French Market Tote Bag Tutorial + Dots and Posies Fabric

 Sometimes it's fun to switch things up! I've been doing a lot of quilts lately but last week I spent an afternoon making a new tote bag for myself with some lovely new fabrics.

I first designed this French Market Tote bag back in 2017 (and shared the tutorial here).

I've always loved choosing a fun liner print for my tote bags but usually the liner is never really even seen! So I designed this bag specifically so that the bag liner could be seen...and appreciated.

And seriously - that large polka dot print deserves the attention!

This latest version of the bag is made with a new fabric line from Poppie Cotton called Dots and Posies.

The fabric line has over 20 different prints but I chose just a few of my favorites for these projects. I do love that large floral!  The line also has a fun cheater print (the one on the top left) that looks like english paper pieced hexagons. It's so darling!

For the interfacing on this bag I used Pellon 809. It's my favorite interfacing for bags and zipper pouches because it gives structure without making the bag all puffy.

The finished French Market Tote measures 11"(H) x 14"(W) x 3"(D)

To make one bag you'll need:

1/3 yard main bag print

3/4 yard bag liner and handles

18" x 45" piece of interfacing

I also made a small coordinating zipper pouch using one of my favorite tutorials (by Jedi Craft Girl - find it here). 

I used to be so intimidated by zipper pouches - well...anything with a zipper really.  But Amanda's tutorial is easy to follow and makes a great size of pouch: 5.5" tall, 8.5" wide (at the widest point).

I used the same Pellon 809 interfacing for the pouch that I used in the tote bag. And I just HAD to use a fun liner print! 

Dots and Posies fabrics will be in stores soon, and if your local shop doesn't carry it, check etsy!

Hope you have a great week, and that you're able to sneak in some sewing time!

Vinyl Project Bags + Homestead Life Fabrics

Well hello everyone!  I'm sharing a quick little project today - one that I've been meaning to make for over a year now - vinyl project bags.  A friend of mine has a set of these and loves them.

She uses them to store her quilt WIPs and kits, and I've also seen people use them for their cross stitch, crochet, and english paper piecing projects.

The fabrics I used for my bags all come from the new Homestead Life line by Tara Reed (Riley Blake Designs).  You can find Homestead Life in shops now, including here at the Fat Quarter Shop.

I love the sweet florals combined with the chunky gingham prints!

I made two different sized bags - the large bags are 13" x 13", and the smaller bag is 8" x 11".

I made this smaller one to hold pens and markers - perfect!

And I added hanging loops to the two larger bags so they could be stored on a hook or on a hanger in a closet.

There are a lot of different tutorials out there for making vinyl bags.  I mostly followed this one by Center Street Quilts.  After looking around at several other tutorials, I decided I liked her method the best.   She also has great photos, and clear instructions.  She pieced her bag backing but I just used a solid piece of fabric for mine.

Once you get the idea of how they're constructed, it's not hard to adjust the bag sizes to fit your needs.

This set of bags is meant as a gift for someone, but I'll definitely be making more of these for myself!

Want to see other versions of vinyl project bags?  These were some other helpful tutorials that I found:

Easy WIP Project Bag with Vinyl (YouTube video by The Fat Quarter Shop)
Vinyl Project Bag Tutorial by Thimbleanna
Vinyl Project Bag Tutorial by The Quilting Nook
Vinyl Project Pouch Tutorial by Center Street Quilts

And you can see more of the Homestead Life fabrics here on the Riley Blake Designs site, and you can find Tara Reed's blog here.

Happy sewing!

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) when purchases are made through links found in this post.

Raindrop Drawstring Bag Tutorial

How does the saying go?...Necessity is the mother of invention?  Well that's how this bag came to be.  I needed a little bag that was quick to sew and was big enough to hold a handful of candy and I wanted it to have a unique shape.  It needed to have a wee bit of personality.  

And so the Raindrop Drawstring Bag was born!  These were so fun and fast to make so I decided to share a tutorial here with you.

First of all, aren't these valentine prints so sweet?  It's a little novelty line by Riley Blake Designs called Punny Valentine.  I'm using the teal print but there's also two different pinks plus a couple of other coordinating prints.  See more of them here.  

Alright - ready to make a bag?  Here's what you'll need: 

• A 10" square of fabric for bag **
• 1 yard of 1/4" or 3/8" grosgrain ribbon
• Bag template (download PDF here)
• Helpful tools: Coordinating thread, scissors, pencil, pinking shears, safety pin, iron

**want to make more than one bag?  
-- one layer cake square (10") makes 1 bag
-- 1 fat quarter can make 4 bags
-- 1/4 yard of fabric can make 4 bags

Step 1:  Cut your fabric into two rectangles measuring 5" x 8 1/2"

Step 2:  Decide which end is the bottom of the bag (if you're using directional prints this is important!)  

With a pencil, trace the bag shape onto the wrong side of one of the rectangles.  Really you'll only need to trace the curved bottom edge of the bag since the straight edges of the template will line up with the top and sides of the rectangle.  

Stack both fabric pieces together and cut along the lines with scissors.  

Step 3:  On the wrong side of one of the pieces, make a small marking at 2.75" from the top edge and at 3.5" from the top edge of the bag.  Make the same marks on the opposite edge of the same bag piece.  These markings tell you where to stop and start sewing and will create an opening for the ribbon to be inserted at a later step.  

Step 4:  Along the top edge, fold down 1/2" and press.  Then fold over again 1 1/2" and press.  Press both bag pieces.

Step 5:  Unfold top edge and place the two bag pieces right sides together. Pin together along the sides and bottom.

Step 6:  Using a 1/4" seam, stitch around the sides and bottom of bag, leaving the area between the marked lines open.

Step 7:  With the pinking shears, trim the seam allowance around the curved bottom edge of the bag.  Clip close to the seam, but be careful not to clip through the seam!

Step 8:  Turn bag right side out.  On the inside of the bag, run your finger along the bottom inside seam to gently push out the fabric along the curved edge.  Then lay the bag flat and give just the bottom of the bag a quick press to make that curved edge nice and smooth.    

Step 9:  Fold the top edge under 1/2" along the pressed fold line and then again 1 1/2" along the pressed fold line.  Use a couple of pins to hold it in place.

Step 10:  On the inside of the bag, stitch around the bag opening close to the first folded edge.  Then stitch a second time 5/8" from the top edge.  This will create a channel for the ribbon.

Step 11:  Cut two lengths of ribbon, each 17" long.  Place a safety pin at one end of one of the ribbons.  The pin will make it easier to guide the ribbon through the channel.   

Push the pin through the opening on one side of the bag.  Thread the ribbon around the entire bag, having it exit out the same hole it entered.  

Remove the pin, knot the ribbon ends together and trim with pinking shears to keep them from fraying.

Step 12:  Place the pin on the end of the second ribbon.  Thread that ribbon through the hole in the opposite side seam of the bag.  Push the ribbon around the entire bag, having it exit the same hole it entered.  Remove the pin, knot the ribbon ends and trim ends with pinking shears. 

There should be a knotted ribbon on each side of the bag.  Pull the ribbons to cinch the bag closed.

Your bag is done! Fill it with candy, earbuds, jewelry, more candy, a gift card....whatever!  

Here are my four bags together. I must warn you - these are fast and fun and a little addicting.  I really just needed one bag but these prints all looked so good together so I just kept going!

Want to save this for later?  Pin the image below to your Pinterest board so you can find it when you need to.  And if you make a bag I'd love to see it!  Tag me (@abrightcorner) and use the hashtags #raindropdrawstringbag and #abrightcorner.  

Happy sewing, and enjoy your weekend!

--Andy

A Tote Bag + Fruitful Pleasures Fabric

Hey everyone!  

I'm just popping in to share a couple of quick tote bags that I whipped up over the weekend. 

I used my French Market Tote Bag tutorial (click here for tutorial), and the first one sewed together quickly so I decided to make another!

The fabrics for these bags are prints from the Fruitful Pleasures fabric line.  It's designed by Lila Tueller (Riley Blake Designs) and it's filled with lovely, saturated colors and pretty florals.  

For one bag you'll need:
1/3 yard main bag print
3/4 yard bag liner & handles
18" x 45" piece of interfacing

For the stabilizer I used my favorite - Pellon Decor-Bond Fusible Interfacing (Pellon 809).  It provides great structure without being as puffy as a fusible fleece.  I buy yards and yards of it when it's on sale at JoAnn so I always have some on hand.

And in case you're wondering about how the Pellon 809 holds up, I've been using my first French Market Tote for over a year and a half now and it looks as good as the day I made it.  It comes with us to church each week and sometimes takes a beating as we pack it full of things.  But it still holds it's shape and isn't showing any wear & tear.  

Here's the second tote bag I made, this time with a fun, fuchsia lining. It really pops against the navy floral, doesn't it? I love using a contrasting fabric for the bag liner!

The finished tote bags measure 11"(H) x 14" (W) x 3"(D)

You can find the French Market Tote Bag tutorial here.  And if you make a tote bag I'd love to see it! Use the hashtags #frenchmarkettote and #abrightcorner so we can all see what you've created!   

Happy sewing!

--Andy

Fun New Zipper Pouches

Well hello everyone!  I have a couple of fun zipper pouches to share with you today but I also wanted to let you know that I've been busy working behind the scenes on some other things, including some new quilt tutorials.  They'll be heading your way soon!

These two pretty zipper pouches were made using the Open Wide Zippered Pouch tutorial from Noodlehead.  There are three sizes available with the tutorial - I made the medium and large sizes.  

I wanted to make these pouches for my mom's birthday and I had a few prints from the new fabric line by Sedef Imer (Down Grapevine Lane) called Summer Blush.  They were perfect! You can find Summer Blush fabrics here from the Fat Quarter Shop.  Such pretty prints! 

I've used the Open Wide pouch tutorial before and it's one of my favorites. The tutorial is easy to follow - even for someone like me who only sews zippers a few times each year.  

I like to customize my pouches  - you can do pretty much anything to the outside of the pouch. Just make sure the outer bag piece measures what the tutorial asks for! You can make them as scrappy as you'd like, or use a favorite small quilt block on one side.  

I did a thin flange (a thin strip folded in half and sewn between the top and bottom halves) for the small pouch and it added a nice separation between the two green prints.  

For more information about my source for zippers and what interfacing I recommend, check out this post about my favorite zipper pouch tutorials!

You can also find more zipper pouch tutorials here on my Bags & Pouches Pinterest Board:

Happy sewing everyone!

--Andy