SUPPLIES & TOOLS: (per 1 bag)
Tote bag 1: (with 6" pocket)
- 1 yard fabric for main color, or 1 1/2 yd if no contrast is used
- 1/2 yd fabric for contrast color
- Ruler
- Basic sewing supplies
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Marking utensil
- Bodkin, or turning device
Tote bag 1: (with 6" pocket)
- Cut (1) 13"x 28" rectangle and (1) 13"x 7" rectangle out of main fabric. Cut (2) 2 1/2"x 30" rectangles, (2) 16"x 2" rectangles and (3) 14"x 1 1/2" wide rectangles out of contrast fabric.
- Sew each 30" rectangle long, RST using 1/4" seam allowance. Turn piece right-side out using the bodkin and press. These will be used as the straps.
- Press large rectangle in half, length-wise, WST, creating a crease in the center that will be the bottom of the bag. Press under one 13" end of the 7" wide rectangle (pocket) 1/2" and 1/2" again to create a double hem.
- Place folded end of pocket next one side of crease on bag bottom and topstitch, attaching the wrong side pocket bottom to the right side of the tote bag.
- Sew long edge of 1 1/2" wide strip to each 13" edge of both pocket and tote RST using 3/8" seam allowance. Fold remaining fabric up and over to the wrong side to create a 3/8" binding. Stitch in the ditch to finish binding.
- Place ends of straps 1" down from bound edges of tote, and 3" in from the sides. Stitch in place 1/4" down from raw edge and press straps up. Stitch a 1" box, starting from folded edge to secure straps.
- Fold tote in half and machine baste sides WST. Use each 16" rectangles to bind off raw sides.
- Press under 1" on each short end.
- Using 3/8" seam allowance, sew long edge of rectangle to edge of tote, RST.
- Press excess binding toward back of tote and fold over to finish. Stitch in the ditch to attach.
- Repeat for other side.
- Cut (1) 13"x 28" rectangle and (1) 13"x 10" rectangle out of main fabric. Cut (2) 2 1/2"x 30" rectangles, (2) 16"x 2" rectangles and (3) 14"x 1 1/2" wide rectangles out of contrast fabric.
- Sew each 30" rectangle long, RST using 1/4" seam allowance. Turn piece right-side out using the bodkin and press. These will be used as the straps.
- Press large rectangle in half, length-wise, WST, creating a crease in the center that will be the bottom of the bag. Press under one 13" end of the 10" wide rectangle (pocket) 1/2" and 1/2" again to create a double hem.
- Place folded end of pocket next one side of crease on bag bottom and topstitch, attaching the wrong side pocket bottom to the right side of the tote bag.
- Sew long edge of 1 1/2" wide strip to each 13" edge of both pocket and tote RST using 3/8" seam allowance. Fold remaining fabric up and over to the wrong side to create a 3/8" binding. Stitch in the ditch to finish binding.
- Place ends of straps 1" down from bound edges of tote, and 3" in from the sides. Stitch in place 1/4" down from raw edge and press straps up. Stitch a 1" box, starting from folded edge to secure straps.
- Fold tote in half and machine baste sides WST. Use each 16" rectangle to bind off raw sides.
- Press under 1" on each short end.
- Using 3/8" seam allowance, sew long edge of rectangle to edge of tote, RST.
- Press excess binding toward back of tote and fold over to finish. Stitch in the ditch to attach.
- Repeat for other side.
- Cut (1) 13"x 28" rectangle, (2) 2 1/2"x 30" rectangles, (2) 16"x 2" rectangles and (2) 14"x 1 1/2" wide rectangles out of main fabric.
- Sew each 30" rectangle long, RST using 1/4" seam allowance. Turn piece right-side out using the bodkin and press. These will be used as the straps.
- Sew long edge of 1 1/2" wide strip to each 13" edge of tote RST using 3/8" seam allowance. Fold remaining fabric up and over to the wrong side to create a 3/8" binding. Stitch in the ditch to finish binding.
- Place ends of straps 1" down from bound edges of tote, and 3" in from the sides. Stitch in place 1/4" down from raw edge and press straps up. Stitch a 1" box, starting from folded edge to secure straps.
- Fold tote in half and machine baste sides WST. Use each 16" rectangle to bind off raw sides.
- Press under 1" on each short end.
- Using 3/8" seam allowance, sew long edge of rectangle to edge of tote, RST.
- Press excess binding toward back of tote and fold over to finish. Stitch in the ditch to attach.
- Repeat for other side.
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Lynn from
Need diagrams for projects
I am not a beginner sewer however find this and many other directions confusing the way they are written. Could Joann's consider adding diagrams or possibly videos to the written instructions?
Date published: 2021-08-09
Rated 2 out of
5
by
NanaG from
Too hard to follow for an easy project
The pattern is hard to follow. Pictures would help. It should be an easy ‘make’ but instructions are confusing.
Date published: 2021-08-03
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Vanessa from
The binding makes the bags pop!
This is a very cute bag with the binding. The instructions were a bit confusing to follow, especially without pictures. But since I’ve made similar bags before and wanted to try time with binding, I made a few versions and adjusted the instructions to fit my needs. I added lining to two of them. I also made the straps bigger and doubled the fabric to make them more durable. On the one with 6” pocket, I sewed down the middle to make it two pockets. These are for many uses but I use them to carry my sewing and other crafting projects.
Date published: 2021-08-02