Shopper Tote

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 2yds Pellon® Flex-Foam Single Sided Fusible Stabilizer
• Medium Weight Fusible Interfacing Package
• 3/4yd Sherpa
• 1yd Lining and Handle Fabric
• Coordinating Extra Wide Double Fold Bias Tape Package (2)
• Magnetic Snap Closure
• Thread, Color Matching Bias Tape
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Sewing Machine
• Iron & Ironing Board
• Pattern Templates A, B, and C

DIRECTIONS:

• Pattern Template A (Bag Front and Back)
• Cut 1 on fold from main fabric.
• Cut 1 on fold from lining fabric
• Cut 1 on fold from Flex-Foam Fusible Stabilizer.
• Fuse Flex-Foam to the wrong side of the lining following packaging instructions.


• Pattern Template B (Sides)
• Cut 2 from Main Fabric.
• Cut 2 from lining fabric.
• Cut 2 from Flex-Foam.
• Fuse Flex-Foam to the wrong side of the lining following packaging instructions.


• Template C (Handles)
• Cut 4 from lining fabric.
• Cut 2 from Flex-Foam.
• Fuse Flex-Foam to the wrong side of 2 pieces from lining fabric following packaging instructions.

1. Cut 2, 3" squares of Fusible Interfacing and fuse to wrong side of scraps of lining fabric.
2. Trim fabric to match the interfacing.
3. Fold and press under 1/2" on all four sides of both squares.
4. Place backer plate of magnetic snap closure on the front center of each square and mark where the prongs for the snap front plate will go through the fabric.
5. Make small slits at the marks with a small pair of scissors.
6. Place prongs from one side of the snap through the slits on the right side of the fabric in one of the squares. Slide prongs through slits in the backer-plate on the wrong side of the fabric square. Bend prongs out to secure in place. Repeat for the second side of magnetic snap closure.
7. Pin magnetic snap pieces to right side of lining piece as marked on Template A. Top stitch in place on all four sides. Repeat for second side of snap closure.

1. With wrong sides together, baste main fabric sides to lining sides, and main fabric front to lining front.
2. Matching circles marked on Templates A and B, with wrong sides together, pin and sew sides of bag to front of bag.
3. Cover seams with bias tape by unfolding bias tape and lining up one raw edge to the raw edge of side seam with the bias tape laying to the side panel of the bag. Stitch in place, re-fold bias tape over the raw edges of the seam (this seam will include two layers of foam, lining fabric, and Sherpa). Using a ladder stitch, hand stitch bias tape in place over seam. Repeat for the second side seam.
4. Cover top edge of bag with bias tape in the same way as the sides.
5. Unfold the bias tape, line up the raw edge of the bias tape with the raw edge of the bag with the bias tape laying on the Sherpa side of the bag. Leave a tail of bias tape at the beginning and stop stitching approximately 5" from starting point as it is approached.
6. Fold starting tail of bias tape back on itself at a 45 degree angle and lay the ending tail of bias tape on top. Continue stitching remaining length until the beginning point is reached.
7. Fold bias tape over raw edge and hand stitch in place to lining side of bag, making sure to neatly tuck in the ending tail of bias tape.


8. To make the handles, line up pieces cut from Template C with fabric sides right sides together. Stitch around entire piece leaving an opening between circles marked on Template C. Turn and press. Hand stitch opening closed. Fold handle in half and neatly line up the sewn edges. Top stitch along this edge beginning and ending 4" from each end of handle. Repeat for second handle.
9. Attach handles to bag front and back following guidelines on Template A. Pin handles in place and top stitch along lower semi-circle of each handle.

JOANN HACKS:

• Try creating custom bias tape by cutting 3" strips on a 45-degree angle from an additional yard of fabric. Fold strips in half and press. Line up the raw edge of folded bias tape to the raw edge of seams in this pattern, fold over and hand stitch in place to cover seams.
• Front and side panels could be pieced from cotton fabrics and quilted, using an 80/20 batting in place of the Flex Foam Stabilizer.