Supplies:
- Ruler
- Iron & Ironing Surface
- Fabric marking tool (pencil works just fine!)
- Rotary Cutter + Cutting Mat (or fabric scissors)
- Sewing Machine & Thread
- 3/4 yard of Exterior Fabric (also used for lining)
-
1/2 yard of Lining Fabric
- (2) strips of 1" or 1.5" Strap Webbing (if not using Exterior Fabric)
Instructions:
- Cut Exterior Fabric: (1) 18 inches x 36 inches and (2) 4 inches x 26 inches (for the straps)
- Note: If using a directional fabric, cut (2) 18 inches x 18.5 inches and sew pieces together using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
- Cut Lining Fabric: (1) 18 inches x 32.5 inches
Note: If using a directional fabric, cut (2) 18 inches x 16.75 inches and sew pieces together using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. - Make the Straps (skip if using webbing): Fold the strap in half, wrong sides together, matching the long edges together and iron. Open the strap back up and fold each edge towards the crease you just made, and iron again (being sure that the long edges line up as best as possible. You should now have a strap that has 3 iron creases in it, and folds into itself to encase the raw edges. Sew down the side with the folded edges, 1/8-1/4 inch away from the edge. Flip the strap and repeat along the other long edge. Repeat for the second strap.
- On the wrong side of the Exterior Fabric, use your pencil to mark a straight line 1/2 inch from the edge of one of the short sides. Mark another line 2 1/4 inches from the same edge of the short side.
- Fold the short edge down to meet the first line (at 1/2 inch) and iron a crease.
- Fold over the short edge again to meet the second marked line and iron a crease.
- Repeat on the other short side.
- Lay the Exterior Fabric flat with the wrong side up.
- Position the Lining Fabric on top of the Exterior Fabric with the correct side up, lining up the long sides with the Exterior Fabric. Tuck the edges under both of the folded short edges of the Exterior Fabric. (If the Lining Fabric is too long, you can trim off however much is needed for it to not be bunched up).
- Clip all around the 4 sides to keep the layers in place.
- Directly below the folded edge of the Exterior Fabric, mark the Lining Fabric 4 inches from the edge of each long side (4 marks total).
- Insert one short end of a strap so the outside of the strap lines up with the pencil mark made in step 9, with the raw edge tucked in between the Exterior and Lining Fabric, with the folded edge laying on top of the strap. Clip the strap in place. Repeat for the rest of the strap ends.
- Sew across the short edge 1/8 inch from the bottom folded edge.
- Flip the strap up and clip in place. Sew across the short edge again, this time 1/8 inch from the previous top stitch line.
- Sew another top stitch line 1/8 inch from the top of the short edge.
- Lay the bag folded in half, lining sides together, with the short edges and straps matched up correctly. It is okay if the long edges do not match up perfectly.
- Clip the sides together and sew all the way down using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Back stitch at the beginning and end. Repeat on the other side.
- Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch.
- Turn the bag lining sides out, taking care to carefully poke out the corners.
- Iron the sides to create a neat crease. Sew down the sides using a 3/8 inch seam allowance, making sure to envelope the raw edges.
- Turn the bag right sides out, taking care to carefully poke out the corners.
- You can stop here with your finished tote bag if you like!
- Or, you can box the bottom corners to help create a wider bag.
- Pinch the corner and bring the side seam to meet the bottom center of the bag.
- Measure 1.5 inches from the corner and draw a straight line. Sew directly down the line, back stitching at the beginning and the end.
- Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch.
- Turn the bag lining sides out, taking care to carefully poke out the corners.
- Iron the corner to create a neat crease. Sew down the corner using a 3/8 inch seam allowance, making sure to envelope the raw edges.
- Turn the bag right sides out, taking care to carefully poke out the corners.
Your easy, lined, boxed corner, French Seam tote bag is complete!