Destination DIY – Create a Market Tote

I have been wanting to do a post that involves my work travels.  Fun nerdy fact, I have sewn in a hotel room. Or two..

I spend alot of time in airports and in the past 7 weeks I have travelled to 6 cities.  I travel a lot for my job. I meet interesting people and talk about my product, trends, marketing all day.. For the most part, I really like the travel.  However, this last season was a blur – having a 13 month old in our house and the extensive travel was an interesting combination.

I was trying to remember the airport codes for all the cities that I recently visited and came up with a fun idea — screen print the airport codes onto market tote.  Here are the cities I last made it to-  SLC, CLT, LGA, GSP, ATL, MIA.  Can you figure them out?

“Market tote” translation – Bag with a hole in the top, use as the handles.

I used my trusty freezer paper for the screen printing portion. Check this link for the how to on freezer paper.   I developed the bag pattern from scratch.  This would be something fun to sew for an upcoming girls trip, family reunion, or even the beach!

Note – You will do a little pattern drafting for this one.  Beginners, don’t be scared!! It’s super easy and you can do the drafting right on your fabric.

Materials:

• Cotton Duck Fabric – The heavier the weight the better. Test the fabric with your sewing machine. Not all sewing machines like thick fabric
• Interfacing – fusible
• Pins, needles, thread, scissors
• Sewing machine
• Iron and ironing board

Drafting materials:

• Ruler
• Disappearing ink pen
• Confidence
• Handle template

Screen Printing Materials:

• Freezer paper, tulip ink, sponges
• Iron and ironing board
• Image – I created the letters in word.  Font size 120 pt

This portion not shown in images below.

• Create the bag.  The smaller the better.  Draw a large rectangle 26″L x 13.5W. This includes SA
• Create the facing. 4″L x 13.5W. Cut 2
• Cut interfacing for the self. 3″L x 13.5″W. Cut 2
• Iron interfacing to the top portion of the bag
• Sew the bag –  fold in half  and sew the sides using 1/2″ SA

Step 1:

• With the bag sewn, turn it right side out. Pin each facing piece to the top edge and pin at sides. The sides are not sewn together

Do the following steps for both sides of the bag:

• Mark 1/2″ SA along top edge with disappearing pen. You will use this as a guide
• Center handle template in the middle and at the top edge of the SEAM ALLOWANCE

Step 2:

• Trace  a solid line around the oval from the template
• Mark a 1/4″ SA. Mark with a dashed line.  Mark the cutting area.  As above, I marked with multiple lines as a cutting reference.
• Sew around the the solid outside line.
• Pierce into the center area with scissors

Step 3:

• Cut out the entire center area. Do NOT cut into the SA!
• Cut and clip the oval edges. Clip the straight lines and notch the corners..
• Pull the facing through/ into the center of the oval
• You will need to wiggle the corners a little until the lay flat. Re-clip if needed and wiggle more
• Press the oval seam with a hot iron

Step 4:

• Edgestitch along outer edge of oval
• Now sew the top edge – turn under the top edge 1/2″ and press. Turn entire top edge seam
• Edgestitch along top edge
• Press Top edge

You are done!

Happy Sewing