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Hearts and Sharts

A Little Cute, A Little Unexpected

Sewing a Simple Summer Tote

July 16, 2014 by Hearts&Sharts 16 Comments

* This post originally appeared on The Crafting Chicks website on June 16th, 2014 as a contributor post *

Summer is here! Time to throw all your junk in a tote bag and hit the beach! If you’re not a beach person (do those exist?), this tote is perfect for the grocery store and can also transition from your basic nautical, summery look to a simple patriotic look for those big summer holidays! Extra bonus: It’s super easy to make. Totes Muh-goats!

diy-striped-summer-tote-bag-rope-handles-top-image-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

You will need two types of fabric, one for the lining (the inside) and one for the outside. I used a thick outdoor fabric (waterproof, score!) for the outside and a white cotton duck for the inside. Thicker fabric will help the tote keep its shape. While you’re hittin’ up the fabric store, grab two yards of rope and a set of grommets (grab the ones with the grommet tools in the package). Make sure that your rope will fit through the grommets you choose.

fabric-rope-grommets-diy-tote-bag-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

  Cut the fabric for the exterior of the tote to 19″ x 19″.

cut-fabric-for-exterior-of-totebag-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Repeat for the lining.

cut-fabric-for-lining-of-totebag-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Then, on all four pieces, cut out a 3″ x 3″ square.  These will create the tote bag bottom.

cut-fabric-bottom-for-depth-and-width-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Next, with right sides together, sew the exterior fabric up both sides and across the bottom, leaving the two square cut-outs open. Use about a 1/4″ seam allowance.

leave-notches-open-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Pull the fabric open/apart, matching the side and bottom seams…

diy-totebag-sewing-sequence-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 …and pin in place.

stitch-across-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Sew the opening closed and repeat for the other side of the tote.

totebag-inside-out-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Boom. Leave this piece inside out and set aside.

Now grab your lining fabric and repeat the same steps, with right sides together, except leave a small opening at the bottom. This will be where you “birth” the bag through when it’s all done. Gross, right? I think that’s the technical term for it.

lining-of-totebage-inside-out-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Keep going and sew up those little corner openings the same way you did the exterior fabric. Turn the lining right side out and this is what you will have.

totebag-lining-right-side-out-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

With the outside of your tote still inside out, slide the lining (right sides out) inside. That’s confusing to say, but the pic below will help. The right sides of both pieces should be facing each other.

diy-totebag-insert-lining-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Line up the side seams of both layers…

line-up-seams-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 …and sew all the way around, joining the two layers.

sew-around-top-edge-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

sew-around-top-edge-totebag-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Get ready for a pain-free birth. Pull the lining out of the bag, the stick your hand through the little hole you left in the lining and “birth” it, baby!

diy-tote-bag-turning-sequence-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Iron the tote…

turn-totebag-right-side-out-iron-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

… and stitch up the birthing hole. Ew. You can do a hand stitch to keep it pretty, but since this is the inside of the bag, I just ran across it with my machine.

sew-up-birthing-hole-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Put the lining back inside the tote and you’re almost done. Like I mentioned earlier, thicker fabrics, like canvas or outdoor fabrics, will help the tote keep it’s shape. If this same tote were made of cotton, it wouldn’t be able to stand on it’s own without the use of interfacing.

diy-totebag-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Time for grommets. If you’ve never used these before, don’t be scared, it’s so super easy. You only need four for this tote so you will have extras, it’s a good idea to do a test on a scrap piece of fabric. Figure out where you want your straps/grommets. On this tote they are 3″ from the side and 1″ from the top.

diy-totebag-stripes-grommets-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Mark the spot by tracing the inside of the tall grommet.

installing-grommets-diy-striped-totebag-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Then, carefully cut out that hole, going through both the exterior fabric as well as the lining.

cut-hole-for-grommet-diy-totebag-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Push the raised part of the grommet through the hole. Flip the tote over so you can get to the other side of the grommet. Follow the simple instructions on the grommet package. You will need a hammer for this step and it is best to do this on a concrete floor.

diy-tote-bag-installing-grommets-sequence-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Once your grommets are in on one side of the tote, you can use those holes to mark your grommet spots on the other side of the tote.

line-up-grommet-holes-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

 Cut the two yards of rope exactly in half so that you have two 1 yard pieces. Guide the rope from the inside of the tote to the outside and tie a knot. Tie it semi-loosely to start and once you have all four tied, make sure your straps are even and then tighten each knot.

diy-striped-totebag-with-rope-handles-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Done!

Total time spent on this project : 1 hour

diy-striped-summer-tote-bag-rope-handles-top-image-Hearts-And-Sharts-for-The-Crafting-Chicks

Now that you know how to make this tote, you can get crazy and mix it up! The rope is also available in white, the grommets are available in gold and fabric choices are endless. Get busy, girl! Make something!

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Comments

  1. centrd says

    June 10, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    this is awesome! thanks for the tutorial.

    Reply
    • Hearts & Sharts says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:57 pm

      :)!

      Reply
  2. Lynn says

    April 24, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    What is the size of the finished bag?

    Reply
  3. Jeanette Duurvoort says

    September 1, 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Love this bag! Unfortunately I have to order everything thru the mail. Need some guidance, if you please, what size gromments? What diameter rope? The fabric place has fabric but no cord….so I am juggling orders and to envision what will go with what…not working at this point. Please help. I will than go on a day trip to the beach, def!
    THNX!! -J

    Reply
    • Hearts & Sharts says

      September 1, 2014 at 2:04 pm

      Hey Jeanette! The grommets are 3/8″ in and the jute rope is 3/8″ as well, both can be ordered online through Joann.com. Tomorrow you can sign up to win this bag! 🙂 Let me know if you need anymore help! Good luck!

      Reply
      • Jeanette Duurvoort says

        September 4, 2014 at 10:19 am

        Great THANKS. I tried to local purchase at least the cord. “Sigh”!
        Now…I am on a mission-thnx kindly

        Reply
  4. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    August 12, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    Your summer tote turned out super cute. Love it.

    Reply
    • Hearts & Sharts says

      August 14, 2014 at 7:56 am

      Thank you, Theresa!

      Reply
  5. chuck schomaker says

    August 7, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    Dena, love this idea. I saw these at an up scale interior store and wanted to use them as give aways for an up coming auction. The theme is love boat, I had better get busy I have 15 to 20 of these to sew for my guests. Thanks chuck

    Reply
    • Hearts & Sharts says

      August 8, 2014 at 9:04 am

      Thanks, Chuck! Happy sewing!!

      Reply
  6. Page says

    July 21, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    I love this bag. I think it’s time for me to dust off my sewing machine. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ps…We are almost neighbors, I’m in Johns Creek – we moved here in March.

    Reply
    • Hearts & Sharts says

      July 22, 2014 at 9:52 am

      Awesome! Where did you move from?!

      Reply
  7. Kim Banta says

    July 16, 2014 at 8:55 am

    Dena! I have made bags before but never notching out the 3″ squares at the beginning! I love this method! Thanks for sharing! I do believe I will make a bag from my darling http://www.onlinefabricstore.com fabric! I also hope to add an embroidered monogram. So good to see you at HAVEN.

    Reply
    • Hearts & Sharts says

      July 16, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      Kim! I’d love to see it when you’re done! It was GREAT seeing you at Haven and I can’t wait to see you in your new movie!!!!!

      Reply
  8. Amy | Club Narwhal says

    July 16, 2014 at 8:15 am

    Dena, this bag is darling! I love how it uses a box bottom (I just learned how to make those and want to use it on every bag). Now I need to work up my courage to try grommets 🙂

    Reply
    • Hearts & Sharts says

      July 16, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks, Amy! Grommets are so super easy!! Try ’em on a scrap piece of fabric. They’re great for DIY shower curtains, too! 😉

      Reply

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