Simple and quick tote tute
12-05-2010, 03:49 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: martinsville Indiana
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Bare with me everyone I'm having computer problems.
finished tote is about 12 wide and 10 tall 5 deep
SUPPLIES
two cuts for the body 9x17
one fabric for bottom 12x17
fusible batting pellon 971
fusible interfacing pellon 950
1 lining fabric 17x27 1/2
4 handle fabrics 3x 25 (longer or shorter its your preference)
10 1/2x4 1/2 inside bottom of bag either foam board or plexi glass, again its up to you
pocket for plexi glass needs 10x13 cut of fabric.
4 strips of batting 1 1/2x 25 or the length of your handles.
Here we go!
finished tote is about 12 wide and 10 tall 5 deep
SUPPLIES
two cuts for the body 9x17
one fabric for bottom 12x17
fusible batting pellon 971
fusible interfacing pellon 950
1 lining fabric 17x27 1/2
4 handle fabrics 3x 25 (longer or shorter its your preference)
10 1/2x4 1/2 inside bottom of bag either foam board or plexi glass, again its up to you
pocket for plexi glass needs 10x13 cut of fabric.
4 strips of batting 1 1/2x 25 or the length of your handles.
Here we go!
If your using a fabric with a picture such as my santa make sure you get them going the right direction. Sew these 3 together using 1/4 seam
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138758[/ATTACH]
Press those seams to the dark of course, should look something like this, go ahead and fuse this to your pellon 971. I just lay this on top of the pellon and cut
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138759[/ATTACH]
fuse your lining fabric to the pellon 950
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138760[/ATTACH]
After you get your bag body fused to the pellon you can quilt as you like. I dont quilt mine I just add a few fancy stitches for eyecandy and to keep the project quick. The pellon will hold the fabric even after washed if fused correctly. So read those instructions and test by trying to pull the fabric away from the pellon. If it comes off easily it wont stand up to washing and you need to repress with more steam alot slooooooower.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138772[/ATTACH]
now fold the body of the bag in half, lining up those seams, i pin them together.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138781[/ATTACH]
sew along both sides, I use about 3/8 to 5/8 seam here, makes for easier pressing. Before pressing the seam open snip the ends right up to the stitched seam this to will make for easier pressing and cutting.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138786[/ATTACH]
You need to do the same for the bag lining. Now lets make that bag bottom by matching up the seams and drawing a line 2 1/2 inches up from the bottom. This is your stitching line. Do this on both corners of the bag body and lining. Go a head and stitch right on top of those lines you have drawn making sure to back stitch where you start and stop. This adds strength to the bottom of the bag. We tend to put bricks in our bags.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138796[/ATTACH]
Cut off the excess on all corners about 1/4 inch away from stitched line. Once you've cut them turn the body of the bag right side out. Push the corners out. Leave your line wrong side out and slip the bag body inside the lining. Set it aside and get your handle pieces ready, iron heated up.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138797[/ATTACH]
Take your 3x25 inch fabric and lay them wrong side up on ironing board, lay your fusible pellon971 in the middle rough side up and press like so....careful this can get quite tricky. Be careful not to get the iron on the pellon it will stick to your iron. You could use a pressing cloth or teflon sheet, I just prefer not to. Repeat for all four strips
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138803[/ATTACH]
12-05-2010, 05:15 PM
#2
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: martinsville Indiana
Posts: 4,461
Boy my computer really is giving me fits tonight. Took a coffee break, ready to finish totey tute. Here goes the second half. We,re almost there!
You can iron these two strips together if you like, the batting will fuse together and help hold the two pieces together. I have found for me that I like to be able to shift the two layers in case of puckers. Sew them together using 1/8 inch on each side and then move over 1/8 to 1/4 in and sew again on both sides. Then straight down the middle. You don't have to have 5 lines of stitching 2 will work I just find it easier later to line them up on the bag and the more stitching the more sturdy the handles.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138814[/ATTACH]
You should end up with 2 of these
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138815[/ATTACH]
Now go get that bag we set aside, mark a line 5 inches over from the sides. This is you handle placement. Oops thats the top of the bag we're marking.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138816[/ATTACH]
line up and pin those seams
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138817[/ATTACH]
This is where that middle seam on the handles comes in handy, drop the handle in between the bag body and the lining, line up the middle stitch on your handle to the placement mark we made and pin in place, do this for all 4 ends
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138818[/ATTACH]
Looks like this?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138821[/ATTACH]
Pin it all together
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138822[/ATTACH]
Sew around the top using your 3/8 or 5/8 seam allowance, leave a hole, I start at the edge of the handle, Dont leave it to small about 4 inches should do.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138823[/ATTACH]
Pull that bag throught the hole, hint pull the bottom of bag first not the handles. you should have something like this.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138824[/ATTACH]
Shew that was some work, pin that hole shut , I also pin around the entire top just to keep my seam straight. Now sew it around the top edge of the bag about 1/4 inch from the top, starting at the side seam.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138825[/ATTACH]
Now you can put in your foam board or plexi glass. I buy plexi in large sheets at home depot and cut down to size. If you use plexi glass you need to sand down those sharp corner points they will rip your fabric. Its real easy to sand and only takes a few quick swipes. Make that little pocket for the bottom by folding over the top edge and stitching, then sew right sides together leaving one end open. slide in plexi. I dont close this pocket so it can be thrown in the washing machine, I fold the edge under to the bottom.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]138828[/ATTACH]
under 2 hours a finish!
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One bag...one big mess!
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