| These are last minute projects. It will take you only a couple of hours
to sew, embroider and embellish the tote bags. To make the process even
faster, you can use ready bags, but you'll have to rip one of the side
seams for embroidery and sew it closed later.
The totes are great for gifts as they are, or you can use them to hold
other gifts. |
|
| To make a tote, you'll need canvas or denim fabric. You'll also can
use any small embelishments you have - buttons, beads, trims, crystals,
etc. |
| The finished size of the white Christmas tote is 10" x 13". You willl
need about 1/2 yard of canvas. |
|
| Out of canvas, cut a strip measuring 11" x 30" and 2 strips
measuring 3" x 20" (for the handles. |
| Fold the 11" x 30" widthwise in half and slightly press to mark the
bottom line. |
|
| Fold the short edges of the tote 1" back and press. Fold back another
1" and press again. |
|
| Unfold. Stabilize with a tear-away stabilizer and make the embroidery
on the upper half of the tote.
We embroidered the Holy
Wreath and the initial of our giftee inside the wreath.
After the embroidery is finished, set the tote aside for. |
| To make the handles, take the 3" x 20" strips. Fold back 1/2" of the
long edge and press. Repeat with the other long edge.
Now fold the strip in half lengthwise and press. Topstitch about 1/8"
from the edges (marked in red). |
|
| Fold the tote in half, face inwards and stitch the side seams (marked
in red). Finish them with zig-zag. |
|
| Fold the upper edges back along the pressed lines that you made several
steps ago. Press again.
Tuck the handles under the folded edges. Topstitch to secure the edge
and the handles. |
|
| Turn the handles out and topstitch along the upper edge of the tote
to secure the handles on this edge. |
| Stitch box corners at the bottom of the bag. For this, separate the
front and back sides at the corners. Center the side seam with the central
(creased) line of the bottom. Measure 2 1/2" along the seam from the corner
and machine-stitch perpendicular to the seam across the corner. Do not
trim the seam. Fold it onto the bottom and attach with several manual stitches.
Repeat for the second corner. |
| Turn the tote right side out. We further embellished the tote with
a beaded trim, which we topstitched 1" from the upper edge. |
|
The denim tote is smaller, it's 10" x 10". It's sewn in the same way
as the canvas tote.
It features a design from the Santa
Silhouette Set.
We further embellished the tote with snowflake buttons and fur yarn
which we attached 1" from the upper edge of the tote. |
|
| We hope that you liked our idea and will come up with many of your
own! |
|
Happy Embroidering!
|
|
Back to the Projects Page
|
