Hello everyone!
I don't think this idea is anything particularly groundbreaking but I thought I'd share it just in case anyone found it useful!
It has been raining a lot this week and I was having a conversation with a colleague about how she loves using tote bags but all her stuff ends up soaking wet when it rains. So today I went to Poundland on my lunch hour (it's the British version of the Dollar store) and I was looking for some stuff to make some baby goodies, but instead I came across this really cute vinyl shower curtain!
I decided it would make a super cute, and most importantly rainproof, tote bag so I came home after work and got to work!
First I cut two pieces of the curtain - Mine were approximately 12 x 14 inches (I just eyeballed it) but any reasonable size should do.
Then I cut matching pieces from some cheap scrap fabric I had laying around; However, I cut this so that the length was about 4 inches longer than the vinyl (so 12 x 18 inches). I also made two straps using cut outs measuring 16 x 3 inches. I folded them in half and ironed, then opened the fold back up and folded each side in so the edges touched the middle, ironed again, then folded in half (on itself) and ironed again. Then sewed up the open edge to finish.
Now, you can probably skip this bit, but because I got a super cheap shower curtain from the pound store, it was very thin and seemed to stretch a lot and I was concerned that this would cause it to rip so I McGyvered it with some packing tape to reinforce it. When it was completely covered I just trimmed the excess. Do this to the wrong side of both pieces of vinyl.
Then place the two pieces of vinyl right sides together and sew around the sides and bottom, leaving the top open. Then turn inside out (so that the right side is now out).
Sew your lining fabric up in the same way. Now fold the top of your lining down approximately two inches and top stitch around the bottom of the fold.
Stick the lining inside of the vinyl bag and it should look like this
Fold the top of the lining down one more time, approximately another two inches, over the top of the vinyl bag.
Then place your handles where you want them to go and pin in place.
Take the lining out again and secure the handles in place.
Place the lining back in the bag. Adjust it to fit properly and smooth out the vinyl as much as you can. Pin the lining in place.
Top stitch around the top and the bottom of the lining roll to secure.
And voila... a super cute and rainproof tote bag
