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Friday, June 21, 2019


Foldable Tote Bag   These are my written directions from Youtube Owl Sew by Heather Heilbronner

1 piece  - 16 wide x 30 long body of bag

2 - 21 x 4 (2) straps
2 piece - 8.5 x 16 border
2 - 6 x 14 (2) pockets 1 for outside, 1 for lining

Iron straps in half, long sides together. Open back up, and  fold each long edge to the middle where you just ironed in the crease.  Fold the strap one more time to create a 1 inch wide strap. Stitch along the open side.

Along the 16 inch side, find the center of the border. Mark four inches from the center  and pin the straps on the inside of 4 inches on either side of the center, matching raw edges. Stitch across each strap to attach to the border.

Place the border, right side up on a flat surface. Place the 16 inch edge of the bag on top of the border. - right side down . Roll the bag up so that the other edge of the border can meet the first side of the border.  In other words, you make  a burrito of all the layers, with the bag section inside the border section and stitch along the open edge.

Pull bag and straps from inside the border burrito.

Sew the border, straps and bag on the other end.

Put the pocket sections, right sides together, and round off the corners at one of the short side. This will be the top end of the pocket.

Stitch around the pocket leaving a small area on one long side, near the bottom, to turn right side out.

Lay the pocket, right side up, the straight edge,1 inch from the bottom of the border, rounded edge toward the bottom of the bag. Mark a line across the pocket, 4 inches from the rounded edge of the pocket.
Stitch a “U” shape to attach the pocket to the bag. Start at the straight edge of the pocket, go up to the 4 inch line mark, stitch across the line, and back down to the bottom of the pocket.

Sew the bag together using french seams. (Sew right sides together with a narrow seam, turn the bag wrong side out, and stitch again to contain the raw edges on the first seam)

Attach a fastener to hold bag closed when folded. I like cam snaps for this.

To fold, lay bag pocket side down. Bring each side of the bag to the center. Fold each end of the bag to the pocket (still on the bottom). Now roll or fold the bottom section up to the top of the pocket and secure the pocket flap to the rolled section.  Use snaps or hook and loop tape to close. You could even just use a hair rubber band to keep closed.