8 Stitch the handles to the bag
Stitch the handles to the bag. Top-stitch a square onto the overlapping handle fabric to hold it firmly in place.
Tips
- For an extra twist, add decorations.
- You can recycle old jeans for use as a tote by first cutting off a the legs and opening the "inner" seam so that the denim lies flat along the outer seam. Cut your rectangles and proceed as with any other fabric. See How to Make a Denim Purse.
- To line your tote, simply make another rectangle that’s a half inch smaller in both dimensions, sew it as above, and place it inside your tote with seams facing the seams of your tote beforeyou sew the top opening hem. Place your two top hems even with each other and roll them together to cover raw edges before sewing.
- Using denim or similar very heavy fabrics will require a larger, thicker needle on your sewing machine. Work slowly, don't press the pedal all the way down, and be careful.
- You can also use light fabric over a heavier material.
For extra strength, I usually do two diagonal stitches from corner to corner inside the square that holds the handles on. Totes are such fun to make - and they're handy. Carlene
ReplyDeleteThanks for that tip, Carlene. I love totes; especially for library books.
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