How To
Sew A Tote Bag For Shopping
Looking for a very useful
simple sewing project that is fast and easy to
sew? Here is how to sew a fabric shopping tote
bag.
Help the environment by
sewing several shopping bags for yourself, or
give them as gifts. The kids can use them for
toy bags when they go to Grandma's house. They
are great travel totes, too.
You will love fabric
shopping bags. Use them for all sorts of things
besides carrying groceries.
Use up some of your stash
and make a few today! Give them to your
favorite charity. They love them!
Fabric:
Use whatever fabric you want
to use. Try cottons, upholstery fabrics, fake
suede, leather, canvas, denim, etc. You may
prefer to use washable fabrics so you can
easily launder your bags.
1-1/4 yards of 45 inch wide
fabric will make two (2) bags.
Preshrink and straighten the
fabric.
Cutting Instructions:
Cut a panel 19-1/2 inches
wide by 41 inches long for each bag.
Cut (preferably on the
lengthwise grain) two (2) handles for each bag
4 inches wide by 17 inches long. It is easier
to cut and sew one long strip 4 inches by 34
inches and then cut it in half.
Sewing Instructions:
Fold the bag panel in half
and press a crease in the bottom.
Press a 1 inch hem in the
top of the bag.
Fold the hem down again and
press making a double hem.
Repeat for both front and
back of the bag.
Let it cool on your ironing
board and then open the hems back out.
NOTE: If you are applying
pockets, appliques, embroidery, etc, to the
bag, do it now before you sew the side
seams.
Make sure hems are open and
stitch 1/2 inch side seams to make the bag.
(serge or sew).
Trim the seam allowance to
1/4 inch and zigzag to finish the edges.
Press seams.
Turn down the double hem and
stitch in place.
Press.
While pressing the hem,
determine the center front and center back of
the bag by folding so that side seams are lined
up and press a light crease at the top of the
bag. This will help you place the handles.
Make The Straps
Press a 4 inch wide strap
piece in half to set a crease.
Open back out and bring the
cut edges to the center on the pressed
crease.
Press.
Now fold on the original
crease and press again.
The cut edges are
enclosed.
Edgestitch on both sides of
the long 34 inch long strap.
Cut in half to 17 inches to
make two strap handles.
Zigzag raw ends.
Mark and Attach the Strap
Handles
At the bag hem, measure out
both sides from the center front and center
back of the bag about 1-3/4 inches and make a
mark. This allows 3-1/2 inches between the
handles.
Place the inside edge of the
handle at this mark lining up the zigzagged
edge of the handle with bottom of the bag hem.
Pin in place.
Stitch a 1 inch square to
attach the handles to the bag.
Box The Bottom Of The
Bag
To box the bottom of the
bag, turn it wrong side out.
Center a side seam on top of
the crease at the bag bottom forming a
triangle.
With the bag bottom crease
on top centered over the side seam, measure
down from the point 3-1/2 inches and mark.
Fold over the triangle
lining up the point to the bag bottom crease
and press a triangle.
Open the triangle back up
and stitch on the folded press line (base of
the triangle).
Repeat for the other side.
This will form a 7 inch box in the bottom of
the bag.
You can leave these
triangles folded down into the bottom of the
bag or you may trim them off and finish the
edges with serged or zigzag stitches.
Support the Bottom (not
really necessary)
Also, you may want to cover
a piece of cardboard with your fabric to lay in
the bottom of the bag for added support. This
can be removed to launder the bag.
Cut the cardboard 7 inches
wide x 11-1/2 inches long.
Cut the fabric a little
larger.
Fuse/glue fabric to the
cardboard.
Tip: Double the bag when the
load is extra heavy. Make it double layered or
simply place one bag inside the other when
needed.
Enjoy Your Fabric Shopping
Bag
Use it to tote whatever you
want wherever you want.
Make the handles longer if
you want to carry the shopping bag over your
shoulder.
Add your special trims,
appliques, monogram, embroidery, paints, etc.
to make the bag uniquely yours.
Add pockets inside and out
in different sizes to hold your keys, wallet,
etc.
You are the designer. Sew
your own designer shopping tote bags.
It just makes sense!
2006 Marian Lewis - All
Rights Reserved 1st Step To Sewing Success
Marian Lewis is a sewing
instructor and the creator of an amazing new
fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks. In
her ebook, "Common Sense Fitting Method For
Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting
Skirts And Pants", find out step-by-step WHAT
you really need, WHERE you really need it and
HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing
pattern.
For more information, go to
=>
http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/fitting.html
Marian is also the author of other eBooks
related to sewing including, "Sew A Tee Pee And
Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids" and "Classy
Designer Straight Skirt" where she teaches
basic and advanced sewing techniques.
To learn more, go to =>
http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/sewing.html
To discover sewing and
fitting secrets to achieve sewing success,
follow the link => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com
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