I'm a big lover of crafts; you can always see my bulky bags whenever I'm going on a long trip, containing my yarn, crochet pins, cord for bracelets, my glitter glue, my craft handbook, and every craft I can employ if I get bored. Anything handmade is my forte, except for some really specialized fields; I don't know how to blow glass 😂.
Below is a picture of what I'll be teaching us to make: your DIY tote bag!
Funny how I don't fancy tote bags yet made two of them. I made a tote bag two years ago, which I now use to carry my laptop when I'm not in the mood for a backpack, which is almost always. What makes this even more fun is the fact that I don't know the darndest thing about making bags, but just seeing my amateur work makes me thrilled. So, if you're a novice in bag making like myself and would like to have some fun with this, I'm sharing the process below:
Materials Needed
- A sewing machine (I used my mum's old machine)
- A large piece of leather or fabric whichever suits your fancy
- Lining (optional, didn't use any in mine)
- Scissors
- Tape rule
- Marker or chalk (I used pens)
- Threads of whatever color you choose
- Pressing iron
The Process
First, I decided what size I wanted my bag to be. I measured and cut out leather with allowance of 2inches on all sides
Then I taped the edges of my leather pieces by sewing.
I decided at this point to add a touch of fabric to my bag so it won't be too plain. So I cut a rectangular piece of fabric, taped the edges like my leather pieces and sewed it onto the middle of one of my leather pieces.
Next is to sew the two pieces of leather together on other sides apart from the taped side. Take into consideration your intended bag dimensions while picking points to sew.
You can add your lining at this point on both inner sides of the fabric then sew the lined pieces together.
At the bottom corners of your already shaping bag, make an half by half inch marking as shown in the picture (kindly disregard the diagonal line, mistake on my part).
Now open up the bag around the marking and fold the bag cross-sectionally along the marking, forming a triangle shape
Sew along the line marking. Make sure to do this for both bottom corners. There, your bag has taken shape. Accentuate all the openings at the point of sewing and iron, to prevent bulkiness of folds and accentuating of the stitching.
Lost on what to do with my handle, I placed the bag on my side (where I imagined it'll be) and measured from the top of my bag to my shoulder.
I then cut two strips of leather, each an inch wide to 4 inch + length I measured, to allow sewing allowance.I cut two pieces from my fabric with same length as my handle strips but 3 inches wide and sewed it into an inch wide strip on the inner side of the fabric, completely sewing one end of the strip to aid turning to the right side.
Using a biro, secure your leather strip with the cover of the biro to the pen, place on the sewed end and push until you reach the other end.
Do this for both strips.
- Secure your handle by sewing to your bag, preferably at the middle rather than the ends like mine, to avoid frequent opening.
Finally...
Tada! You have your DIY tote bag.
My tote bag and matching notepad
PS: This is a masterpiece, not because it's perfect but because you made it with you hands. So, if yours turns out a weird shape, own it. Fashion is limitless.
Thanks for sharing in the fun of making my adorable tote bag. I look forward to seeing your version of this beaut. Also, watch out for more like this on creative Sundays let's have fun days together 🤗❤.
Thanks For Visiting My Blog. XOXO ❤