Easy Step By Step Tutorial On How To Make A Lined Tote Bag

Hello friends, In this tutorial I will be taking you through some steps with which you will be able to make a tote bag yourself at your home. All you have to do is read thoroughly and understand it, there are pictures that will help you gain better understanding and also know how to follow the steps provided.

Materials And Tools:

Ø 1/2 yard cotton fabric

Ø 1/2 yard of complementary cotton fabric for inner lining

Ø 1/2 yard of heavy fusible interfacing

Ø 42" of canvas strap

Ø fabric scissors or rotary cutter

Ø sewing machine

Ø thread

Ø iron

Cutting The Fabrics

To make the first part of this tote bag, all you have to do is follow this two steps:

Step 1. cut two 18"x14" rectangles of two (outer and inner) fabric choices then cut two 18"x14" rectangles of interfacing.

Step 2. Cut canvas straps into two 21" lengths.

To Make The Snip Corners

Step 1. On the long side of all rectangles, snip a 2"x2" square from only the bottom corners.

Step 2. Repeat for interfacing. This will form the base of the tote.

Adding The Interfacing and Sewing Sides

Ø Press interfacing to wrong side of outer fabric rectangle.

Ø Pin outer fabric's right sides together and sew straight 1/2" seams along the sides and bottom of piece. 

In this part, you must remember that you are not to sew the top and two snipped corners of your fabric. Press seams open.

Time To Create Corners

Ø Pinch together gaps in snipped corners

Ø Lining up the side and bottom seams in the center.

Ø Pin straight across and sew a 1/2" seam. This step adds depth to the bag and creates a flat bottom.

How To Sew Liner Sides And Corners

Pin right sides of inner (liner) fabric rectangles together and repeat the above steps.

How To Piece Together and Pin

Ø Flip liner right-side out and place inside outer fabrics so that right sides are together.

Ø Tuck canvas straps between inner and outer fabrics so that two edges of one face the front and two edges of the other face the back of bag.

Ø Pin the end of each canvas strap approximately four inches from side seam then pin fabric edges together around perimeter of bag opening.

Sew Bag Opening

Here, you need to apply caution as you must be careful when sewing the bag opening, note that beginning at a side seam, stitch a 1/2" seam almost all the way around the tote, stopping 4" before the starting point i.e it should catch all four ends of the canvas straps while leaving ample room for turning.

Time To Turn and Press

Ø Pull both fabrics and straps through the 4" gap.

Ø Turning the tote bag right-side out. Lightly press with a warm iron to remove wrinkles.

Finally, Top-Stitching and Finishing Your Bag

This step is the very last step in this tutorial, it involves Top-stitching around the tote bag's entire opening to finish edges. This will also help reinforce canvas straps and shut the gap left in the previous step for turning.

You are free to ask any question.

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