Friday, September 2, 2011

Bag Lady Week: A Simple Tote Tutorial and giveaway by Felicity Quilts


Well, I can't think of a nicer way to wrap up Bag Lady Week than with my fellow Canuck, Felicity, of Felicity Quilts. Felicity has the best quilty ideas, and has made one of my all-time favorite quilts (you should really check it out- it's right here). When I am not perusing her blog I am stalking her on Pinterest- the girl has got style, and next time I make it to the west coast I am totally raiding her shoe closet!

And what better project to wrap up Bag Lady Week than lined totes- they are perfect for numerous functions, you can never have enough of them. And this one with vintage sheet lining? Divine :) Felicity is even doing a giveaway of the finished tote to one lucky reader, so if you would like it to find its way to you, be sure to leave a comment!
NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED



Simple Lined Tote by Felicity Quilts





Fabric Requirements:

Tote: 1 yard/metre home decorator-weight fabric (you'll have some left over but I like to err on the side of caution)
Lining: 3/4 yard/metre quilting cotton (I used a vintage sheet)

Directions:

STEP 1 - Cut Fabric

a. Tote:
2 @ 19" x 19" squares for bag body
2 @ 2.75" x 28" strips for handles
2@ 1" x 28" strips for handle lining



b. Lining:
2 @ 19" x 19" squares
1 @ 9" 12" rectangle for inner pocket (optional)





STEP 2 - Assemble Tote

We're going to make the bag first, then the lining. Here we go!

a. Place bag body pieces right sides together. Using a 3/8" seam allowance, stitch around sides and bottom. Finish edges with a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying.



b. To create gusset, fold over each side of the bag about 1½" along the bottom seam.



and stitch down along the existing seam line at the bottom.



c. Turn bag right side out and push out the corners to create the gusset.



d. Fold over top edge of bag ½" and press (wrong sides together).



STEP 3 - Make Handles

a. Take handle strips, fold over ¼" along each long side and press.



b. Fold handle in half and press.



c. Insert a handle lining piece into the folded handle piece, slipping it under the folded edge.



d. Top stitch about 1/8" from the edge along both sides of each handle. Once you've gone down one side, just zip along the end and continue along the other side - the ends will be buried inside the bag.



STEP 4 - Make Pocket (if you don't want an inner pocket, just go ahead and skip to Step 5)

a. If you want to add a label, do so now, and place it offset from the centre. Don't be misled by the photo - you should stitch the label onto the pocket piece before folding the pocket for step b. I placed it about 1½" from top and sides.




b. Fold the pocket piece in half, right sides together, along the 9" edge so that you have a rectangle that is 6" x 9". Use washable fabric marker (or lightly mark with a pencil, no biggie) to make 2 marks along the 9" side (the side that's not the fold) about 4" or 5" apart. Leave this section open as you stitch all the way around the pocket using a ¼" seam.




If you squint, you can see the marks between those two pins in the top.

c. Turn the pocket right side out, poke out the corners (I use a chopstick) and press.



d. Topstitch about 1/8" from the edge across the top of the pocket only.

e. Place the pocket on the right side of a lining piece 4" from the top. Make sure it's centred then pin it in place.



f. Attach the pocket to the lining by stitching around the sides and bottom using a 1/8" topstitch. If you want to divide this pocket into smaller pockets, stitch again down the centre of the pocket.




Click to enlarge

STEP 5 - Make Lining

a. Take the lining piece with the pocket on it and lay it right side up. Take the other lining piece and place it right side down, lining up the edges as well as possible.


b. Stitch around the sides and bottom using a ¼" seam. If you're concerned about fraying, finish the edges with a zigzag seam.

c. Create boxed corners by taking the bottom corner of the bag and pulling apart the layers and squeezing so that the side and bottom seams lie atop one another and the corner becomes a point with seams down the centre of both sides.



d. Making sure that the seams are lined up, measure 1" from the corner and draw a line.



Stitch on the line. Trim seam allowance to ¼". Repeat for the other bottom corner.



e. Fold down raw edge at the top of the lining ¼" (wrong sides together) and press.



f. Set lining aside for now.



STEP 6 - Attach Handles

a. Centre the handles on the wrong side of the tote, with 6" between them. Make sure the bottom of the handle sits about 1¼" from the top of the tote. Pin in place.



b. Draw a line across the handle about 1/8" from the top of the tote, and another one 1" down so that these lines and the topstitching create a square. Draw an X from corner to corner.



c. Stitch the handle to the tote along the X in a square that you just drew, including along the handle's topstitching. I stitched at least twice over every line to secure the handle.



d. Repeat for all 4 ends of the tote's handles.



STEP 7 - Attach Lining to Tote

a. Turn lining RIGHT side out. Turn tote INSIDE out. Insert the tote into the lining so the right side of the lining is on the outside.

b. Line up side seams of tote and lining...



then pin lining in place at or just below the top of the tote. This keeps the lining out of sight when you look at the outside of the tote.



c. Starting at one of the side seams, stitch 1/8" from the top of the lining all the way around the tote.









STEP 8 - ENJOY!!





Thanks so much for the tutorial and the giveaway, Felicity! Remember to leave a comment below for a chance to win this beauty of a bag :)
NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

49 comments:

Caren said...

Such a surprising color combo. I love how the lining "goes", but really pops! Thanks :)

Nicole Moore said...

So pretty! I would love to tote that around all the time!

Katie B said...

Love Felicity. Love this tote!

Deborah in Atlanta said...

Every once in a while, it's truly an honor to win something that has already been made. It's almost like giving a gift to myself! And I tell ya what - I'm a bag/tote kinda gal. I just love me a killer bag I can throw over my shoulder and flaunt to the world. Well, maybe not to the world, but at least to my little slice of the world - Atlanta, GA. Thanks for the giveaway. Let's hope my # is picked. Fingers crossed. Toes crossed. Legs crossed. Eyes crossed.

Lesly said...

Looks great! I'd love to win it - and if I don't I'll make one myself!

Amy Friend said...

I'm so happy to see Felicity here too! She's such a nice person and so very creative too. And....now I can call her a Bag Lady too, ha, ha, ha, ha....

Martina said...

Very sweet! Love it! Thanks for the tuto!

Christie S. said...

I can't get enough totes. Love the colors and textures. Thanks for the tutorial.

Patti said...

Wonderful tote and the tute is greatly appreciated. Thanks for sharing it with us. Naturally, would also be thrilled to win this piece of loveliness.

Unknown said...

This is such a nice lined tote, love the fabrics and the straightforward tutorial. Thanks for the giveaway! Would love to win.

deserae said...

I love the bag! :)

Tanya said...

Another great bag! And sheesh, I really need to get some better sheets!

Suzanne said...

Hi Felicity! Great tutorial and I love the fabrics you used in this bag. Happy Friday!

Tara said...

what a simple tote! i can't wait to make one for my self, however i do love the color combo on this one, and would be one happy person if i won it!

Melissa said...

Beautiful tote! I actually have a stash of vintage sheets set aside that I intended to use as bag linings. Just haven't gotten around to it yet, so thank you for this inspiration!

Little Blue Mouse said...

Thanks for the tutorial and the chance to win this lovely bag.

Donna Baker said...

what fun! love thos fabrics - I am a bag lady (had a crazy busy week so I am now just catching up on Bag Lady week)!

Rebecca said...

Thanks for the great tutorial and LOVE the bag! I'd love to win :D

Jenny said...

thanks for the tutorial...i need step by step direction sfor bags! i love the pocket inside.

Ruth said...

LOVE this, Felicity. Great instructions and it's a wonderful little bag.

Anonymous said...

That is a nice simple tote. I like how the handles are good and sturdy.

Michele T said...

Great tutorial and I love the bag!!

Liz said...

Great fabrics! Thanks for the tute!

robin said...

Awesome tutorial. Thanks for the giveaway!

Kathy H said...

Very pretty tote. I love how the inside is so bright, sort of like a surprize when you look inside.

Gill said...

Great tutorial
Great bag
Thanks!!

Janet said...

That is a very beautiful bag. Thanks for a chance to win.

Rachelle said...

Beautiful bag! Thanks for the tutorial and the chance to win:)

Heather A said...

Sweet tutorial. It looks like one even a beginner like me might be able to follow. Love the fabric chosen for this giveaway bag, too.

Rachel said...

This is great! I'm always so amazed and appreciative that people take the time and effort to write up tutorials and share their talents. I know how labour-intensive they can be. Thanks!

Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane said...

Oh I love this. I am SUCH a bag lady. Great tutorial. Love the pop of yellow. Can't wait to try this.

hueisei said...

Lovely!! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!

bethanndodd said...

Great bag! And it so happens to be made in one of my very favorite color combos :) Thanks for the chance! Smiles~Beth

Lisa said...

I love Felicity and think this tote would look ever so stylish on my arm. And if I won this one, she wouldn't have to help me figure out how to make my own!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love that lining!

Holly said...

Great tutorial, Felicity! The tote looks great and I'd be very happy to win it and tote my show and tell quilts to Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild meetings in it!

Nicole said...

Such a pretty color combo! Great tutorial!

Susan said...

Great bag! I love the fabric it is made from too!

Anonymous said...

nice work Felicity! That vintage sheet sure gives it a really great pop of colour :)

anniem said...

Great way to show off a large print fabric . I go back to sch$&@ on Tuesday...might just have to make a new bag so my marking can travel back and forth and back and forth and....( you get the idea), in style. Thanks Felicity

corina said...

Love the bag. Gorgeous fabric. Thanks for such a clear tutorial. I would love to make the bag - or better yet - win it!

Lysa said...

A perfect Labour day weekend project! Love it!

Toni said...

Fabulous tote! Love that grey fabric!

trudys_person said...

Great bag and tutorial Felicity! I love both the fabrics! Thanks for the giveway!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

That is very classy fabric for this cute bag Felicity! Thanks for the tutorial!

Annmarie said...

Great tutorial Felicity - thanks - I've got it bookmarked but would love to win one - much quicker!

Sheila said...

Great tutorial and I love the bag and would love to win it but appreciate the instructions just incase I don't:-0

Ella said...

Thanks for the tutorial! If I don't win it, I have some fabric in mind to make one now!

Jackie said...

I really love this bag. The colors are perfect for fall!!!!