How to Make a Garden Tote

Pop mucky wellies in the big bag and use the smaller bag as a container for treasures or gardening tools. The ties at the sides can be attached to the headrest of a car seat for car journeys, giving these totes multiple practical uses!

 Use a 1/4" seam allowance throughout unless otherwise stated

MATERIALS

♦    1m home décor-welght laminate for outer (eg Cal PVC - Indigo, Lotta Jansdotter For Ashley Wilde)
♦    1m home décor-weight laminate for lining
♦    40" 1/2"-wide twill tape 

CUTTING

Main tote/welly bag From the outer fabric, cut:
2 14 1/2 x 23" for outer tote 6x13" handle piece
From the lining fabric, cut:
2 14 1/2 x 23"
2 8x10'' divider pieces

Headrest bin/treasures bag

From the outer fabric, cut:
2 12x13” outer bln pieces 5x11" treasure pocket

From the lining fabric, cut:
2 12x13” lining bln pieces

MAIN TOTE Preparing the pieces 

1. Fold each of the outer and lining bag pieces in half, matching the short edges, and on the fold at the bottom cut out a section 4 1/2" tall and 4" deep. (See pic A.)

ASSEMBLY

How to make the outer tote
2. Take one outer piece and fold in half right sides together, matching the short edges. Stitch the bottom edge, leaving the corner cut out open. Squish the sides of the corner cut out together so that the bottom seam is in the centre (See Pic B), then stitch together.
 

3. Repeat Step 2 with other outer piece, then place the two outer pieces right sides together, matching the bottom seam, base and sides. Sew together. (See Pic C.)

4. Turn right sides out and turn the top edge to the inside by 1/2", and finger-press. (See Pic D.)

To make the lining tote

5. Take the two divider pieces and place right sides together. Sew together along one long edge, then open out, press and top-stitch 1/8" from the seam. Baste the side seams 1/4" from the edges.

6. Take one lining piece and measure 5" up from the bottom edge on the short sides and make a mark on each side, then make a cut 1/2"  in at that point. Fold the piece in half right sides together matching short edges. Stitch the bottom edge, leaving the corner cut out open. Repeat with the other lining piece.

7. Take the divider and place right sides together with the base of one lining piece. (See Pic E.) Aligning the centre with the centre seam, and having the edges overlap the cuts made in Step 6 by 1/2". Baste together between the cuts on the lining 1/4" from the edge. Place the other lining piece right sides together with the other side of the divider, lining up the centre seam and cuts with the first piece and stitch all the layers together.

8. Now align the sides of the divider with the sides of the lining pieces. The corner of the divider should be visible at the cuts, which will allow the sides to be stitched at 90° to the base. (See Pic F.) Stitch all the layers together on each side, then open out. (See Pic G.)

9.  Turn the top edge of the lining tote to the outside by 1/2" and finger-press.

ASSEMBLING THE TOTE 

10. Take the handle piece and fold it in half matching long edges, and press. Open out, and fold the long edges into the centre, and finger-press. Fold along the original fold line and finger-press again, then top-stitch all the way around the handle. (See pic H.)

11. Place the lining tote inside the outer tote, matching side seams and the top edge. Insert the handle end 1/2" down between the outer and the lining at the side seams, and pin in place. Top-stitch all the way around the top of the tote 1/8" from the edge, catching the handle in the stitching.

ASSEMBLING THE TOTE   Preparing the pieces

12. Take each of the outer and lining pieces, and place with the longer edges top and bottom. Cut a 3 1/2" square out of each of the two bottom corners.

 ASSEMBLING THE BIN   How to make the outer bin

13. Take the treasure pocket piece and fold in half, right sides together, matching short edges. Mark a 2" opening in the bottom 5" edge, then stitch from the folded edge round to the mark on each side. Clip the corners then turn right sides out.

 

14. Top-stitch the folded edge of the treasure pocket 1/8" from the edge, then centre the pocket on one of the outer pieces 4 1/2" in from each side and 2" from the top. (See Pic I.) Top-stitch the side and bottom seams 1/8" from the edge of the pocket, which will also close the turning gap. 

15. Place the two outer pieces right  sides together and sew the side and bottom seams together, leaving the cut out sections open. Squish the sides of the corner cut outs together so that the side and bottom seams meet, and stitch.

16. Turn the bin right sides out, then fold the top edge over to the inside by 1/2" and finger-press.

How to make the lining bin. 

17. Repeat Step 15 to make the lining bin.

18. Fold the top edge to the outside by 1/2" and finger-press. (See Pic J.)

ASSEMBLING THE BIN

19. Place the lining bin inside the

outer bin. Cut the twill tape in half, and sandwich the two pieces between the lining and outer 1/2" down and 4" apart along the back edge of the bin. Top-stitch all the way around the top of the bin 1/8" from the edge, catching the tape in the stitching.