Quilters Corner | 6101 State Route 88 Ste. 1 Finleyville, PA 15332 | 724-348-8010 | © EH 2024

One of my favorite quick and easy projects is a reusable ​tote bag. This pattern was designed by one of our staff ​members just for you all to celebrate Earth Day. This bag is ​a perfect replacement for single use grocery bags - not to ​mention you can show off your favorite fabrics and inspire ​sustainability everywhere you go!

• Outer Fabric: 7/8 yard of sturdy fabric (such as canvas or linen)
  
• Lining fabric: 5/8 yard of cotton fabric
  
• Matching thread
  
• Scissors or Rotary Cutter, Ruler
  
• Pins
  
• Sewing Machine
  

• Outer fabric: Cut one rectangle measuring ​38” x 18”. You can adjust all measurements ​within this pattern to customize the size of ​your bag! *
  
• Outer fabric: Also cut two strips measuring ​30” x 4” - these will become your straps!
  
• Lining fabric: Cut one rectangle measuring ​38” x 18”.
  

*If using directional fabric, cut two 19 1/4” x 18” ​pieces and stitch them one to the next to make ​the 38” x 18” outer piece.

• Take your large rectangle of outer fabric and fold this piece right sides together to ​create a 18”x19” rectangle. Pin and sew along the sides of your bag (red lines) with a ​¼ inch seam allowance.
  
• Press the seams open.
  

• Repeat the same process as Step 2 with the Lining fabric.
  

• Take the outer shell of your bag and ensure that it is still ​inside out. Fold the bag so one of your side seams lays ​on top of the bottom fold of your bag.
  
• From the corner where your side seam meets the bottom ​fold of the bag, draw a line two inches away from this ​corner.
  
• Pin (you will only need one or two pins) and sew along ​this line.
  
• Trim the excess, approximately a ¼ away from your seam.
  
• Repeat on the other corner.
  
• Take the lining of your bag and repeat these same steps.
  

*This step is optional, however highly recommended as it ​gives your bag more shape!

• With the wrong side of the fabric face up, fold and press the short end of each strap over 1/4” and ​then fold each strap piece in half lengthwise and iron.
  
• Open each strap and fold in each side to meet at the center crease, then iron.
  
• Sew around each of the straps with a ⅛ inch seam allowance (as shown by the red dotted line).
  

• Turn your outer shell so it is right side out. Keep your lining inside out. Place your outer shell inside ​your lining. Pin and sew along the top raw edges with a ½ inch seam allowance, leaving a 6” opening.
  
• Turn the bag right side out through the opening. Push the lining into the bag.
  
• Determine where you want your straps to sit along the top of the bag. Check that both straps would ​be even on either side of the bag. The outer edge of our straps are 4 1/2” from the side seam and the ​bottom of each strap is 1 1/2” from the top of the bag.
  
• Before you sew, check to make sure your straps lay flat and are even with each other! Stitch the ​handles in place by stitching a rectangle of stitching over the strap topstitching (add a stitched X to ​the center of the stitching rectangles, if desired).
  
• Topstitch around the entire bag top - you may want to backstitch over your straps for extra ​durability.
  
• Iron flat and you’re done!
  

Quilters Corner | 6101 State Route 88 Ste. 1 Finleyville, PA 15332 | 724-348-8010 | © EH 2024