Carry your belongings in style with a gorgeous fall fashion tote. Faux leather, faux suede, and other luxurious fabrics give this tote bag a high-end style, while embroidery adds personality and style.
Supplies
Project Needs & Notes
- 1/4 yard print fabric (I used print cotton fabric)
- 1/3 yard faux suede
- 1 yard faux leather or vinyl fabric (I used leather-look vinyl)
- 1 yard ultra suede or wool felt
- 1/3 yard sturdy cotton fabric like denim, twill, or lightweight canvas (I used print lightweight canvas)
- 3/4 yard fusible lightweight interfacing (I used Pellon Craft-Fuse)
- Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- Air-erase pen for marking
- Craft knife
- Rivets, rivet tool, and small hammer
For this project I used the Watercolor Chrysanthemum and Sunflower Trio design and the Watercolor Fall Leaves Spray design. Find more fall designs in the Seasons department.
Finished size: 7 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" high x 4" deep
Designs Used
Start by preparing the fabric for one of the embroidered middle sections of the outer shell.
Use an air-erase pen to draw a 13" x 7 1/2" rectangle on the faux suede. Measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks.
Create a paper template of the design by printing it with embroidery software. If you don't have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is a free program that can print templates.
Place the template inside the shape and align the center point of the template with the center point on the faux suede. Make sure the design fits well within the shape -- there should be at least 1 1/2" of space in between the outer edges of the design and the edges of the shape.
Remove the template and spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly aligned with the center point on the fabric and embroider the design.
When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.
Cut out the shape.
To prepare the top fabric, cut a piece of print cotton fabric to 13" x 5 1/2". Lay the embroidered faux suede right side up and align the cotton fabric on top (right sides together). The bottom edge of the cotton fabric should be aligned with the top edge of the faux suede. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edge only.
To prepare the bottom piece, cut a piece of faux leather or vinyl to 13" x 7 1/2". Align the vinyl on top of the embroidered faux suede, right sides together, with the top edge of the vinyl aligned with the bottom edge of the faux suede. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edge only.
Press the seams with an iron set on a low setting and with a pressing cloth on top of the fabric to prevent melting or scorching.
Top stitch a 1/8" seam along the seams.
Lay the assembled side panel on top of the fusible interfacing with the wrong side of the fabric facing the fusible side of the interfacing. Press both sides of the fabric using a pressing cloth -- follow the instructions on the interfacing packaging. Then, trim the interfacing following the outer edge of the fabric.
Create a second side panel just as you did the first. Then align the panels, right sides together, with the seams aligned. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the side and bottom edges only -- leave the top edge open for turning.
To square off the bottom edge of the outer shell, align the side and bottom seams together, pin in place, and measure and mark 2 1/4" in from the outer point of the corner. Draw a line at this mark that is perpendicular to the seam.
Sew a seam along the line and trim the fabric leaving 1/2" excess. Turn the outer shell right side out.
To create the inner lining of the bag, cut two pieces of sturdy cotton fabric (I used print lightweight cotton) to 13" x 19". Align the pieces, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the side and bottom edges only. Square off the bottom corners just as you did for the outer shell.
Insert the outer shell into the inner lining, right sides together, align the seams and top raw edges together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge leaving about 5" open along one side.
Turn the bag right side out and insert the inner lining inside the outer shell. Turn the fabric of the opening in 1/2" and press. Top stitch a 1/8" seam along the entire top edge of the bag.
To prepare the shoulder straps, cut two pieces of the faux leather or vinyl to 36" x 1". Spray the wrong sides of the pieces with temporary adhesive and smooth them on top of the ultra suede or wool felt for the inner lining of the straps (I used ultra suede). Cut around the shapes of the vinyl.
Sew a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edges of the straps. Sew with the inner lining facing up (the vinyl tends to stick on the sewing foot if it is facing up).
Spray the ends of the straps with temporary adhesive and press them in place at the top edges of the bag about 2 1/4" in from the side seams and with the straps extending 2" onto the top of the bag. Using a craft knife, make small "x" shaped cuts in the center of the ends of the strap 1/2" up from the end of the strap and then another 1 1/2" up from the end of the strap. Cut through the strap and the bag.
Insert the rivets through the holes and using a rivet tool and hammer, gently tap them into place (follow the instructions on the rivet packaging).
This fall fashion tote is perfect choice to use as an everyday carryall or a reusable shopping bag. Switch out fabric colors and designs to make it applicable for all seasons.
