Sew a Basic Tote Bag

Let's sew a bag!

The following supplies will be needed:

1/2 yard of cotton fabric for outside of bag

1/2 yard of cotton fabric for inside lining of bag

1/2 yard of Pellon Fusible Fleece

Coordinating all-purpose thread

Tools:

Scissors

Tube turner

pins

"Clip n Glide Bodkin"

Cutting:

Outside fabric:

Cut 2 pieces, 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide (bag)

Cut 2 pieces, 3 inches wide and 18 inches long (handles)

Lining:

Cut 2 pieces, 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide (bag)

Pellon Fleece

Cut 2 pieces, 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide (bag)

Cut 2 pieces, 1 inch wide and 17 inches long (handles)

After cutting the 12 by 14 inch rectangles, cut a two inch square out of the bottom corners as shown (outside fabric, lining fabric, and fleece).

Handles

Fold each strip in half, right sides together. Sew one long side using a 1/4 inch seam allowance
Press the seam open, turn right sides out with seam running down the center

*The fleece will be 1” shorter than the length of the fabric for the handle
Insert the fleece strip into the handle tube. The fusible side of the fleece will be on the side of the seam. There will be a ½ inch at each end of handle tube that does not have fleece.

Fuse the fleece in place
Topstitch on both sides of handle 1/8 inch from the edge, using a 3mm stitch length.

Lay both pieces of outside bag right sides up. Place handles as shown. Measure equally from side edges to get handles even, stitch in place

Outer Bag

Place pieces right sides together, sew sides and bottom together using a ½ inch seam allowance. Do not sew inverted corners

Boxing the bottom corners

Pinch the fabric at the corners, bring the two seams together (side seam and bottom seam) to form a straight line. Sew across backstitching at beginning and end. Repeat for remaining corner.

Lining

Repeat the steps used to assemble the outer bag, but leave an opening at the bottom of the lining in the center of the seam.
Box the corners.

Joining the lining with the outside bag

The outside bag remains inside out.
Turn the lining right sides out.
Place lining inside the outer bag.
Match the side seams and make sure the handles are inside between the lining and outer bag.
Sew the lining and outer bag together using a ½ inch seam allowance.