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Make it with Marcus Fabrics
Love and Hope Designer Tote
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Love & Hope Designer Tote
by Laura Farson
Pink Tote Bag - 16" x 15" x 3.5"

Recreate Laura Farson’s beautiful and well-constructed carryall with go-anywhere appeal. Follow her lead with LOVE & HOPE’s pretty florals & coordinates, or incorporate a special message by adding in some of the group’s “pink ribbon” prints.

You’ll Need:
5/8 yard Floral Stripe Fabric
1/3 yard Large Pink Floral
1/3 yard Small flower print
1/3 yard Dark Pink Polka Dot
2/3 yard Narrow Stripe
5/8 yard “Love and Hope” print
1 yard pink double-fold wide bias tape
2/3 yard fusible fleece
3-3/4" x 11-3/4" extra stiff interfacing
7" pink ribbon for zipper pull
18" zipper, pink or white

Note: “WOF” = Width of Fabric

 
Cutting Plan
  • From the Floral Stripe, cut four 4-3/4" x 18" strips
  • From the Large pink floral print, cut two 7-1/2" x 18" strips
  • From the small flower print, cut one 8" x 10" strip - front pocket flap, and two 6-1/2" x 8" strips - small pocket, and one 8" x 12" strip - bottom stiffener
  • From the narrow stripe, cut one 8" x 10" strip, and two 6-1/2" x 8" strips - pocket linings, and two 13" x 18" strips - inside pockets
  • From the dark pink polka dot, cut two 4" wide WOF strips - handles
  • From the Hope and Love print, cut two 18" squares - lining
  • From the fusible fleece, cut two 17" squares (lining), one 3-1/2" x 11-1/2" strip (bottom), and two 5/8" wide WOF strips (handles)
Prepare the handles and pockets and set aside:

Handles: Fold the 4" WOF strips in half lengthwise. Press.

  1. Fold the raw edges in to the fold, press and fold again and press.
  2. Insert a 5/8" strip of fleece between the folds. Sew one line of topstitching in the center for the whole length. Topstitch 23" of the center of the handle (where it will be unattached to the tote bag) along both fold lines, leaving the two ends unsewn. Set aside.
Pockets: Flap Piece of Pocket
  1. Match the right sides of the 8" x 10" stripe piece (lining) and the 8" x 10" small flower print piece. Flap: Measure 4" from one end and mark with pins. To round corners, trace a quarter circle with a round object like a glass. Sew along one side from the pin, round the corner to the other round corner and to the pin. (the remaining 6" will remain unsewn.) Clip perpendicular to the stitching at the starting and ending points. Trim the seam and clip the curves. Set aside.
  2. Turn the flap right side out and press flat. Topstitch along the curved edge.
  3. Small pockets: With right sides together, match the raw edges of a 6" x 8" awning stripe piece (lining) with a 6" x 8" small flower piece. Sew along one long edge. Turn right side out and press. Topstitch along the fold. Repeat for the second pocket. Set aside.
Front
  1. With right sides together, sew one 4-3/4" x 18" floral stripe section to one 7-1/2" x 18" large floral print piece along the long side. Open and press.
  2. Center the pocket flap piece with the lining side facing up along the lower raw edge of the front piece. (Fold each piece in half and finger press to find the center.) Pin in place.
  3. With the floral print facing up, place a small pocket piece directly on top of the pocket flap piece. Pin
  4. Fold the flap over the small pocket and press the flap.
  5. Place one end of a handle strip so that the single fold side is centered over the raw edges of the layered pockets and the end is at the lower edge of the pocket. Being careful not to twist the handle, place the other end over the other side of the layered pockets. Pin (Note: the raw edges of the pocket are under the handle: the fold-over flap is narrower, thus not caught in the stitching.)
  6. Topstitch along both edges of the handle up to 1" from the top edge of the front piece. Back stitch at the corners.
  7. With right sides together, place a 4-3/4" x 18" floral stripe piece at the bottom raw edge of the front, layering it over the handle ends and the lower edges of the pockets. Pin in place and stitch. Press
  8. With right sides together, place the 18" square lining piece on top of the front, matching the top raw edges. (Move the handles out of the way). Pin
  9. Sew the two pieces together, taking care not to catch the handles in the seam.
  10. Turn right sides out, press the seam and topstitch 1/4" from the fold.
  11. With the fusible side toward the front side, insert one 17" square piece of fusible fleece between the front and lining pieces, so that it is centered. Fuse according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Inside pockets
  1. Fold the 13" x 18" awning stripe piece in half lengthwise. (the stripes will be vertical)
  2. Place the raw edges of the inner pocket along the bottom raw edge of the lining. Pin to secure the pocket piece in place.
  3. On the front side of the front piece, topstitch along the outer edge of the handle on both sides of the front side pockets. Extend the line of stitching to the bottom of the front piece so that the inside pocket piece is divided into three sections and the lining is secured. Pin the outer edges of the inner pocket piece.
Back Side:
  1. The back has one small pocket centered between the handle. Repeat the above instructions for the back side, skipping the steps referring to the pocket flap.
  2. Joining the front and back sides
  3. Trim the front and back sides to measure 16" high x 17" wide.
  4. With their right sides out, place the front on top of the back. Match one side seam's raw edges evenly and pin. Sew a 1/4" seam, taking care to catch all the layers in the seam allowance. Press the seam open.
  5. Turn the joined pieces, so the inside is facing out. Fold the back and front together, so the seam allowance is inside the fold. Sew along the fold, so the raw edges of the seam allowance are encased in the second side seam.
  6. Repeat for the second side seam.
  7. Wrap the lower raw edges with the double fold wide bias tape. Sew along the fold, overlapping the ends.
Bottom
  1. Fold the 8" x 12" small flowered rectangle in half lengthwise to measure 4" x 12".
  2. Center the 3-1/2" x 11-1/2" fleece in between the folded fabric. Fuse as instructed.
  3. Sew around the raw edges with a zigzag stitch.
  4. With the tote inside out, mark the center front and back with pins.
  5. Sew the bottom piece just inside the bias tape, matching centers and corners.
  6. Turn the tote right sides out and press the seams open.
  7. Cover the extra stiff interfacing with the 8" x 12" small flower print piece. Sew the raw edges with zigzag stitches. Place into the bottom of the tote for added stability.
  8. Insert the zipper along the top edge of the tote, by placing the right side of the opened zipper at the top left edge of the back side. Sew with a zipper foot, 1/4" from the coil. Pin the other side of the zipper to the front of the tote so that it is aligned with the first side.
  9. Sew 1/4" from the coil. Pull the extra zipper to the inside of the tote.
  10. Insert both ends of the pink ribbon into the larger whole of the zipper pull. Draw the two ends through the loop formed in the ribbon. Snug to secure.

 

 

 
 
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