Grab & Go Cinched Rope Bag {Tutorial}

Feeling inspired by all of the stripes I've been seeing in the store's Spring clothing and accessories lines, I decided to finally do something with this cute stripe I had lying around.

The following is a tutorial on how you can make this bag with pockets included inside.

Here's what you'll need:

2 yards of fabric (I chose to use one fabric for the whole thing)

48" of rope

Curtain Grommet Kit (8 pack 1" wide)

Disappearing fabric marker

Sewing machine

Fabric scissors

Yard stick/ruler

Start out by cutting the following out of your fabric:

4 pieces for the body (21"x14 1/2")

2 pieces for the straps (13"x4 1/2)

1 piece for the inner pockets (21"x13 1/2")

2 pieces for the bottom (13 1/4x10")

Take the 2 pieces for the straps and iron in the sides 1/2" then fold in half and iron again.

Stitch an 1/8" seam down both edges of the straps.

Taking the piece for the pockets, fold it in half matching the raw edges and iron (make sure you folded it correctly, it should still be 21" long).

Taking one of the pieces for the body and the piece for the pockets, place the folded pocket piece and place in on top of the body piece as shown above. Pin it around all the edges and along the top of the pockets. Stitch desired pocket sizes by sewing down the folded fabric.

Sewing the pockets

It should look like this when your done. Set this aside.

To make the bottom take a bottom piece and fold it in fourths. Use a CD to mark the round edge and cut along the line.

Open up the piece, it should look like this.

To make the liner place the pocket side up and another body piece on top (right sides together). Pin along the sides of the bag and stitch a 1/4" seam along both sides.

Now you will add the bottom. Lay liner body on the table with the right sides still inside. Starting with seam in the middle pin the bottom in place around all edges.

 Stitch a 1/4" seam around all edges.

Repeat same steps (minus the pockets) for creating the outside of the bag.

The outside bag shown is the one with the pockets, the pockets are on the inside. Put the other bag inside of the bag RIGHT SIDES together.

Before pinning the bag in place you'll need to get the straps in place.

Lifting up the top piece of fabric pin the strap in place as shown. I put the straps 7 3/4" from the outer edges. Only pin through the top fabric, the strap, and the one fabric directly below the strap. 

Turn the bag over and repeat with the second strap.

Pin all around the raw edges and stitch a 1/4" seam around the top leaving about a 5" opening. This opening is so that you can pull the bag through.

This is the bag pulled out.

Stuff the pocket side inside the other side.

Iron down the top edge of the bag.

Stitch an 1/8" seam all the way around the top of the bag.

If you don't want to add the grommets you can stop here and enjoy your little tote.

To add the grommets keep going!

Grommet Kit

Following the instructions on the grommet kit mark out where you want your holes to be.

Cut out the hole.

Place the bottom piece in the hole.

Snap on the top piece.

Complete for all 8 holes.

Weave the rope through the holes, tie in a knot, and tie off the bottom of each rope end.

And there you have it!

  

Please don't hesitate to ask questions!

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Happy Crafting!