Elegant Tote Bag

Elegant Tote Bag

Make this simple elegant tote bag in a nice firm printed cotton, bright coloured bull denim, canvas or ordinary denim in just over an hour. Here’s how.

You need: –

• 2 x pieces of firm fabric 40 centimtres wide x 50 centimtres long
• matching colour thread
• 2 x pieces of strapping 60 to 70 centimetres long
• sewing scissors
• sewing machine

You do: –

Lay your two fabric pieces on a flat surface. If the ends of your strapping are rough, make a small hem or zig-zag the ends. Next pin your straps to the top end. Make sure they are the same distance apart on both pieces or they won’t line up nicely. Sew only your straps in place.

Now fold the top of bag over and pin again. This is your top hem. See at right of picture below. You’re doing this to incororate the straps into the top hem which makes them stronger. Press with an iron then fold the straps back up and pin yet again. See at left of pic in image below.

Go ahead and make a hem at the top of your elegant tote bag. I sewed two hems 5 millimetres apart.

Place your two tote bag pieces together – right sides facing inward. Pin together. Sew all around the sides and bottom.

Snip a square 3 centimetres x 3 centimtres each end at the bottom of your bag.

Press the ends flat. Pin and sew. This gives a slight boxy shape to your bag. It’s not essential to do this step.

I also folded my strap in half and sewed it with a matching colour thread. Also not necessary but gives a nice finish to your strap. Just make sure you fold both straps in the same direction. Made that mistake and had to unpick one strap.

And just like that you have an elegant tote bag – in the bag. See more DIY bags and FREE sewing patterns – in this link.

Have a great week.

Greenie.