Make It Tonight: Easiest Tote Bag

June 6, 2014 at 9:03 am , by lfullington

Fabrics: Nana’s Pantry collection by Mama’s Cottons for Connecting Threads

Here’s a good first tote bag project that will instatntly become your go-to pattern! Plus, the bag is made with a doubled seam so no unfinished fabric edges show. This project is courtesy of our sewing blog, howtosew.com. Visit daily for new sewing projects and easy home decor.

Materials:

• 4—18×21″ pieces (fat quarters) assorted prints (bag, bag lining)
• 1-1/3 yards 1″-wide webbing (straps)
• 2—17×20″ pieces paper-backed, iron-on fusible web (such as Steam-A-Seam 2 or Wonder Under)

Finished tote bag: 15″w x 14″h (not including straps)

**Sew this project with 1/4″ and 1/2″ seams.

 
Prepare Fabrics:

1. Press all fabrics to remove wrinkles and fold lines.

2. Following manufacturer’s instructions, center and press a paper-backed, fusible-web piece onto wrong side (unprinted side) of one bag fabric piece; let cool. Peel off paper backing.

3. Layer a bag lining piece wrong side down on first fabric piece; smooth out from center to edges. Following manufacturer’s instructions, fuse pieces together.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with remaining bag and bag lining fabric pieces to make two prepared fabric pieces.

Cut Fabrics:

From each set of prepared fabrics, cut:

• 1—16-1/2″ each square

From webbing, cut:

• 2—24″-long pieces

Assemble Tote Bag:

1. Turn under one edge of a 16-1/2″-square prepared fabric piece 1/2″; press.
2. Turn under same edge again 1″; press.

3. Insert ends of 24″-long webbing piece under last fold of prepared fabric 4-3/4″ from outer edges. Sew webbing in place.

4. Fold and press webbing toward top edge. Topstitch 1/8″ and 7/8″ from top edge to make a bag unit.

5. Repeat steps 1–4 to make second bag unit.

6. Layer the bag units with lining sides together. Pin in place. Using 1/4″ seam allowance, sew together bag units along sides and bottom edge.

7. Trim  corners close to the seam line.
8. Turn to opposite side (lining side out); press.

9. Using 1/2″ seam allowance, sew along sides and bottom edge to complete bag.
10. Turn bag right side out; press.