Today we are going to make a simple Library Tote. This has been designed to assist in the Gayndah Appeal where it is hoped to equip the children of Gayndah with their school needs following the terrible floods in QLD.
What you need:
1/2 metre of drill, heavy weight calico or other similar weight fabric
Let’s Sew!
The Bag
Take a selvedge and fold your fabric across 15″ so the selvedges are parallel. Smooth it out with your hand.
Straighten the edges
Cut a 15″ square (leaving it folded) – this is the bag
With the strip that you cut off – cut a strip 4″ wide (still folded) – this is the strap
Take the remaining piece and fold it so the pattern in my case, the elephants, run the length of the piece and cut a rectangle 13″ x 5″ (see at bottom of next photo) – this is the flap
You now have this:
A rectangle 15″ x 30″ folded to a square 15″ x 15″ – the bag
A rectangle 4″ x 30″ folded to a rectangle 4″ x 15″ – the strap
A rectangle 10″ x 13″ folded to a rectangle 5″ x 13″ – the flap
Here you see the side seam on the right and it rolls up to the left ready to sew along the bottom seam.
Now fold the top of the bag over a 1/4″ and press and then another 3/4″ and press – stitch close to the edge (I used my stitch in the ditch foot)
Take the strap piece and with right sides together, sew across one short end and down the length of the strip and across the other short end leaving a space for turning. TIP: I like to sew out from each corner and leave the opening in the middle – that way you get nice corners! Clip the corners and turn it through – it is easy to turn with anything like a pencil or I used a crochet hook because it is so wide!
Sew close to the edge all the way around – this will secure the opening. Then sew lines down the length of the strap – I halved and halved – doesn’t need to be exact!
The Flap
Take the flap piece and with wrong sides together do the same thing – sew, clip corners, turn, roll, press and stitch close to the edge.
Make sure you have the flap facing the right way if you have a picture (see elephants)
Find the centre of the flap and the centre of the bag back and pin so it just covers the line of stitching along the back of the bag. Sew close to the edge along the bag, turn and sew up to the top of the bag, turn and sew along the top of the bag ( I ran my fingernail along the edge to give me a line) and then back down the other side to finish.
This is the inside
and the outside
Take the strap and place it, centred over the side seam and side crease, ( make sure it isn’t twisted) and down about 2 x the width of the hem at the top of the bag. Sew around the edge till you do the square then the diagonal, back across the bottom and back up the other diagonal.
Press the flap to the front and there you have it – one quirky little library tote! Well done!
Let’s See how many we can make for the appeal!! I know the children will appreciate our efforts!
Until next time
Nanny xx
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