Leather Strap Tote

materials and tools

1 yards of fabric for the bag top 18 x 24 rectangle of contrast fabric for the bag base

materials and tools

3 x 20 strip of faux leather for the handle One package (approximately 60) of extra-wide double-fold bias binding (or make your own!) Clear quilters ruler Fabric marker Thread Scissors

Classic design meets modern twist. This cool tote with boxed bottom can carry anything you throw at (or in) it. The leather strap simplifies the design and accentuates your style. Clean, classic lines mean its easy to construct, so you go from zero to toteand-go in less time. It wont be long before this becomes your go-to tote.

Created by Rachel Faucett

step one
Print

the pattern piece templates (pages 6-9).

The

bag top is split into three pieces; cut them out and tape them together before cutting out your fabric pieces!

Leather Strap Tote

step two
Iron

your fabric, then cut out the bag tops (2) and bag bottoms (2).

step three
Stitch

the bottom to the top for each side of the bag using -wide seam allowances.

step four
Press

the seam allowances towards the bottom of the bag.

step five
Topstitch

the edge of the base seam on each side. I used decorative stitch #401 on my BERNINA 580 E, with a width of 7.1 mm and length of 5.1 mm. Experiment with decorative stitches, or keep it simple with just a straight stitch.

Leather Strap Tote

step six
With

right sides together, stitch the side and bottom edges of the bag using a -wide seam allowance. the seam allowances open.

Press

step seven
Using

a clear quilters ruler, measure in 1 at the corners of the base of the bag as shown; mark with a fabric pen.

step eight
Cut

the squares from the corners of the bag base.

step nine
With

the bag still inside out, pinch the cut-out edges together as shown, making sure the previously sewn seams are pressed open. Pin in place.

Leather Strap Tote

step ten
Sew

the corner edges together with -wide seam allowances. This will create nice boxed corners on the base of your bag.

step eleven
On

one side of the top edge of your bag, pin the bias binding in place.

step twelve
Sew

the binding to the bag, stitching close to the edge of the binding (a scant ) as shown.

step thirteen
For

the second half of the binding, start by opening the binding at its main crease and folding the corners in slightly as shown. fold the end under ; press.

Then

Leather Strap Tote

step fourteen
Pin

the binding in place, then repeat the above folding technique once you reach the other edge on the point of the bag, overlapping the ends. the binding in place as you did in step eleven.

Stitch

step fifteen
For

the handle, fold the leather strip in half lengthwise; press (check a scrap first to make sure it wont melt). Fold under each outer edge ; press. Finally, fold press the center crease again with all edges turned under. the open edges of the strap together close to the edge (a scant ), making sure you catch both sides of the strap in your stitches.

Stitch

step sixteen
To

attach the handle to the bag, pin it to the points of the bag as the desired length. beside the binding and across the bottom of the handle, creating a triangle shape as shown. make sure those handles are nice and secure, go over your stitching again about three times.

Stitch-in-the-ditch

To

rket Voila! Your sweet little ma ! tote bag is complete! Enjoy

Join pieces, then cut on fold

Leather Strap Tote

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Leather Strap Tote TopPart 1 of 3

Tape the three Top sections 1, 2, and 3together. Leather Strap Tote Pattern Templates After joining the top pieces together, cut two tops on the fold.

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Join Here

Leather Strap Tote

Join pieces, then cut on fold

Leather Strap Tote Pattern Templates TopPart 2 of 3 Leather Strap Tote

Join Here

Join Here

Leather Strap Tote

Join pieces, then cut on fold

Leather Strap Tote Pattern Templates

TopPart 3 of 3

Leather Strap Tote

Leather Strap Tote

Cut on fold

Leather Strap Tote Pattern Templates

Leather Strap Tote

Bottomcut 2 on fold