Seven Simple Steps to a Beautiful Tote Bag!

Tote bags in a jiffy!

A few months ago I was in the paint department at Lowe's picking out paint for the kitchen table when I noticed the canvas drop clothes for $4.98.

Canvas Drop Cloth from Lowe's Home Center

I immediately thought, "Canvas; that'll make some nice tote bags."    To make it even sweeter, I could get 2 tote bags from one 4ft. x 5ft. drop cloth and at $4.98 ...that's a steal!   Since I had an idea of what I wanted to make the only thing left to do was find a tutorial or a pattern.

I found some great tutorials and even bought a pattern, but it just wasn't what I wanted.  Don't you just hate it when you know exactly what you want but you just can't seem to find it?   I wanted something really simple, not a lot of details because we wanted to decorate our bags with stencils.  It took a while but I finally found exactly what I wanted, an Easy 5 Step Market Tote Bag Tutorial .  When I tell you it's easy, it's easy!!
Pillow cases were used in the tutorial but I wanted canvas bags so I used a drop cloth.  Great idea for re-purposing old pillow cases!   

You know me, I had to make a few adjustments but even with my adjustments it's still pretty quick and easy.  I could've finished all 4 bags in a day but I allowed 24 hours for the paint to dry from the stencils.

 Supplies:  

1 4ft. x 5ft. canvas drop cloth
1 standard size pillow case
1 yard of fabric for the lining(optional)
stencils (optional)
paint (optional)


Step 1.


Using a standard size pillow case placed on top the drop cloth as a guide, cut out your bag.  The measurements are 19 x31.

Step 2 and 3. 

With the remaining fabric, cut out 4, 4inch x 22inch pieces.  Stitch each piece together at ends and secure each end with a finishing stitch to avoid fraying.  With right sides together stitch fabric together to make the strap.  Finish edges to avoid fraying and turn right side out.  Stitch loose ends together and finish edge with a finishing stitch to avoid fraying.  Note: Finished end will not be visible once the strap is attached.

Step 4.

Ashley used a Martha Stewart stencil set on her bag and an alphabet stencil set I picked up a few months ago on sale at Wal-mart.  We found a bargain on Scribbles iridescent paint, .99¢ on sale at Joann's Fabric.   I love, love, love how Ashley combined two of the colors to create the effect on the leaves.  Her creative juices are really starting to flow!

Note:  Allow 24 hours for paint to dry and heat set before proceeding.

Step 5.

With wrong sides together, use the piece you cut out for the bag and cut out the lining leaving a 2inch allowance on the top and bottom.  Fold lining down 1 inch and iron in place. Fold the remaining 1 inch over the top of the bag and iron in place. Top stitch lining to the top and bottom edge of fabric.
Note: You can also use bias tape.

Bianca's bag

Step 6 & 7.

For the pocket I cut a 8inch x 8inch piece out of the remaining canvas, ironed a 1inch seam around all four sides, top stitched my sides before attaching it to the front of the lining.  Using a top stitch sew pocket in place.   Position strap by pining in place. Top stitch strap to bag and handles. Once the strap is attached to the bag, with right sides together pin bag together at sides and stitch.  Secure sides with a finishing stitch to avoid fraying.  















  

'C' is Cuteeee!!  

Actually, 'C' is for Chelsea.  That girl's got some mad skills!  I love how she blended her colors also!


Three days, 4 bags, 7 steps and lots of fun!    Pretty simple huh?

Go for it!

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