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

I know I'm not the only one who is sick of dirty green bags
I love going to Farmers Markets, and here in the South we still have a few more months of fresh produce to look forward to. Also, as fall rolls around, apple picking season starts. I love all this fresh produce, it's wet and you can still see the dirt on it. It is so much better than the sterile grocery produce. My main problem is, that wetness and dirt that I love causes all my green bags to get dirty! Even my washable ones have mud stains on them. I set out to create the perfect farmers market and produce picking tote that wouldn't get dirty. This mission was successful! Here's how I did it:

Posted by Crafting with Court from Atlanta, Georgia, United States • Published See Crafting with Court's 9 projects »
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You Will Need

Sewing Machine Fabric Scissors Ruler Thread
1/2 yard polypropylene/vinyl/laminated fabric
1 yard canvas fabric
  • Step 1

    Cut your fabric as follows:
    -Cut one 18” x 36” rectangle in the canvas and cut one 18” x 36” rectangle in the polypropylene
    -Cut four 3” x 26” rectangles in the canvas
    -Cut one 8” x 8” rectangle in the canvas

  • Step 2

    Fold each of your 18” x 36” rectangles in half with the pattern side facing creating an 18” x 18” square with the fold at the bottom.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 3
    Step 3

    Cut a 4” x 3” rectangle out of both bottom corners of each folded square.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 4
    Step 4

    Pin the side of your square together, and sew them shut using a ½” seam. Repeat this on your other square of fabric.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 5
    Step 5

    Take the rectangle you cut out of the folded side. Pull the corners apart until the edges of your fabric align. Pin this in place. Run a ½” seam. Repeat for the remaining 3 cut outs. You have now created the body of your bag.

  • Step 6

    Take your 8” x 8” rectangle. Fold ½” of fabric over on all sides and pin it in place. Iron these folds down. You finished rectangle is now 7” x 7”.

  • Step 7

    Take your four 3” x 26” rectangles and tri fold the fabric. Pin the fold in place, and iron flat. Your finished product is now 1” x 26”.

  • Step 8

    Run a ¼” seam across the long side of your now 7” x 7” rectangle. This will be the top of your pocket.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 9
    Step 9

    Take the canvas body of your tote bag. Place the 7” x 7” rectangle in the location you want the pocket to go. Make sure the hemmed edge you made in the previous step at the top. Pin the pocket in place.

  • Step 10

    Run a ¼” seam around the two sides and the bottom of your pocket. Be careful not to sew through both side of the bag!

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 11
    Step 11

    Take your four 1” x 26” tri-folded rectangles. Place two of the rectangles together with pattern sides facing out. Pin these pieces together. Run a ¼” seam down both long sides. Repeat using the remaining two rectangles.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 12
    Step 12

    Using one of the tote bag bodies, pin one of the rectangles you made in the previous step at the top of the bag 4” from the side seam. Making sure the strap doesn't twist, pin the other side of the rectangle 4” from the other side seam. This will place your strap 5” apart. Repeat on the other side of the tote bag body.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 13
    Step 13

    Flip the other tote bag body right side in, and place it over top the other tote bag body. The pattern sides should be facing each other. Line the seams up and pin around the top. Leave about a 4” opening at the top. Run a ½” seam around the top, leaving the opening open.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 14
    Step 14

    Pull your bag through the opening you left and push the polypropylene layer in down inside the bag.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 15
    Step 15

    Fold over the fabric at the opening your left and pin it closed. Run a ¼” seam around the entire top of the bag. It will close the opening and case the top to lay flat.

  • How to make a tote bag. Farmer's Market Tote Bag - Step 16
    Step 16

    Grab your bag go to a farmers market or go apple picking. When you done, just take a damp cloth and wipe off the polypropylene.

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