Sponsored Project - Savvy Tote from SewingRepublic.com
Savvy Toteby Nicole Smith
Materials- 1 1/3 yard of 45" wide oilcloth, vinyl or heavyweight fabric
- 1 1/3 yard of 45" wide lining fabric
- 1 set of 5 1/2" wide purse handles
- 1 magnetic purse snap
- Two squares of interfacing each 4" x 4"
StepsCuttingUse a 1/2 " seam allowance.1. Cut two 21" x 15" rectangles for the bag front and back, two 15" x 7" rectangles for the bag sides and one 21" x 7" rectangle for the bag bottom from the oilcloth and bag lining.
Sewing2. From the oilcloth pieces, pin one bag side to the bag front with right sides together matching the 15" raw edges. Mark 1/2" from the bottom edge. Sew the side seam from the top to the marking at the bottom, leaving 1/2" unsewn at the bottom.
3. Repeat to sew the second side piece onto the other 15" side of the bag front, leaving 1/2" unsewn at the bottom edge.
4. Pin the oilcloth bag back to the two sides matching the 15" edges. Sew the same way you sewed on the front, leaving 1/2" unsewn at each bottom edge.
5. Pin the oilcloth bag bottom to the assembled bag with right sides together and the raw edges even. Fan out the corners of the bag at each bottom corner as shown.
6. Sew around all of the bottom edges, pivoting at each corner. To pivot, leave your needle down in the fabric when you come to each corner. Lift the presser foot and turn the fabric in the new direction. Lower the presser foot and continue sewing as normal.
7. Fold two pleats on the top edge of the back of the, and two on the front. The bag shown has two pleats that are spaced 8" apart and 2" deep. Pin the pleats and baste them in place on the sewing machine 1/4" from the raw edge.
8. Bag Lining
Follow all of the same steps above to construct the bag lining, but be sure to leave an 8" opening along one of the side seams for turning the bag right-side-out.
9. Fuse a strip of interfacing to the wrong side of the bag lining front and back, centered along the top edge. Mark snap placements on the bag lining and install following the snap’s instructions. Place each snap centered about 1" below the top raw edge.
10. Cut four 4" x 1/2" rectangles from the oil cloth for the handle straps. Pin two together with wrong sides facing and sew along the two short edges with a 1/4" seam allowance.
11. Lace one strap through a purse handle, matching the 4 1/2" edges. Center it along the top edge of the bag front matching raw edges. Baste in place with a 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat for the bag back.
12. Turn the lining inside out, and place the oilcloth bag right-side-out inside the lining so that right sides are facing together.
13. Carefully line up the top edges, pin in place, and stitch all the way around the edge with a 1/2" seam.
14. Through the 8" opening left in the lining, turn the bag right-side-out. Slipstitch the opening closed after turning.
15. Finger press the edge of the top seam over, and hold in place with clips (binder clips work great and won’t leave holes in the oilcloth like pins will), edgestitch all along the top edge.
TIPS FOR WORKING WITH VINYL:- Lengthen your stitch to a little longer than normal. A normal stitch can sometimes create a perforated edge in vinyl.
- Try leather or denim needle. They’re stronger and can handle the vinyl better.
- Load your machine with a Teflon or roller foot. If you don’t have one, try placing a piece of tissue paper over the sticky side of your vinyl if it comes in contact with your presser foot. Try putting a piece of masking tape on the bottom of your regular presser foot and it will glide over the oilcloth with ease.
