A while back I was reading a blog post that caught my attention. Mostly because of the faux-Burberry fabric used (I had some and had been searching for more). Once I looked closely at the project, I realized it wasn’t one of those cutesy totes one can find all over blogland. This was a grown-up tote, made with silk no less! Imagine being able to keep a full-sized tote neatly stored in your purse or backpack in case of a shopping emergency! Not to mention the number of paper and/or plastic bags that you can leave right at the store for someone else to recycle!
Here’s a link to the post that inspired me. I’d like to thank Lindsay T for granting me permission to share my version of her project with you.
Here’s my finished project.
Not another tote, you say? You already have a million of ‘em taking up space in your closet? Well, that’s the beauty of this tote. It takes up so little space you hardly know it’s there. Here it is in its’ natural habitat.
Now if you don’t agree that this just may be the coolest tote EVER, stop reading RIGHT NOW. I’ll save my tutorial for someone who appreciates a potent totable!
…..Just kidding……
If you’re still with me, your patience will be rewarded with a project that will be the hit of your next day of shopping with the girls. They’ll be “oohing” and “aahing” and commending you for your cleverness and creativity. {You’re such a show off!}
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
1. A silk or polyester taffeta in two coordinating colors/prints. It’s really important to use a very lightweight fabric for the tote so that it rolls up properly and taffeta has just the right amount of body for this project.
My taffeta stash. Can you tell the Calico Corners outlet store used to be 15 minutes away?
1/2 yard (outer fabric): Cut one 39″ wide x 15″ tall rectangle {TOTE} and one 6″ wide x 12″ tall rectangle {INNER POCKET}
1/2 yard (lining fabric): Cut one 39″ wide x 15″ tall rectangle {TOTE LINING}, two 7″ wide x 13″ tall rectangles (OUTER POCKETS}, and one 10″ x 10″ square {CARRYING BAG}.
2. Nylon webbing. I like really long straps that will fit comfortably over a winter coat, so I used two 32″ long pieces. If you prefer shorter straps, make them the length most comfortable for you.
3. Some sort of cording, ribbon or tie that you can use to cinch the carrying bag. I used some gold cord, the stretchy kind that is used for decoration on a giftbox. Use whatever you have on hand but if you use a wider cording you’ll need to adjust for that when making the bag casing.
ALL SEAMS ARE 1/2″
Starting with the pockets, fold in half right sides together and stitch three sides leaving a small opening to turn. Because silk tends to ravel, this ensures you don’t have any raw edges inside the pockets.
Clip the corners, turn the pockets right sides out and press ensuring the area left unstitched for turning is evenly enclosed.
Fold {TOTE} rectangle in half right sides together {RST} to measure 19.5″ wide by 15″ tall. Stitch side seam only. Mark the side opposite the seam side with pins at 19 1/2″ so you can properly center the pocket on the unseamed side of the tote.
Turn right side out and press seam flat placing iron inside.
Center finished {OUTER POCKET} over stitched side seam with the folded over edge on top and up 5″ from the bottom raw edge. Pin. Stitch pocket to tote approximately 1/8″ from the edges leaving top open. Repeat the process adding the second {OUTER POCKET} centering over the marked center point.
Stitch the side seam on the {TOTE LINING} the same as for the {TOTE} above. Center the interior pocket on one layer of the {TOTE LINING} down 3″ from the top raw edge (the center point is at 9 1/2″). On the inner pocket, I did a little personalization with my monogram. Stitch as above close to edge of pocket leaving the upper edge unsewn.
Seam both {TOTE} and {TOTE LINING} bottoms. Measure 1 3/4″ on each corner for both pieces and mark a stitching line to make a boxed corner. Stitch.
Clip excess fabric.
Place the {TOTE} inside {TOTE LINING} RST matching side seams.
Place handles between two layers 5″ from outer edges and pin in place. Stitch around top edge leaving 4″ unsewn for turning. Turn right side out and press top edge . Top stitch upper edge about 1/2″ from to top of the tote. That’s it for the tote!
To make the carrying case, serge all unfinished edges on the 10″ x 10″ square. Fold in half and pin at 1 1/4″ down from the top and at 1 3/4″ from the top (to leave room to put the cording through).
Sew side seam starting and stopping at the pins near the top. Stitch bottom seam. Press 1″ around the top edge to make the casing. Stitch close to edge. Insert cording and you’re done!
Thanks, Lindsay T, for the inspiration!
Oh two things. First, this tote won’t be something you can just throw into the washer so I don’t recommend using it for food or things that might leak or stain. And second, I’ve said this before…I absolutely love my worktable and use it all the time. Please ignore the icky ironing stains…
I would so very much love to share what I’ve been up to with you, but, here’s the thing. Since the gifts haven’t made their way to the recipients, and some of those recipients may or may not read my blog, I can’t share the finished product with you…not yet anyway.
