SEW with LISA

Make this handy tote bag with Lisa Comfort

YOU WILL NEED

✽ 50cm of fabric ✽ Fabric pen or pencil ✽ Ruler ✽ Scissors ✽ Iron ✽ Pins ✽ Sewing machine For a tote bag pattern and kit, try sewoverit.com

STEP-BY-STEP

❶ Draw out the main body of the bag onto the fabric using a ruler. Your tote bag can be as big as you want! Mine measured approximately 30cm x 40cm. Cut two pieces this size. Then cut two strips for handles – these need to be

10cm wide and then as long as you want your straps to be, plus 2cm seam allowance.

❷ Take the two straps and press them lengthways, wrong sides together. Then open them out and fold the raw edges into the central crease you have just pressed.

Press in place. Fold one last time, aligning folded edge to edge. Edgestitch in place.

❸ Take the two main bag pieces and place right sides together.

Pin 3 edges together, leaving one edge unpinned, which will be the top of the bag.

❹ Stitch in place with 1cm seam allowance, pivoting at the corners.

❺ Finish the seam allowances with a zig zag or pinking shears to stop them from fraying.

❻ Fold over the top edge by 2cm and a further 2cm and press in place.

❼ Measure in approximately 7cm from each side of the bag and mark with a pin (if your bag is much bigger than mine, then this might need to be more than 7cm). Tuck the straps up into the hem of the bag and line them up with the pins. Pin in place. The loop of the strap will be facing down into the bag.

❽ Edgestitch all the way round the top hem, lining up with the inside fold, catching the straps as you go.

❾ Fold the straps upwards so the loop now sits above the bag. Pin in place. Edgestitch a further time around the bag, this time lining up with the top folded edge of the bag and catching the straps in again.