How to Make a Summer Tote?

How to Make a Summer Tote?

Summer is the perfect time to carry around a fun, stylish tote bag. A summer tote is the ideal accessory for trips to the beach, the farmer’s market, the park, or anywhere else you need to haul a few essentials. Plus, a handmade tote bag makes a great personal gift for friends and family.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the steps to make your own custom summer tote bag. This project is perfect for beginner and intermediate sewers, as the construction is fairly simple. With just a few materials and a couple of hours of your time, you can create a lovely summer tote that you’ll use for years to come.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 yard of cotton or linen fabric (or 2 coordinating fat quarters)
• 1 yard of cotton webbing or ribbon for the handles
• Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies (scissors, pins, thread, etc.)
• Iron and ironing board
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Fabric marker or chalk

Let’s get started!

How to Make a Summer Tote:The Ultimate Guide: – 1

1.Firstly,Choose Your Fabric

The first step is to select the fabric for your summer tote. Cotton and linen are both excellent choices, as they are lightweight, durable, and breathable – perfect for warm weather. You can go with a solid color, a fun print, or even use two coordinating fabrics for the exterior and lining.

If you want to use two fabrics, plan to use one for the exterior of the tote and the other for the lining. Fat quarters, which measure approximately 18″ x 22″, work great for this project. You’ll need one fat quarter for the exterior and another for the lining.

Alternatively, you can use 1 yard of a single fabric for both the exterior and lining. This will give you a little more flexibility in terms of the size of your tote.

2.Secondly,Cut the Fabric

Next, it’s time to cut the fabric pieces. If you’re using a single 1-yard piece of fabric, follow these measurements:

Exterior:

• Cut 2 pieces that are 15″ wide x 15″ tall (this will be the front and back of the tote)
• Cut 2 pieces that are 5″ wide x 15″ tall (these will be the side panels)

Lining:

• Cut 2 pieces that are 15″ wide x 15″ tall
• Cut 2 pieces that are 5″ wide x 15″ tall

If you’re using fat quarters, simply cut the pieces to the same measurements listed above.

How to Make a Summer Tote:The Ultimate Guide: – 2

3.Thirdly,Handle Straps:

For the handles, you’ll need 2 pieces of webbing or ribbon that are each 22-24 inches long. Adjust the length based on how long you want your handles to be.

Once you have all your fabric pieces cut, give them a good press with an iron to ensure they’re nice and flat.

Construct the Exterior
Now it’s time to start sewing! Let’s begin with the exterior of the tote.

• First: take the two 15″ x 15″ exterior pieces and place them right sides together. Pin the sides and bottom edges, leaving the top open. Sew along the pinned edges using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
• Next:take the two 5″ x 15″ side panel pieces and fold each one in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press with an iron to create a crease down the center.

Open up the side panel pieces and place one on each side of the tote exterior, aligning the raw edges. Pin in place, then sew along the sides and bottom using a 1/2″ seam allowance to attach the side panels.

Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your seams to reinforce them.

How to Make a Summer Tote:The Ultimate Guide: – 3

4.Furthermore,Construct the Lining

Now it’s time to assemble the lining in the same way as the exterior.

Take the two 15″ x 15″ lining pieces and pin the sides and bottom edges together, leaving the top open. Sew using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Attach the 5″ x 15″ side panel pieces to the lining in the same manner as you did for the exterior.

At this point, you should have both the exterior tote and the lining completed.

Add the Handles
To attach the handles, first fold each 22-24″ strap in half to find the center. Place the folded center of each strap about 3 inches in from the side seams on the exterior of the tote. Pin the straps in place.

Sew the handles to the exterior, stitching back and forth several times to reinforce them. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.

How to Make a Summer Tote:The Ultimate Guide: – 4

5.Moreover,Assemble the Tote

Now it’s time to put the tote and lining together. With the lining piece turned inside out and the exterior piece right side out, slip the lining into the exterior so that the right sides are facing each other.

Align the top raw edges and pin all the way around. Sew using a 1/2″ seam allowance, being careful not to twist or distort the fabric as you sew.

Once the top is sewn, reach into the tote through the opening in the lining and turn the whole piece right side out. Use a chopstick or other blunt tool to gently push out the corners.

6.Finally,Finish the Tote

The final step is to topstitch around the top edge of the tote. This will help the tote hold its shape and also finish the raw edge nicely.

Start sewing about 1/4 inch from the top edge, going all the way around. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.

If desired, you can also add a strip of interfacing to the interior top edge to provide a bit more structure. Just cut a 2″ wide strip the same length as the top opening and sew it to the wrong side of the lining before turning the tote right side out.

And that’s it! Your custom summer tote is complete. Add any final touches, like a fun luggage tag or a monogram, then fill it up and enjoy.

Tips and Variations:

• Use different types of fabric for a unique look. Try denim, canvas, or even oilcloth.
• Embellish the tote with appliques, embroidery, or fabric paint for a personalized touch.
• Make the tote reversible by using coordinating fabrics for the exterior and lining.
• Adjust the size by using different measurements for the exterior and lining pieces.
• Add a zippered pocket to the interior for extra storage and organization.
• Use cotton webbing, leather, or fabric strips for the handles instead of ribbon.

Final Thoughts:

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to create your own beautiful summer tote bag. With just a few simple sewing skills, you can whip up a custom accessory that’s perfect for all your warm weather adventures. Happy sewing!