By Judi Harris
It’s back to school, the time for your kids to learn new things, make new friends, and put their thinking caps on. OK, That last part is for parents, too! How do you help your kids stay studious and fashionable? Why not make a custom, totally cool tote?! It's easy and we'll show you how.
You will need:
One pocket measuring 8” X 10”
Two straps measuring 54” X 4” each
Two tote bag pieces measuring 14” X 16” each
All seams will be ¼” unless otherwise noted. Have fun, and be creative!
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1. Place one strap pretty sides (of the fabric) together lengthwise and pin. Stitch along the edge. Do the same to the other strap. |
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2. Turn the straps pretty side out and press nice and flat. |
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3. Turn the top edge (the 8” edge) of the pocket ¼” to the ugly side twice (as shown in the photo). Press, pin, and stitch in place.
Place your pocket on the pretty side of one of your tote pieces, in the center, so that the bottom of the pocket matches the bottom of the piece.
Stitch the pocket in place at the bottom, and on both sides. |
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4. Turn the top edge (the 14” edge) of each of the tote pieces under to the ugly side ¼” two times and pin. Stitch in place.
Pin the strap centering over the pocket piece, hiding the raw edges of the pocket. Stitch along the edge of the strap using the pressure foot as your guide. Continuing stitching even on the handle until you have reached the other side of the pocket and handle. This is top stitching. It makes your handle sturdier and gives it a professional look. |
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5. Place the other strap on the other tote bag piece just as you did to the previous strap. Repeat the step by sewing the strap on. Place the two tote bag pieces pretty sides together. Pin around the side and the bottom seam making sure the straps match. Stitch in place.
(Optional) Zigzag seam finish the edges of the seam. |
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6. This step is optional. It is called “boxing” your bag. It makes it sturdier, and gives it some dimension.
Turn the bottom of the bag so that the seam is centered up as shown in the photo. Draw a line about 1.5” from the point. Stitch on the line. Do the same to the other side. |
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7. Your new school tote is finished! Please leave us a comment below with your ideas on how you can embellish the bag or for your very own tote-ally cool tote idea! |
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Judi Harris, fashion and costume designer, quilter, crafter, and teacher, discovered her love for the art of sewing at the age of six, when she would take scrap fabric left from dresses her mother made and construct clothing for her dolls. This passion has inspired her entrepreneurial career: she has spent years selling her creations at craft/art fairs, developed and hosts the instructional, interactive, 800 page website www.lovetosew.com, and founded a sewing school for children, home to over one hundred students. She hopes to inspire young girls by showing that sewing can actually be an art and a pleasure, a mode of self expression and creativity, even, perhaps, a potential career. Her work has been published in Sew News, MOMS, Crafts & Things, and Sew Simple magazines.
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