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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
1h00

Fully lined, so easy to do and adapt for different styles!
I am a Textiles teacher, and have to give credit to the year 9 student who designed the front of the bag. She lost heart with the complicated applique she chose, so I have finished the bag for her, and made a tuturial for you in the process!

Posted by Tamsinodile from Dorking, England, United Kingdom • Published See Tamsinodile's 10 projects »
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You Will Need

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 1
    Step 1

    Cut 2 x pieces of your chosen fabric, remembering to leave 1cm all round for seam allowance. The bag shown measured 30cm x 35cm finished.

    Add whatever decoration you like to the front and back, remembering not to put anything in the way of the seam allowances.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 2
    Step 2

    Place the two pieces right sides together, and sew down the sides and across the bottom.

    Put this part to one side until later.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 3
    Step 3

    To make the straps, cut two pieces of your chosen fabric. The length is the length you want the straps to be (plus seam allowance), the width should be roughly 10cm.

    Fold the strips in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew along the raw edge, but don't sew across the short ends.

    Turn the long tubes inside out. This takes ages unless you own a rouleaux loop turner!

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 4
    Step 4

    Cut 2 x lining pieces out, I get my pupils to use their outer fabric as a template, as they invariably cut wonky lines!

    Sew the sides the same as the outer fabric, but leave a 10cm gap in the bottom edge. This will be used for turning the bag inside out at the end.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 5
    Step 5

    Now back to the outer bag.

    With the bag the right way round, pin the straps where you want them to be.

    NOTE: the straps must hang DOWNWARDS at this stage, just like the picutre.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 6
    Step 6

    Firmly sew the straps in place, I sew them within the seam allowance (rather than exactly on it), and reverse a few times for strength.

    Make sure you don't catch the other side of the bag in as you're sewing!

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 7
    Step 7

    Here's the slightly tricky bit...

    Lay the LINING fabric on the table, making sure it's INSIDE OUT.

    Lay the OUTER fabric next to it, making sure it's the RIGHT WAY round.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 8
    Step 8

    Slide the OUTER bag inside the LINING. Make sure the straps go inside too. Tuck it all the way inside until the tops line up.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 9
    Step 9

    Pin the outer fabric to the lining, all the way around the top like a circle.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 10
    Step 10

    Sew all the way around the top, leaving no gaps.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 11
    Step 11

    Pull the outer fabric out through the gap you left in the lining.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 12
    Step 12

    Topstitch the gap in the lining closed.

  • How to make a tote bag. Easy Peasy Lined Shopper Bag! - Step 13
    Step 13

    Tuck the lining inside the outer fabric and your bag is done!

    You could topstitch around the top of the bag to stop the lining rolling up, but I figure with some careful ironing (which the bag will need anyway)this won't happen.

    You could add a button and buttonhole or ribbon fastening, and pockets on the inside (sew a patch pocket to the lining before you sew the lining pieces together). I'd be interested to see what versions everyone comes up with!

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