tote pattern

A few people have asked me to post a pattern for the tote I made for Holly.
I'm no patten maker by any means, I tried my best to describe all the steps.
Feel free to e-mail me and I'd be happy to help If you don't have paper large enough, just tape 4 pieces of 8.5 by 11 :)
Click on the above image for a larger image.

1.    Cut out all pieces (You should have 10 pieces total)
2.    Fold in all sides (1/8 “) of Piece 1 and press/iron. (Do this to both Piece 1’s)
3.    Take Piece 2 and match notches on both sides (you should have 4 pleats total) pin if necessary. (Do this to both Piece 2’s)
4.    Align the top of Piece 1 with Piece 2, and sew ONLY the bottom portion of Piece 1 (see drawing)
5.    Repeat Step 4, So you now have a front and back piece for your tote.
6.    Fold ¼ “ in at the top of both pieces and press/iron
7.    With the right sides facing each other, Take your front and back pieces and sew sides and bottom, leaving the top (make sure you reverse stitch at beginning and end) open
8.    Yay, take a second to say “yay” you now have the outside bit of your tote.
9.    Take both Piece 3’s sew sides and bottom, leaving the top open
10.    Fold ¼” out at the top and press/iron
11.    Sew each side (length wise) of Pieces 3 and 4, using a large safety pin (I usually use a bamboo skewer to push the safety pin through) pin it to the inside of the strip and turn it inside out, press/iron. Do this twice, you should have two handles
12.    Turn your outer tote inside out and press, take your lining and drop it into the tote, you’ll notice that the lining is bigger than the tote. Match up pleats to the outershell and pin.
13.    Place the handles between the lining and the outer shell (about an inch deep), you can either place them in the outer corners or place them evenly on the front and back (as pictured), pin these secure
14.    Now you’re ready to sew, make sure the lining and the handles are nicely matched up along the opening of the purse and sew your heart out!
15.    You can add fabric buttons to the front if you’d like, I used Dritz Half Ball Cover Buttons (1-1/8”). The easiest way to do this is to cut your fabric in a circle, larger than the button so that about 1/8” of fabric covers the prongs, and baste the outer perimeter of the circle, pull the thread once you’ve gone all the way around so that the fabric easily comes over the prongs, and then place the backing on the button and pound it with a little mallet or hammer.
16.    Voila! Sew on your fabric buttons and fini!!

* ADDITIONAL INFO: The Height of the Lining should be about 14 inches

Comments

[rachel]

two questions... i haven't started to make this bag yet but i wanted to ask a few things first.

1) do you pleat the lining as well as the outside fabric? if you don't, won't the lining be too big for the bag, and get bunched up inside?

2) have you tried to put in the lining by dropping the outside fabric (inside out) into the lining, sewing, and then flipping inside out and handstitching to finish? does that work too?

[vicki]

I was wondering about the lining for the body... is it a 17 x 19 inch piece or it 17 at the bottom and 14 at the top?
v

[Ali]

hmmmm, looks like I need me another totebag, cos that one's so cute! thanks for sharing the pattern

[Caterine]

Wow, thanks for sharing this pattern. It is so nice and so are you!
:)

[carolyn]

hey Ruth!
The lining should be about 14 inches :)

[Ruth]

this bag is so cute!!!

i was wondering what were the dimensions of the lining. i see a 17" for the width. what is the length?

[cruststation]

I love your cute little sketches.

[Denise]

oh THANK yOU , tHANK you!!
This is wonderful, can't wait to make mine, another excuse to shop for new fabric :)
THANKS!!

[erandi]

hey! hello, thanks so much, for post this, you know i'm inspired by these i'll try to make myself...

and all your stuff is lovely, i like the blouse built by wendy i'm make one too, but that patterns don't sale here, so i have to make the pattern my self, soon i show the photo!

:P