How to Make Tote Bags

You can use a tote bag to hold groceries or packages.

When you buy items from a store, you are often offered a paper or a plastic bag to carry your items home. But these bags eventually end up in a garbage can, and are then sent off to a landfill. Instead of accepting yet another paper or plastic bag, make your own tote bags out of canvas fabric, which will be durable and strong enough to carry your purchased items home without hurting the environment.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas fabric
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Braided twine ribbon
• Thread
• Needle

Instructions

1. Cut two rectangles from canvas cloth that measure 15 inches high by 18 inches long.

2. Place the right sides of the rectangles together, lining up the edges.

3. Pin the rectangles in place.

4. Sew around the form, sewing along both long sides and one short side.

5. Turn the form right-side out.

6. Turn the edges of the opening in with a 1-inch seam allowance.

7. Pin the edge into place.

8. Sew along the edge of the opening.

9. Cut two pieces of 1-inch braided twine ribbon into 18-inch strips.

10. Pin the ends of one of the strips onto the inside of one of the sides. Space the ends 6 inches apart.

11. Pin the ends of the other strip onto the inside of the other side. Space the ends 6 inches apart.

12. Sew the ends into place on both sides to complete the bag's handles.

13. Take out all of the pins before using the tote bag.

References

• The Family Homestead: Sew a Simple Tote Bag