This is a really fun and easy sewing project.
It's perfect for beginners or anyone who is keen to sew a quick gift.
Marimekko is well known for its fun and bold prints and Maaidesign has been proudly stocking them for a number of years now.
Their cottons are slightly heavier so perfect for tote bags and lots of craft projects.
I always wondered if I could sew a tote with 50cm of fabric and not waste anything, and it was quite easy to work out.
Here's how to make one yourself:
1. Cut your fabrics
The Marimekko fabric is 146cm wide, so I started with a piece of 50cm tall by 146cm wide.
With the fabric lying in "landscape", cut at the following widths:
- One big piece that will form the front and back of the tote, 96 cm wide or 48 on the fold.
- Three strips of 10cm wide to make the shoulder straps. I cut 2 strap pieces from either side of the selvedge as the edges will be hidden in the straps while still keeping the text as a fun feature.
The remaining piece will be used for the pouch.
2. Sew the straps
Align the short ends together, I used a 1cm seam allowance. But the seam allowances here are flexible, it will only make things slightly shorter or longer really.
Once you have all 3 strap pieces sewn together, press the seams open.
Then fold the long edges in. I eyeballed this, and you can use the selfedge to guide yourself here. The exact dimensions don't matter as much; the more you fold in, the narrower your final straps will be.
Close the long edges and stitch along either side of the strap a few millimetres from the edge to finalise the straps.
Then cut the strap in half. You now have 2 handles you can attach to the bag
3. Attach the straps to the bag
Fold one short end of the bag piece in by 1cm, and then fold again by 2.5m to enclose it. Then pin the ends to the straps to the bag, by sliding the ends of the straps as far into this fold as possible. Mark the middle of the bag for reference and pin them 15cm apart (measured on the inside between the straps).
Sew a few milimetres in from the folded edge to sew straps in place and to close the folded edge.
If you want, you can add a sew-in label at this stage too.
4. Sew the bag
I'm using French seams here for a neat finish. Simply fold the 96cm piece in half along the long edge, with the right sides out. Sew with a small seam allowance (width of your sewing foot or less).
Then turn it wrong side out and sew again, now with a bigger seam allowance (e.g. half an inch). This will enclose the seam allowance and give you a neat finish.
5. Sew the corners (optional)
This step is not required, but it is a nice detail that gives the bag a more voluminous look.
Turn the bag wrong side out, and find the 2 bottom corners. Hold and flatten them in such a way that the side seam lies flat against the bottom fold of the bag. Put a pin through to keep it in place, and to check that the pin is going through the fold (you will probably see a line there from ironing) on the other side for precision.
Draw a line 5cm from the point in, and sew.
6. Sew along the top edge to keep straps in place
Sew along the top edge after pinning the straps up This keeps the straps up and adds extra reinforcement.
7. Sew the pouch
Fold the short edges in twice and sew in place. Then we'll use french seams again to create the pouch. Fold right sides out, but fold one edge in for about 19cm, so not in half.
Then fold the top part down over, so the edge is nicely tucked into the fold.
Sew the side seams with a small seam allowance. Turn wrong side out, and sew again with a bigger seam allowance.
Turn the pouch right side out and you're done!
Now fold the tote and put it in the pouch.
