If your strip is twisted, this will result in your strap being twisted on your bag.
Once you have your straps all joined together in a complete circle, take the other edge (the one with the seam pressed under) bring this seam over the batting to make a tube with the batting inside. Pin. Stitch long the edge of the strap, enclosing all the raw edges inside. If when stitching, the fabric is gathering and does not seem to be feeding in straight, pull the fabric taunt from the front and the back and continue feeding through.
The straps are now complete. Set aside.
Please Note - this is only one method of making straps for this bag. You could also make the strap by other methods. One other way to make the straps is making a complete fabric tube and turning the strap to the right side. You can then add batting to the inside if you wish. The batting in the straps adds a bit of comfort when you are using this bag but the batting is not necessary. You can also make the straps shorter and not all one piece. Do this by attaching the straps at the top of the bag when you are joining the bag outside and lining together.
Pockets
Taking the two pocket pieces, turn under ¼" on the under edge of the pocket. Press. Turn down another ¼" and press to make a narrow hem. Stitch.
Place one pocket section on an outside bag piece lining up the bottom and side raw edges. If you are using a directional fabric, be sure that your pocket fabric and bag fabrics are going in the same direction. Next from the right side and onto the pocket section, measure in 6 ½". Mark. Move further down the same side and make another mark 6 ½" again on the pocket section. Join up your two marks. Repeat with the left hand side. Pin and stitch on the marked lines through both the bag and pockets. This divides the large pocket into three sections. Repeat with the second outside bag and pocket section.
Joining Bag Together and Adding Straps
Place the bag section (with the pockets attached) right sides together and matching raw edges. Pin across the bottom of the bag. Using a 5/8" seam, stitch across the bottom of the bag. Press the seam open.
Open the bag section flat on your worktable. Taking the strap, divide into four equal sections and mark. Place the strap onto the bag lining up the two middle marks with the center bottom seam of the bag. The other two marks will be the top of the strap (the part that will go over your shoulder). Line the strap up over the stitching lines for your pockets (the pocket stitching lines will not show). Pin in place.
Mark the top of each of the straps 2 inches down from the top of the bag. There will be a total of four marks, one on each of the straps. Starting at one of these spots, stitch down one side of the strap, close to the edge and up to the other side. On one side, you will be stitching over the stitching line you made when you finished the strap. Repeat. Reinforce the tops of each strap by stitching a square with an "X" through it.
Fold the bag in half and stitch up the side seams.
Lining
Place your two pieces of batting on your worktable. Lay one piece of your lining fabric on top of this batting, right side up. Place the second lining piece on top of this, sides together. Pin. Stitch down each side and through all layers (batting and fabric) using a 5/8" seam. Next stitch along the bottom of the lining and batting leaving a 10" opening in the middle of bottom. This whole will be used for turning the bag. Do not sew across the top of the bag. Trim batting.
Making the Corners
Open up the bag and line up a side seam with the bottom seam of the bag. This makes a "point". Measure up 2 inches from this point and mark. Draw a line across the fabric from fold to fold. Stitch on this line. Trim fabric on the other side of your sewing line. Do the same on the three remaining corners. This final result is a square bottom bag.
Button Tab
Taking the piece of fabric that measures 4" x 12", fold the fabric in half lengthwise (2" x 12") matching raw edges. Stitch and turn the tube to the right side. Press with seam sitting to one side. Topstitch down both sides. Place the strip on your ironing board. Place a pin at the midpoint of the strip and pin through to the ironing board, securing the strip in place. Fold both the raw ends down 90 degree to the pin. Press. Remove the pin. Turn the button tab to the opposite side and stitch through all thickness on your previous stitching lines.
Baste the complete button tab to one side of the bag centered between the straps. The button tab should be lying down towards the bag.
Putting it Together
Pin the straps out of the way and down towards the pockets. This way, the straps will not get caught when the bag is being put together.
Place the lining inside out with the batting on the outside. Place the outside bag section inside the lining section right sides together. Pin together matching side seams. Stitch around the top of the bag using a 5/8" seam. Pull the outer bag through the opening in the bottom of the lining.
Slipstitch the opening in the bottom of the lining together either by hand or on the sewing machine. Push the lining inside the outer bag.
Press the top seam flat and topstitch around the top of the bag. Be sure that you do not catch the straps and button tab in your topstitching.
Stitch your large button on the opposite side of your button tab.
Fill your new bag with all your favorite things and enjoy!
