tote bags | wordsfromanneli

Another sewing class; another bag.

This one was not quite as easy to make as my usual straightforward bags, but I like how it turned out and I’ve learned a few new things. These handles stitched onto the side of the bag hide the stitching of the outside pocket.

This was a different way to add handles to a bag, but as you can see in the next photo …

it also has D-rings sewn into the sides for clipping on a longer strap if I want to carry the bag over my shoulder.

Inside the bag, I have a pocket for my phone and my keys, or whatever else I want to have handy so it doesn’t get lost in the depths of the bag.

The zipper is one of those that you buy by the meter and cut to the length you need. You just have to be careful not to lose the zipper pull before you get the zipper sewn into the bag.

Now I’m ready for a short trip where I only need to travel light. Not sure where I want to go when the best place is home, but who knows? I may think of something.

I have a lot of scraps from discontinued upholstery and drapery samples and am happy to have found a use for them.

If you’re not into sewing, just skip over this next part and go to the end of the post after the photo.

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Each side panel of the bags has three rows of four 4″ squares.

The sides have a strip of 2 1/2″ by about 11″ (depending on the height of your panel). The top has a 2 1/2″ strip that is about 18″ long (again, you’d measure your bag that now has the strips on each side of the panels). The bottom strip is the same length but it’s 3 1/2″ wide.

There’s a lot more to do to put the sides together, cut out a 2″ corner to make a flat part in the bottom. There’s interfacing to use as a stiffener on the panels, and then a lining to fit the inside of the bag. Pockets on the inside of the bag are nice too. The straps with interfacing in them are pieces that are 5″ by 28″ folded over and sewn.

The tricky part is to get the straps to be between the outside of the bag and the lining inside. But that’s the fun of putting it all together.

There are lots of videos that show how it’s done, but the best thing is if you can go to a sewing class put on by your local sewing store.