Beachcomber Tote Tutorial

A quick-and-easy to make shaped tote bag. Free Sewing Tutorial.

MATERIALS
½m (⅝yd) fabric one, centre panel
(1987/1 Scenic)
15cm (¼yd) fabric two, squares
(1993/T Boats)
35cm (⅜yd) fabric three, side panels
(1990/1 Lighthouses)
20cm (¼yd) fabric four, handles
(1992/1 Seagulls)
½m (⅝yd) fabric five, lining 
(1989/1 Icons)
½m (⅝yd) fusible wadding

FINISHED SIZE
Approx. 40 x 35 x 13cm (16 x 14 x 5in) excluding handles 

PREPARATION
Press fabrics before cutting. Use ¼in seam allowance throughout.

Cutting instructions
1 From fabric one cut two 6½ x 17½in rectangles.
 
2 From fabric two cut four 5½in squares.
 
3 From fabric three cut four 5½ x 12½in rectangles.
 
4 From fabric four cut two 3½ x 26in strips.
 
5 From fabric five cut one 16½ x 33in rectangle.  

6 From the fusible wadding cut:
• Two 16½ x 17½in rectangles
• Two 1 x 26in strips  

Sewing instructions

1 Take a 5½ x 12½in fabric three rectangle and stitch a 5½in square of fabric two to the top. Press seam towards the rectangle. Repeat to make another three units. 

2 Stitch the units completed in step 1 to each side of a fabric one 6½ x 17½in rectangle, ensuring that the squares are positioned at the top of these units. Press seams away from the centre.  

3 Iron the two 16½ x 17½in rectangles of fusible wadding to the reverse of the units completed in step 2.  

4 To shape the sides of the bag, mark 3in in from the outer edge at the bottom of each outer bag unit completed in step 3. Place a ruler on the very outer edge at the top of the right side of the bag and on the 3in marking at the bottom of the bag. Cut the wedge shape of fabric away. Repeat on all four corners of the outer bag pieces. 

5 Place the outer bag units on top of each other, right sides facing, matching the seams and stitch down both sides and across the bottom. 

6 To shape the base of the bag, match the centre fold of the base with each side seam. Measure in 2in along the seam line from the outer point. Pin and draw a line with a marking pencil from edge to edge horizontally. Stitch on this line and then trim off excess fabric. Turn the bag right side out. 

7 Take the two 3½ x 26in strips of fabric  four and press under ¼in on one long 
edge of each. Lay the 1 x 26in strip of fusible wadding down the centre of wrong side of each handle and iron in place.  

8 Fold the raw edge of the fabric to the centre of the wadding and then the folded edge on top. The folded edge should overlap the raw edge. Pin in place. Top stitch down the folded edge. Top stitch along each outer edge.  

9 Pin the ends of the handles, right sides facing to the top edge of each outer bag section, positioning the end of each handle over the centre panel seam line. Tack in place.  

10 Fold the 16½ x 33in fabric five rectangle up so that the right sides are facing and the 16½in raw edges are at the top together. Shape the lining in the same way that the outer bag was shaped in step 4. Stitch down each side, leaving a gap of about 4in in one side for
turning. 

11 To shape the base of the lining in the same way as the outer bag follow the instructions in step 6. 

12 Place the outer bag inside the lining so that the right sides of the fabric are facing. Make sure that the handles are pushed down between the two layers. Pin the outer bag and the lining together at the top, lining up the side seams and raw edges.  

13 Stitch around the top edge, back stitching at the beginning and end. Turn the bag through the opening in the lining and press the seam around the top edge of the bag so that it lays flat. Topstitch all the way around the top of the bag. Stitch the gap in the lining closed.