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Tote Bag Sewing Pattern | Learn Freehand Machine Embroidery
Challenging |
Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps
Debbie Shore's tote bag pattern will teach you free-motion embroidery and appliqué.
If you're an experienced stitcher who is looking for a challenge, this bag sewing pattern is one you'll want to try. There are a lot of bagmaking techniques used for this bag: free-motion embroidery and appliqué are both used to create the bunting design featured on the front flap; you'll also master how to insert a zip and how to attach a magnetic clasp to close your tote bag.
It's a pattern that will require some time and concentration to complete, but the result will be worth it - at the end, you will have a strong, useful bag organiser that will be perfect for school or the office.
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You will need:
Equipment
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Hand sewing needle
- Scissors
- Erasable pen
- Free motion embroidery/darning foot for your sewing machine
- Plate or other round object
- Repositionable spray adhesive
Materials
- For the flap:
- Two pieces of fabric measuring 8 x 12in (20.5 x 30.5cm). Keep the pattern quite plain so that your bunting appliqué stands out
- One piece of wadding/batting measuring 12½ x 8½in (31.75 x 21.75cm). Wadding/batting tends to ‘move’ a little, so I find it easier to have a piece larger than I need and trim it down to size later
- Five small triangles cut from scrap fabrics, measuring around 2in (5cm) tall with 1½in (3.75cm) wide base
- One magnetic clasp
- Two 2in (5cm) square pieces of scrap fabric to sit behind the clasp. This won’t be seen so a plain cotton fabric will do.
- For the bag outer:
- Two pieces of patterned fabric measuring 12in (30.5cm) square
- Three strips of patterned fabric measuring 12 x 5in (30.5 x 12.75cm)
- Two pieces of wadding/batting measuring 12in (30.5cm) square
- Three pieces wadding/batting measuring 12 x 5in (30.5 x 12.75cm)
- One piece of webbing measuring 34 x 1in (86.5 x 2.75cm) for the handle
- For the bag lining:
- Four pieces of fabric measuring 12 x 10in (30.5 x 25.5cm) for the dividing pocket
- Six strips of fabric measuring 12 x 3in (30.5 x 7.75cm)
- One 14in (36cm) zip
- Two pieces of fabric measuring 12 x 8in (30.5 x 20.5cm) for the zipped letterbox side pocket lining
- Two pieces of fabric measuring 12in (30.5cm) square
- One 9in (23cm) zip
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Project steps:
Step 1
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Step 2
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