Published 8/13/09 3 months ago | Views 657 Grade C Arts & Crafts / Sewing & Embroidery

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Grade C Views 657
Last edited 2 months ago

Here's a reversible tote bag made with a contrasting cuff. Use it for your crafts, the beach or groceries. Customize it to suit your needs.

Step 1

Understand the design and technique. The picture above displays the "inside" of the bag. Use double-stitching to add support.

Step 2

Choose two contrasting fabrics. One piece will become the "outside" of the bag and the other will become the "lining".

Step 3

Cut each piece of fabric into long matching rectangles, to your desired length and width.

Step 4

Fold each piece of fabric in half. The fold will become the bottom of the bag.

Step 5

With right sides together, stitch the side seams of each piece of fabric, leaving the top as an opening. This should create the shape of a pouch.

Step 6

Miter the lower corners of each pouch to add support.

Step 7

Turn "one" pouch right side out. This will become the "outside" of the bag. The other pouch will become the "lining".

Step 8

Add pockets to the "outside" of the bag or "right" side of the lining.

Step 9

With "wrong" sides together, place the lining into the bag. Align the openings together.

Step 10

Fold the opening over twice to form a half-inch hemline and stitch it in place. Add an additional row of stitching around the "very edge" of the opening to add support. This will create a "contrasting" cuff on the "outside" of the bag.

Step 11

Add straps.

Cut two long, three-inch wide strips of fabric.
Iron a long strip of interfacing onto the wrong side of the fabric to add support.
With right sides together, stitch each strip along the open edge, to form a tube.
Attach a safety pin to the end of a tube. Pass the pin through the tube, while pulling the fabric right side out.
Tuck in a half-inch of fabric, at each end of a strap and stitch it together by hand.
Iron each strap flat.
Top-stitch along "both" outer edges of each strap to add support.
Attach the straps to the "inner" opening of the bag.

Step 12

Add a buttonhole and two buttons. Place them at the center of the cuff to secure the opening. Place a button on either side, at the same point on the cuff, to use when the bag is reversed.