{Large Cinched Tote} Tutorial

With spring & summer lingering in our minds, dreaming of warm days lounging on the beach or under a shady tree...oh sorry I got a bit carried away there!

Well you know what's been on my mind! And that's precisely what got me inspired to make this oversized tote for all your summer luggin' (get it? summer lovin'?) I know, lame.  

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 yard of main fabric (I bought mine at Fabricate)

1 yard coordinating fabric for liner

fabric scissors

thread

sewing machine

iron/ironing board

To purchase this fabric online click the link below:

The first thing you need to do is cut out the following:

From the main fabric cut: 

2 main pieces- 21 1/2" x 18" 

From the coordinating fabric cut:

2 straps- 3" x 26 1/2" 

1 belt- 3" x 42"

2 liner pieces- 21 1/2 x 18"

2 bottom pieces- 21 1/2" x 6"

Using the 2 bottom pieces find the center along the 6" side, mark and measure out 5" inches on an angle (shown above). Repeat for second bottom piece.

Placing the main fabric piece right side up, lay one bottom piece centered on top of main fabric.

Pin it in place and stitch a 1/4" seam just along where the bottom piece edge touches the main fabric edge.

Once you have that stitch in place line up "A" and "B" edges (see previous image), pin & stitch.

Just another shot of the step mentioned above.

Next lay the other main piece right side up. Lay the other right side down on top. 

Line up the the bottom piece with the bottom piece laying on the table, pin & stitch.

Just another shot of the step explained above. Repeat matching "A" and "B" edges as described above.

Once you have the bottom on you'll need to pin the sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam up the sides. Repeat for other side.

To create liner repeat all previous steps using the 

2 liner pieces- 21 1/2 x 19"

1 bottom piece- 21 1/2" x 6"

To make the straps iron in the sides 1/4".

Fold in half and iron again.

Stitch an 1/8" seam down both sides of the straps. Repeat for second strap.

Next put the liner, RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, inside the main fabric tote lining up the side seams.

Once you have your marks on the fabric lift up the main fabric and lay the strap inside as shown below.

Pin the straps in place.

Pin the main fabric to the liner all the way around the top.

Leave a 5" opening between one set of the straps.

Iron down the liner around the top edge of the tote.

Iron down the opening.

Stitch the opening closed with an 1/8" seam and continue all the way around the top of the tote.

If you don't want to add the cinch you can stop here.

To add the cinching continue on...

3" down from the top of the tote and 5" and 7" in, make a mark with a marker. Repeat for the other side on the front of the tote and for the back as well (8 button holes in total).

Refer to your machine's user manual for making button holes. I used the biggest possible button that my machine would take (approximately 1").

Using your seam ripper cut open the button holes.

PLACE A PIN ACROSS THE TOP OF THE BUTTON HOLE TO 

PREVENT RIPPING STRAIGHT THROUGH.

To make the belt iron the sides in 1/2 each & the ends as well.

Fold in half and iron again.

Stitch an 1/8" seam down both sides.

Tie belt into a simple knot.

And there you have it!

Time to grab your flip flops and head for the beach!

Let me know if you have ANY questions!

If you want to purchase this fabric online click the link below to be taken directly to it on www.fabric.com.

Modern Meadow Dogwood Bloom Pond Designed by Joel Dewberry for Free Spirit Fabrics, this fabric features an allover design of large scale dogwood blooms. The color palette includes aqua, lime, black and white. Use for quilting and craft projects.

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Happy Crafting!

If you like this tote you may also like my other bag. Click this link to go to it!