Project by Lesley Connelly
This tote bag will keep all your crafty essentials safely together in one place, it also makes it super easy to take your crafty projects along with you.
Materials:
Craft Cotton Company Fabric: I used 2 fabrics from the Love And Romance Range (1m of each)
Batting/wadding (1m)
Scissors
Needle
Thread
Ruler
Pins/craft clips
1. Cut out your fabrics:
Take one of the fabrics which will be the lining and storage pockets and from this cut out:
Handle: 1 piece 35x6cm.
Storage pockets: 2 pieces 28x32cm.
Base: 1 piece 28x21cm.
Sides: 2 pieces 21x30cm.
Middle divider: 2 pieces 21x25cm.
Front and back: 4 pieces 14.5x30cm.
The remaining fabric piece will form the outer section of the bag, from this cut out:
Handle: 1 piece 35x6cm.
Base: 1 piece 28x21cm.
Sides: 2 pieces 21x30cm.
Front and back: 2 pieces 28x30cm.
From the Batting cut out:
Handle: 1 piece 35x6cm.
Base: 1 piece 28x21cm.
Sides: 2 pieces 21x30cm.
Middle divider: 1 piece 21x25cm.
Front and back: 2 pieces 28x30cm.
2. Making the lining section first:
The lining divider piece:
Take the batting and two middle divider fabric pieces and place the batting down first then place the two fabric pieces on top with right sides together. Sew along the 21cm top and bottom edges of the divider, leaving the two 25cm sides unsewn. Turn out the right way.
The lining:
Take 2 of the 4 front and back lining pieces place one down right side up then place the lining divider piece on top with the unsewn 25cm side against the edge of the lining piece and 3cm up from the bottom edge of the lining piece, place the other lining piece on top right side down and sew down the side to secure leaving a 1cm gap at the bottom. Repeat with the remaining 2 front and back lining pieces on the opposite side of the divider piece.
Take 1 of the 2 side lining pieces and place right side up, place one of the side edges of the front and back lining pieces right side down on top and sew to secure leaving a 1cm gap at the bottom. Repeat on the other side of the side lining piece the repeat with the other side lining piece on the opposite side of the front and back piece.
Take the lining base and pin/clip to the bottom of the joined lining pieces. Sew around to secure.
3. Making the storage pockets:
Take the front and back pieces of the outer section fabrics and the 2 pieces of batting and 2 storage pocket pieces from the lining fabric. Take one of the batting pieces and then place the front piece of the outer section on top right side up, take one of the storage pocket pieces and fold in half to give a piece of fabric 28x16cm. Place this folded fabric on top of the front piece and sew lines from the top of the pocket edge to the bottom edge to create the storage sections. Repeat with the back piece.
4. Making the outer bag:
Take the front piece, place right side up and place one of the outer side pieces on top, followed by one of the side batting pieces, sew down the side to secure leaving a 1cm gap at the bottom. Repeat with the other side piece on the other side, leaving a 1cm gap at the bottom. Next sew the two sides onto the back piece placing right sides together and sewing down the sides, leaving a 1cm gap at the bottom. Turn the bag out the right way.
5. Making the handle:
Take the handle batting piece and place one of the fabric handle pieces on top right side facing up, place the other fabric handle piece on top with right side facing down. Sew down the 2 sides to secure then turn out the right way.
6. Attaching the handle and lining:
Place the lining inside the outer bag, fold the top edge of the lining and outer bag inwards by 0.5cm pin/clip to secure. Place the handle in between the lining and outer bag with the mid point of the handle lining up with the mid divider section, pin/clip to secure. Sew around the top edge of the bag to secure.
To see more from Lesley, follow her on Instagram @hookstitchsew or visit her website hookstitchsew.com.
Made by Lesley Connelly for The Craft Cotton Co 2022.