My Tote Was Featured

My tote was featured today as a Meet and Make on the FaveCrafts blog. Please drop by and take a peek at my All We Need tote tutorial. It finishes at 12 x 12 x 5 inches and is fully lined.

Below are two bonus tutorials for my lovely blog followers and visitors. They are for a fun inside and outside pocket that you can add to your tote to customize it. I love making quirky pockets on my totes and bags.

 

Inside Pocket Tutorial

Add to the lining before assembly

Supplies
12 x 12 inch piece of fabric
5 1/2 x 11 piece of Peltex
Chalk wheel (optional)

Step 1 – Make the Pocket

Fold the fabric in half with “pretty” sides touching to make it 12 wide x 6 tall.

Mark an opening on the bottom edge for turning.

Sew around the sides and bottom using a 1/2 inch seam. Don’t sew between your marks.

Carefully clip the corners.

Turn pretty side out. Use a point turner to make nice corners.

Step 2 – Add the Peltex

Stuff the Peltex inside the pocket opening. Make sure it butts up to the fold at the top of the pocket. Doing it this way eliminates the bulk in the seams and makes a nice stiff pocket.

Step 3 – Attach the pocket

Do this at the beginning of step 4 on the tote tutorial

Center and pin the pocket 4 inches down from the top of one of the lining pieces.

Stitch close to the side and bottom edges of the pocket. I like to make triangles at the corners for extra support.

Step 4 – Make Pocket Divisions

Use a chalk wheel to draw custom divisions for your pocket. If the pocket is too deep you can also sew across the bottom of a division to make it shorter in depth.

Sew along your lines.

Your Inside Pocket is Finished! Enjoy!

Note: If you add an inside and an outside pocket to your tote be sure they are on opposite sides of the bag when you put the lining in.

 

Outside Pocket Tutorial

Add to the back of the bag before assembly

Supplies
6 x 12 inch piece of fabric
1 inch wide strip of bias cut fabric
7 inch or larger zipper
Piece of paper for pattern
Zipper charm (optional)
Bias tape maker (optional)

Step 1 – Make the Pattern

Draw a 6 x 6 square on the paper.

Fold it in half and cut a nice wide rounded corner on the bottom.

Step 2 – Cut the Fabric

Fold your fabric in half. Pin the pattern with the top of the pocket on the fold of the fabric.

Cut out the fabric.

Step 3 – Add the Zipper

Place the folded edge of the fabric on the zipper and sew in place.

Step 4 – Attach the Pocket

Do this at the beginning of step 3 on the tote tutorial

Open the zipper slightly and trim off the extra. Be careful not to lose the zipper pull.

Center the pocket approx.  3 1/2 inches down on the back side of the tote.

Stitch all the way around the pocket using a scant 1/4 inch seam.

Step 5 – Make the Bias

If you have a bias tape maker you can easily use that.

With bias maker

If not, press 1/4 inch along both edges of the bias cut fabric. I personally like to fold the strip in half and press a center line. Then I fold and press my edges in.

Without bias maker

Step 6 – Attach the Bias

Pin the bias along the outer edge of the pocket. The outer edge of the bias will be slightly outside the pocket edge. That way the stitching will encase the edge of the pocket and keep it from fraying later.

Stitch close to both edges of the bias. I like to sew all the way around in one step so it also catches the top edges.

Step 7 – Add Charm (optional)

Add a charm or ribbon pull to the zipper tab.

Your Fun Outer Pocket is Finished! Enjoy!

Note: If you add an inside and an outside pocket to your tote be sure they are on opposite sides of the bag when you put the lining in.