Sew a Party Favor totebag

Its been awhile since I posted a DIY sewing project.. I have been away for work attending tradeshow after tradeshow after tradeshow!  Everything is slowing down and I can now clear the dust off my sewing machine. Yay.

So here is my promised sewing tutorial for the cute party favor totebag.. 

Last week I showed how to screen print an image onto the face of the tote with freezer paper.  This week I’m showing how to sew the bag.  I hope to upload the pattern by the end of the week.  I’m very excited to finally share a pattern here! The bag is very easy to sew -just a few straight stitches and you have a charming little bag.

I’m switching up my images a little, so let me now what you think.  I hope someone makes these cute bags for an upcoming party.  If you do, I would love to see pictures of your bags and the party.

Ok – here we go…

Step 1: Gather your materials

• Fabric
• Pattern – soon found here
• Webbing for straps – cut to desired length
• Sewing materials – machine, pins, scissors, thread, iron and ironing board

 

 Step 2: Cut out your pattern

• Find the grain line on your fabric and pin your pattern down
• Cut out 2 pieces

Step 3:  Prepare the top edge

• Fold down top edge 1/4″ and press
• Fold over the top edge again, this time fold over 3/4″ and press.  This will enclose the 1/4″ that you originally folded over. You will now have a clean edge

 

Step 4:  Straps

• Measure 3 1/2″ from each side seam and mark
• At each mark, insert your webbing under the top edge.   This is the inital placement
• Now fold the straps over the top edge

• Pin each strap in place
• Edgestitch along the top and bottom edge.  Your choice,  sew with a straight stitch or with a decorative stitch

Step 5:  Sew the bag side seams and bottom

• Place right sides together and pin along side seams and the bottom edge
• Sew SS [ side seams] and bottom edge with a 1/2″ seam allowance 

Step 6:  The bottom corners

• The bag is almost complete. Your side seams and the bottom are finished
• With the right sides still facing inwards, twist the bag slightly and match each side seam with the bottom seam

• This will align the raw edges with each other and into a seam you will sew
• Pin and sew with a 1/2″ seam allowance
• Make sure to back stitch! This area needs to be very secure, it will hold all your goodies!

As always, press press press these seams and the corners of the bag. Give the entire bag a good press for quality and workmanship.

Voila – complete!