The_Simple_Things_-_March_2020

YOU WILL NEED:

50cm patterned quilting-weight

cotton fabric (most non-stretch

fabrics would work for this simple

pattern – from quilting cotton for

a light, easily-folded-away tote,

to denim or canvas for something

more hard wearing.)

50cm plain quilting-weight cotton

fabric (for lining)

3m webbing, 2.5cm wide

Thread to match your fabric

and webbing

Sewing kit: tailor’s chalk, pins,

scissors, tape measure, Sewing

machine or needle and strong

cotton thread

MEASUREMENTS

Main fabric – two pieces: 42cm high

x 32cm wide

Optional pocket – one piece: 42cm

high x 15cm wide

Lining fabric – two pieces: 42cm high

x 32cm wide

Webbing – two lengths: 130cm each

1 Lay out one of your outer pieces

right side up, in a portrait position.

Measure 7.5cm in from the left-hand

(long) side and mark a line in tailor’s

chalk from top to bottom, then do

the same on the right-hand side.

2 Take one of your pieces of webbing

and, starting from the bottom edge of

your fabric, lay the webbing on top so

that its outer edge runs along one of

the lines you marked, pinning in place.

At the top edge, curve your webbing

round into a handle (make sure it isn’t

twisted) and lay the rest of it so that

Basic Tote

SURELY THE MOST

USEFUL OF BAGS –

AND A GREAT PROJECT

FOR BEGINNERS

its outer edge lines up with the other

chalk line and its cut end is parallel

to the bottom edge, pinning in place.

3 Starting at the bottom, sew along

one edge of your webbing, about

2mm in from the edge. Stop 3cm

before the top edge of your fabric

(where the handle is), then sew

horizontally across the webbing

and back down its other edge.

Do the same on the right-hand

length of pinned webbing.

4 Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the

other outer piece. If you’re adding

the optional pocket, follow the

instructions over the page marked

‘Adding a pocket’. If you’re not

adding the pocket, repeat step 3.

5 Lay out both of your outer pieces

again, right side up. Fold the straps

back over the fabric and pin to keep

them out of the way.

6 Lay a lining piece (right side down

if it has a right side) on top of each

outer piece, lining up the edges.

7 Pin and then sew along the top

edge only of each of your pairs

with a 1cm seam allowance.

8 Unfold along the seam line

and press the pieces open.

PROUDLY

HOMEMADE

WEEKEND PROJECT

“THIS HANDY LIGHTWEIGHT BAG

CAN BE STORED AWAY FOR WHEN

YOU NEED AN EXTRA SHOPPER”

»

YOU WILL NEED:
50cm patterned quilting-weight
cotton fabric (most non-stretch
fabrics would work forthissimple
pattern – from quiltingcottonfor
a light, easily-folded-awaytote,
to denim or canvas forsomething
more hard wearing.)
50cm plain quilting-weightcotton
fabric (for lining)
3m webbing, 2.5cm wide
Thread to match your fabric
and webbing
Sewing kit: tailor’s chalk,pins,
scissors, tape measure,Sewing
machine or needle andstrong
cotton thread

MEASUREMENTS
Main fabric – two pieces:42cmhigh
x 32cm wide
Optional pocket – onepiece:42cm
high x 15cm wide
Lining fabric – two pieces:42cmhigh
x 32cm wide
Webbing – two lengths:130cmeach

1 Lay out one of your outerpieces
right side up, in a portraitposition.
Measure 7.5cm in fromtheleft-hand
(long) side and mark alinein tailor’s
chalk from top to bottom,thendo
the same on the right-handside.
2 Take one of your piecesof webbing
and, starting from the bottomedgeof
your fabric, lay the webbingontopso
that its outer edge runsalongoneof
the lines you marked, pinningin place.
At the top edge, curve yourwebbing
round into a handle (makesureit isn’t
twisted) and lay the restof it sothat

BasicTote

SURELY THE MOST

USEFUL OF BAGS–

AND A GREAT PROJECT

FOR BEGINNERS

itsouteredgelinesupwiththeother

chalklineanditscutendis parallel

to thebottomedge,pinningin place.

3 Startingat thebottom,sewalong

oneedgeof yourwebbing,about

2mmin fromtheedge.Stop3cm

beforethetopedgeof yourfabric

(wherethehandleis),thensew

horizontallyacrossthewebbing

andbackdownitsotheredge.

Dothesameontheright-hand

lengthof pinnedwebbing.

4 Repeatsteps1 and2 forthe

otherouterpiece.If you’readding

theoptionalpocket,followthe

instructionsoverthepagemarked

‘Addinga pocket’.If you’renot

addingthepocket,repeatstep3.

5 Layoutbothof yourouterpieces

again,rightsideup.Foldthestraps

backoverthefabricandpinto keep

themoutof theway.

6 Laya liningpiece(rightsidedown

if it hasa rightside)ontopof each

outerpiece,lininguptheedges.

7 Pinandthensewalongthetop

edgeonlyof eachof yourpairs

witha 1cmseamallowance.

8 Unfoldalongtheseamline

andpressthepiecesopen.

PROUDLY

HOMEMADE

WEEKEND PROJECT

“THIS HANDY LIGHTWEIGHT BAG

CAN BE STORED AWAY FOR WHEN

YOU NEED AN EXTRA SHOPPER”

»