Hey everyone. Today you are going to learn how to sew a sweet everyday tote bag in a soft gray baby print.
Here we go. One yard. Straight seams. No zippers. Just a useful bag you will actually carry.
The fabric is Baby's Adventure - Word Toss - Gray, from Wilmington Prints. It is part of the Baby's Adventure collection.
That collection has playful animals, soft pastels, and whimsical travel themes.
This print is the Word Toss. It features sweet tossed words on a soft gray ground. The listing says it captures the wonder and joy of a little one's first journey into the world. I think that says it just right.
It is 100% cotton. It is 44 inches wide. And it is sold by the yard.
That gray ground matters here. It is calm. It is forgiving. And it lets those sweet words show up without shouting.
Why this fabric suits a tote bag
A tote needs fabric that behaves. This cotton presses flat. It cuts clean. And it sews without fighting you.
The tossed words help, too. A toss has no up or down. So you do not have to fuss over direction. Cut your pieces. Turn one around. It still looks right. Completely up to you.
The soft gray also hides a little life. A tote goes everywhere. Gray handles that with grace.
On a bag front, those words get room to breathe. Super duper cute, and grown-up enough to carry anywhere.
Materials list
You will need:
- 1 yard of Baby's Adventure - Word Toss - Gray for the outside
- 3/4 yard of a coordinating cotton for the lining
- 1 yard of medium-weight fusible interfacing
- 1 1/4 yards of 1-inch cotton webbing for handles, or extra fabric to make your own
- Matching thread, 50-weight cotton is a good choice
- A size 80/12 universal needle
Your finished bag will be about 14 inches wide, 15 inches tall, and 4 inches deep. That fits books, a small quilt project, or a few groceries.
Brief steps
First, press your fabric. Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of both outside pieces. A good fuse now saves puckers later.
Second, cut your pieces. Cut two outside pieces at 16 by 17 inches. Cut two lining pieces the same size. If you are making fabric handles, cut two strips 4 by 22 inches.
Third, make the handles. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Press. Fold the raw edges in to the center. Press again. Then topstitch both edges at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Slow down a touch here. Thick layers can push back.
Fourth, pin a handle to each outside piece. Place the ends 4 inches in from each side edge. The loop should hang down toward the center. Baste the ends at a scant 1/4 inch.
Fifth, sew the bag body. Pin the outside pieces right sides together. Sew the sides and bottom with a 1/2-inch seam. Leave the top open. Do the same for the lining, but leave a 4-inch gap in one side seam. You will need that gap for turning.
Sixth, box the corners. Flatten one bottom corner into a triangle. Measure 2 inches in from the point. Draw a line. Sew across it. Trim the little triangle off, leaving 1/4 inch. Repeat on all four corners, outside and lining.
Seventh, turn and finish. Slip the lining inside the outside bag, right sides together. Sew around the top at 1/2 inch. Turn right side out through the lining gap. Stitch the gap closed. Push the lining inside. Topstitch around the top, about 1/4 inch down. Just like that, you are done.
Practical tips
Go easy on yourself if a word gets cut in half. It will. That is the nature of a toss print. It still reads sweet. Nobody is grading you on word placement.
Watch your needle on the handle ends. That stack gets thick fast. Slow down or the needle snaps. I have learned that one the honest way. Walk it through if you need to.
Here is your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. A slightly wobbly topstitch does not make a bag carry any less. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Baby's Adventure - Word Toss - Gray 44" / 45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
