Make It Tonight: Easiest Tote Bag
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.
Categories: Tutorial | Tags: Make It Tonight
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