SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Heavyweight Canvas
- Cotton
- Pins
- Safety pin or tube turner
- Iron
- Coordinating thread
DIRECTIONS:
- Select the size of your tote. The patterns here are labeled with the finished size of the tote minus the gusseting.
- Cut your pattern from your fabric. You'll need two pattern pieces of the canvas and two of your printed cotton. Take care when cutting your cotton to ensure that the direction of the pattern is going the right way.
- Cut the pieces for your straps also, you'll need two 2 1/2" by 24" pieces of both the canvas and the cotton.
- Begin with your pieces of canvas. Pin along the sides of the pieces and the bottom flap, leaving the longest side open. Leave the squared in corners open as well. Sew along the sides and bottom using a 1/2" seam allowance.
- To create the corners, pinch together the open squares so that they line up. The seams you just created for the side and bottom should line up. Pin in place and stitch together using a 1/2" seam allowance.
- Repeat this same process using the patterned cotton. You'll want to pin the pieces right sides together. This time when you're sewing the bottom of the tote leave a 3-5" opening in the seam so you can turn the bag through it later.
- Now you'll sew the straps of your tote. With right sides together using a 1/2" seam allowance stitch together the straps along the long sides. Leave the short ends open.
- Trim your seam allowance and then use a safety pin to turn your straps right side out. If you have a tube turner you can use that here as well.
- Press your strap flat and then top stitch 1/4" away from the edge of the strap.
- Now you'll need to pin together your tote. With the right sides together situate the cotton tote into the canvas tote. Pin along the top edge.
- Now we need to pin in the straps. Arrange the straps so that they're in between the two layers of the tote. Measure 3" in from the side seam and place your strap. Do the same on the other side of the tote with the other strap. Make sure that your strap isn't twisted in the process.
- Once you have everything in place you'll need to sew along the top edge of the bag using a 1/2" seam allowance. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and the end.
- Turn your tote right side out through the hole you left in the patterned cotton.
- Now that your tote is right side out give it a good press to make the top hem even.
- Once you have it pressed top stitch along the top hem using a 1/2" seam allowance.
- Line up the opening of the cotton and stitch close. You can use your machine to do this or you can do it by hand with a ladder stitch as well.
- Press your tote.
Craft Hack Tips and Tricks:
- When cutting your straps, align the pattern so it will follow the direction of the body of the tote.
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Maria from
Made with pattern modifications
I made all the classic mistakes the first time I followed the pattern, including getting the straps twisted inside. I watched a video on YouTube and now I baste the straps in place before sewing the lining and the exterior together. I also make my bags as large as they can be cut from remnants for better stash-busting and less waste.
Date published: 2024-04-30
Rated 4 out of
5
by
TinaF from
Quick and easy project
I wanted to find a project for Christmas or birthday gifts and I thought this might work. I am a very visual learner so the video on YouTube was so very helpful. Once I did the first bag all the written instructions made sense to me. The pattern was helpful as a guide but you really just need to decide what size bag you want. I added a little pocket on the inside and am very happy with this project!
Date published: 2023-03-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Cryptid from
Quick & Easy
The pattern is really self-explanatory which is what drew me to this project in the first place. I added some interfacing to the sides & bottom just for some added shape, but otherwise a really easy pattern to replicate based on pattern measurements!
Date published: 2022-10-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Stayoffthelanelines from
Simple and Easy Project
This was perfectly simple and easy. The directions are very clear. There is absolutely no need to print this pattern as several people have pointed out since you are just cutting a few rectangles. Use the dimensions listed and cut your fabric. I decided to add a zipper pouch to mine tucked between the layers so it still works as a reversible bag.
Date published: 2021-03-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
wklilly from
A good basic pattern
I’m not sure what some of the complaints are about. It’s fairly straightforward. Cut the overall dimensions, then cut out bottom boxed corners. It’s really very simple. You don’t need a paper patten, just the cut dimensions.
Date published: 2021-01-16
Rated 3 out of
5
by
roxiehb from
if you want the pattern - you must 'click ' Right
ok so I couldn't print the direction either, when I click onto i - so i copied and paste onto 'WORD' and then printed instructions from there
and to print the patterns ..yo must use mouse to 'click' to the RIGHT where it says , TO GET PATTERN - which is located below the picture...
haen't made/sewn this it - but directions don't seem to bad
Date published: 2020-12-08
Rated 3 out of
5
by
longtime sewer from
Sizes
You have to select get pattern to get the size measurements and print that page.
That prints easily. However, I also had to copy and paste to Word in order to print the directions. It is a little different than most bags I have seen, but there are less pieces to cut out. It looks like it may be easier to cut out a pattern on large paper or newspaper rather than measure and possibly mess up on the material. The sewing part looks easy after you do all that. I would definitely reinforce all seams though.
Date published: 2020-12-07
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Donns from
pictures look fantastic
As stated in other reviews, I could not print the pattern directions. Guess I look elsewhere for pattern.
Date published: 2020-12-07