Tutorial: Zebra Tote

Here is a quick mini tutorial for the tote bag I made for the birthday girl from the Zebra Themed Sleepover Party.  It would be the perfect beach tote for summer.

 I started with a square piece, sewed down a pocket, pinned the straps from the bottom going all the way around like shown.  Repeat for the back side of the bag. Sew the straps on each side. 

 Once you get to the top rim of the bag, skip about a fourth of an inch.  If you don't, you will run into trouble when you sew the lining of the bag in.

I used teal for the bottom of the bag and doubled the rectangle piece of fabric to make the bottom stronger . You can also use interfacing to give me more stability.  Sew it to the bottom.  Repeat for the back side of the bag.

Turn the bag inside out and sew all the way around leaving the top open.   


If you want you can box out the bottom to give it depth inside.  Check out my other tutorial for details on how to do this.

Sew the lining just like you did with the outside of the bag but leave a little section at the bottom open.   Box the bottom of the lining if you did so to the outside portion.  [SORRY no photo].

 I pinned the straps down to make sure I didn't sew them on accident.  

Tuck the lining into the front of the back.  Both should be right side out.  Pin along the top.  Sew all around the top.

Pull the bag right side out through the opening you left in the lining.  For more details about sewing the lining into a tote check out this tutorial.

Iron it.  Sew along the top and the strap down.  Before you know it you will have a tote! Easy peasy ad it takes less than an hour to make.

Until next time.  Toodles!