How to Sew Old-Fashioned Tote Bags
- 1). Cut two rectangles, 15 by 18 inches, from lightweight canvas. These are the body pieces for your tote bag. Cut two, 18-inch lengths of 1-inch-wide webbing strap for the handles.
- 2). Place the two rectangles together with the right sides facing out. Pin the two, 18-inch edges and one 15-inch edge for the sides and bottom of the tote bag. Thread your sewing machine with thread to match the color and weight of the canvas. Sew the pinned edges with the machine, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch.
- 3). Turn the bag wrong side out and press. This may seem backwards, but you are creating French seam. A French seam is an enclosed inner seam that has no raw edge and will not fray. It is an old-fashioned technique that provides a professional finish to your seams.
Stitch the around the inside edge of the finished side and bottom seams, using a 1/4-inch seam. Turn the tote bag right side out and press. The raw 1/8-inch seam is now is enclosed inside the seam you just stitched. - 4). Lay the tote bag on your work surface. Pin the ends of one webbing strap to the side facing up, 4 inches from each side seam, along the top raw edge. The handle will be laying on the bag with the pinned edges at the top--essentially upside down. Sew the handle ends to the tote bag using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Flip the bag over and repeat with the other webbing strap.
- 5). Turn the bag wrong side out. Pull the handles out the top. Fold the top edge of the bag a 1/2 inch to the wrong side and press. Fold the edge over another inch, press and pin. Sew the pinned top edge to complete the bag. This encases the raw edge of the straps to prevent fraying and creates a professionally finished edge.
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