Sewing a Cloth Tote Bag Using a Pattern Traced With TurtleStitch
Sewing a cloth tote bag is an easy project using a tote pattern traced in TurtleStitch. I have included a pattern file for an 8 x 8 x 4 inch tote in this blog posting so no programming is necessary unless you want to modify the size. Skip to the next section if you do not want to modify the tote pattern size.
How to Make a Tote Pattern in TurtleStitch Using Silhouette Software
To make a tote pattern in TurtleStitch, set the dimensions of the bag and execute my program. https://www.turtlestitch.org/run#cloud:Username=Elaine&ProjectName=Basic%20Tote%20Pattern There are four pattern pieces to make a basic tote bag. Once executed, the file must be brought into the Silhouette software so that the pattern pieces can be cut with the Silhouette Cameo paper cutting machine.
In TurtleStitch, export the design as a DXF file. Open with the Silhouette software. Resize the pattern using the one inch square as reference.
8 x 8 x 4 Tote - File Section
If you do not have a Silhouette or Cricut machine, print the PDF file on any printer and cut the pattern pieces with scissors. (Please note, there is a 1/4 inch seam allowance and the finished tote bag is really 7 1/2 inches square.)
Here is the .Studio file for Silhouette machines.
Here is the SVG for all other paper cutting machines. The file goes beyond the viewable area. Zoom out to see the entire file.
Materials
The fabric required for this project is two fat quarters or 1/2 yard of fabric and a 1/4 yard of Pellon TP971F fusible interfacing. Twenty four inches of 3/8 inch ribbon trim is needed for the handles.
Make the Tote Bag
The pattern pieces are a front and back, two sides and a bottom and two handles.
When cutting out the pattern pieces, the more precisely that you cut the pattern pieces, the easier it is to sew the tote.
. Cut out all of the pattern pieces on your main fabric.
. Cut out all of the pattern pieces, except the handles from the lining fabric.
. Cut out all of the pattern pieces, except the handles from the Pellon interfacing.
. Cut two handles out of the Pellon interfacing by modifying the handle pattern. The handles will be the same length but the width will be only one inch.
.Iron the fusible interfacing to the back of the main fabric - front and back, two sides and the bottom.
(Please note: the interfacing can be ironed onto the lining fabric instead. This is a matter of preference. Actually, I think it is better to iron the interfacing to the back of the lining which I did in subsequent totes.)
Here is a photo of all of the pieces that make up the tote.
The fusible lining was ironed onto the back of the main fabric so it is not visible.
Sew the back piece, side, front piece, and the second side of the main fabric together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Sew another side seam so that a circular tube is formed.
Sew the sides seams for the lining fabric to form a circular tube.
Iron all of the main and lining fabric seams open. Ironing the seams gives the bag a more professional look when completed.
Place four dots at the four corners of the bottom piece.
The dot should be position exactly 1/4 inch from each side of the corner.
Align the bottom piece so that it is centered on the circular tube The dots should match the where the seams meet. Pin the piece into place and bring it to your sewing machine.
Place the sewing machine needle on the dot and sew exactly to the second dot. Leave the needle in the down position on this dot.
Pivot the fabric on the needle at a right angle. Make sure the corner is flat. When you resume sewing the corner seam of the bottom will align exactly with the fabric on the circular tube.
I recommend taking your time with the corners. Make sure the material is not puckered. The material should lie flat. If it does not lie flat, use a pointed object like a pen to push the fabric by the needle (do not remove the needle from the fabric) to lie flat.
Repeat the sewing to the next dot and pivot as before. Continue the process until the bottom is attached.
The bottom on the bag should look like this. Once the bottom is attached, repeat for the main fabric.
Turn the main fabric inside out and iron the top edge down by 1/4 inch.
(Please note: I sewed on a pink ribbon border around the Matisse embroidery because I thought it needed to be framed as an accent.)
Iron the top edge of the lining down by 1/2 inch.
Insert the lining into the main fabric. Set this aside.
Make the handles by folding the top edge down by 1/2 inch and ironing it down.
Insert the fusible lining (fusible side up) into the pocket formed by the fold.
Wrap the bottom half of the fabric around the fusible lining and iron.
Sew two seams on each side of the ribbon to the center of the handle.
Repeat for the second handle.
Align the main fabric and the lining fabric so that the seams are matched. Insert the handle about a 1/2 inch between the main and lining fabric in the front of the tote. The handle should be placed one inch from the side seam on each side. Pin the handle to the top edge of the tote. Align and pin the sides.
Insert the second handle about 1/2 inch between the main and lining fabric in the back of the tote. The handle should be placed one inch from the side seam on each side. Pin the handle to the top edge of the tote.
Sew a 1/8 inch seam around the entire top edge of the tote.
I traced this Matisse drawing in TurtleStitch The tracing of the Matisse can be found here, https://www.turtlestitch.org/run#cloud:Username=Elaine&ProjectName=Henri%20Matisse%2c%20Visages%20III%2c%201946%20Lithograph
Type the letter 's' and hit enter to execute the design, the design can then be exported (from the drop down program file) as an embroidery file (I use 'Export as Tajima/DST' for my Brother PE800 machine). The file is then copied to a USB stick on your computer and then inserted into your embroidery machine for use.
If you would like to trace your own design, check out this blog posting on how to do this in TurtleStitch, https://papercraftetc.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-stem-project-coding-in-turtlestitch.html
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