Julie's Tiny Tote Tutorial & Free Pattern

This is a great project either for a beginner seamstress or a beginner crochet-ess. The results are quite charming and the time investment quite small which is just my kind of thing! And, since I am part of next week's Moda Blog hop I thought a fun fabricky post was in order.



(As part of the hop we'll be giving away some pre-cut sets of Social Club, the fabric line I used in this post, so be sure to drop by.)

Ok, you're going to need a pattern. This one is really simple, you won't even need to print it. Just cut a 6x9" rectangle. Then cut away two 1/2" squares from two corners along one of the 6" sides. 


If you want to use the crocheted elements I've added to my bag, you will need to learn a basic chain stitch. Well, no worries if you don't know it already, I've found a great tutorial for you and it's the easiest of all crochet stitches. 

Ok, here's the first steps:

1. Cut out two pattern pieces each of two different fabrics.
2. Chain one length for you handle (measure on your self, mine was about 48") and one chain 36" in length for the applique.
3. Tie a knot at the end of the applique chain.
4. use a long and wide zig zag stitch, starting form the center knot to sew this to what will become the front of your bag.
5. Coil as you go and when you get to the end, poke the tail between two of the zig-zag stitches under the previous round of crochet.
6. Press and don't worry if the fabric rumpled slightly.



Yay! You are doing so well!

Now to the tote. (All seam allowances are 1/4".)

1. With right sides together take one A fabric and one B fabric and stitch them across the 6" edge. Repeat with the other set.
2. Press! I had mine flipped in the photo. Don't do that! With both inside fabrics at top and both outside fabrics at the bottom, put these right sides together and stitch down the sides (18" edges).
3. Stitch along the 4" bottom edge of the outside fabric only.
4. Stitch 1/2" in from each side of the 4" edge on the inside fabric. Leave the middle of this open.
5. Open corners, bring edges together and stitch across. Do this for all corners.
6. Turn bag right side out through that little opening we left.
7. Stitch that opening closed. It won't show being down inside the bag, so a simple top stitch works great.
8. Tuck the lining into the bag and top stitch along the upper edge if desired.
9. Add your handle. You can simply stitch it down with buttons on top, or do what I did.... make a loop on each end and slip it over the button like a button hole. This makes a removeable handle and it's cute.



This bag is the perfect size for a notebook, cell phone, chapstick and sunglasses. Although, I plan to use it for children training. You see, I made a similar tote that I fill with dog treats. It's perfect for slipping my hand into quickly to reward Suki on our walks and afternoons at the park. In just one week, she has learned to "lay", "roll over" and die when I say "kindness" (and you all thought I was joking)..... I literally kill her with kindness!

Anyway, I thought this bag would be so cute and comfortable to wear that I could fill it with human treats and dole them out when I catch kids doing great things. Kids and dogs, they're not that different really. Dogs just generate less laundry and don't need help with homework.