How to Make a Simple Tote or Green Bag

Bags Can Be Fun & Creative

Tote or green bags are great gifts and fun to make. Use scrap material or browse the fabric store for novelty fabric that expresses someone's interests or personality. Go green and make a statement for the environment. Tote or green bags can be used as grocery bags, pocketbooks, knitting bags, sewing bags and beach bags.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• #16 needle or needle for heavy material
• Scissors or cutting wheel
• Heavy material such as cotton twill
• Cotton novelty fabric
• Yard of webbing for the handles
• Thread
• Pins

1. Decide on the size for your tote or green bag. You need two rectangles of material: 12-by-14 for a small bag, 14-by-16 for a medium bag, and 20-by-24 for a large bag. If using the cotton for an outside cover, cut the same size as the heavy material.

2. Put the rectangles right sides together and sew three sides. If using the cotton material for an outside cover, first baste it to the heavy material so it won't slide, then with the right sides together, sew the three sides. The heavy material will become the inside of the bag.

3. Keeping wrong sides out, run a perpendicular stitch across the corner so it looks like a triangle. The purpose is to allow the bag to stand up on a smooth surface.

4. Turn tote bag right side out and serge the opening so it won't ravel. If using a sewing machine, baste around the material.

5. Fold under the top edge 1 inch. Pin in place. Cut two pieces of webbing the length you wish the handles to be. Position the handles under the top edge, bring up, and pin in place.

6. Stitch 1/4 inch around the top edge and again near the bottom edge. This keeps the handles in place and adds a nice top stitching.

Tips & Warnings

• Sergers work best because they can handle the heavy material and seams won't ravel.

• If you are using a sewing machine, use a #16 needle or needle for heavy material and go slowly!