How to make a tote bag.

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Do you need a tote bag, or know someone who'd love it as a gift? Are you bored with the selections in the stores? Or perhaps just too frugal to pay twenty bucks for something you could make yourself? Find some fabric for sale (or any abandoned fabric in your closet will work, too!) and put that sewing machine to work!

1. Cut two rectangles of heavy fabric the size you want your tote bag to be.

• 12 x 14 inches for a very small tote

• 14 x 16 inches for a medium tote

• Any larger size you choose (beach totes are often 24 inches by 20 inches)

2. Fold your rectangles in thirds lengthwise and mark the two creases in the INSIDE or "wrong" side of the material.

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3. Unfold and sew the two rectangles together on the two long sides and across one short side (sides and bottom of tote).

4. Miter the corners to the inside to make them sit flat on a surface. Take care to make your miters even and perpendicular to the side and bottom seams.

5. Hem the top edge.

6. Cut two 2 inch wide strips of fabric the length you want your handles to be.

• Sew the long edges of your handle strip together.
• Turn it right side out and press smooth with an iron.

Top stitch the handles to keep them flat during use. In the example, the raw edges were folded to the middle and zig-zag stitched in place to avoid the hassle of turning and top stitching. Use whichever method you like best.

7. Fold the ends of your handles under and place the ends of your handles over the 1/3rd marks made in Step 2. Place the ends approximately 1.5 inches below the edge of your bag opening, and pin or baste in place.

8. Top stitch the handles to the bag along their edges.

Tips

• - You can make a tote out of any material you like, but heavier materials work best.
• - You can also use light fabric over a heavier material.
• - Using denim or similar very heavy fabrics will require a larger, thicker needle on your sewing machine. Work slowly, don't press the pedal all the way down, and be careful.
• - You can recycle old jeans for use as a tote by first cutting off a the jean legs and opening the "inner" seam so that the denim lies flat along the outer seam. Cut your rectangles and proceed as with any other fabric. See How to Make a Denim Purse.
• - To line your tote, simply make another rectangle 1/2 inch smaller in both dimensions, sew it as above, and place it inside your tote with seams facing the seams of your tote before you sewthe top opening hem. Place your two top hems even with each other and roll them together to cover raw edges before sewing.
• Do you have idea to do that ?
• from http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Tote-Bag   27/06/2011
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