A nice little tote bag for mom or your friends!

How to make a nice tote bag for Mother's day or for a friend.

Get a heavy weight fabric, such as a home decorator weight fabric

2 fat quarters (outside fabric)
2 fat quarters (lining fabric)
2 yards of nylon webbing
1 package of contrasting bias tape, double folded (thickness at least 1/2"
4 pieces of interfacing, preferably craft fuse, or something heavy.

Directions.

Fuse your interfacing to all of your fat quarters.
Determine the top of your fat quarters.
Cut two 3" squares off the bottom corners of each piece.
Sew on the bias tape along the top, making sure to put the over lap behind one of the straps.
Take 1 yard of the nylon webbing and sew it on in a u shape. start by pinning the webbing 4 inches in from the cut corner, attach to the very bottom of the piece, and measure 4 inches over from the other side, and attach the same way. Make the shape of an upside down u, and pin down, make sure it's straight. You will see that it forms a strap or handle at the top of the FQ that is in a shape of a T.

Sew it down on both edges of the nylon webbing, make sure to leave 1" at the top, so that the bias tape can be attached behind. Do this to BOTH sides.

Pair up the inside interfaced piece with the outside interfaced piece. Face both pieces together with the outside together.

Attach both sides together, first on the bottom. Reinforce the bottom especially where the nylon webbing is in the seam. Seam allowance should be 5/8"

Now sew the side seams together, make sure to line them up on the top edge.

Now sew together the seam of the cut out 3" square. match the two corners together, this will give you a square bottom for the tote bag.

Now that you have the bag sudo done, take your bias tape, and cover the inside seams if you like. And use it to cover the top of the bag. After sewing it on, make a reinforced box with an x in it, at the top of every strap (4 times) Take this opportunity to sew down the area of the strap that allowed for the bias tape to be covered.

Voila! It's a tote bag that you can use for any thing, and it also would make a GREAT gift!!!!

If you need any fabrics, I have a great collection of Alexander Henry Fabrics, Michael Miller Fabrics, and many others.

http://bellepepper.etsy.com/