Frankie’s Sewn Stuff

Reversible Tote Bag

This sturdy shopping bag is 14" tall, 12" wide and 4" deep. All the seams are topstitched so it will hold its shape, however much you put in it. You Will Need … 0.5 m / ½ yd of two fabrics, one for each side of the bag. 1.5 m / 1¾ yd of 4 cm / 1½" wide webbing for the handles. This pattern uses inches rather than centimetres as I cut the pieces using my patchwork ruler and cutting mat and sewed it with my ¼" sewing machine foot. Begin by cutting two 17" squares from each of your two fabrics. Then cut four 14" strips of webbing. Now you’re ready to start sewing. This is simple enough, if timeconsuming because of the number of seams.

The Basic Bag You will need to make two separate bags, one in each fabric, for your finished bag to be reversible. The instructions are for one bag; just repeat them for the other one. All seams are ¼", except topstitching which should be ⅛" from the edge. Backstitch at the start and end of all seams. Begin by putting the two fabric squares together, right sides facing. If the design has a ‘right way up’, make sure that they match. Now sew down one side, across the bottom and up the side of the square. Use a ¼" seam, backstitching at the start and end of the seam. Open the bag out so that one of the bottom corners is at the top of a triangle. Line up the bottom and side seams, pin together and press. Draw a line 4" across this triangle, making sure that the seams are in the middle of the line. Sew along this line and then cut off the excess fabric.

Repeat this process for the other bottom corner, giving you a box shaped bag. The Topstitching This takes a while but makes all the difference to the finished bag.

Turn the bag right side out and press the corner seams that you’ve just sewn. Then fold and press the bottom of the bag between the ends of this seam. Pull the sides out to a point as shown and check that the folds are parallel; each one should be 2" from the centre seam.

2" 4"

Topstitch both pressed seams, remembering to backstitch at both ends. Now do the same thing for the two side seams on each side of the bag. This time pull the bottom of the bag to a point; again, the pressed seams should be 2" from the original side seam.

Topstitch these two pressed seams and then repeat for the other side – that’s four seams in all. The last seams to be topstitched are the 4" corner seams at each side of the bottom of the bag. When you’ve completed both bags, you’re ready to sew them together.

Assembling the Bag Turn both bags inside out and fold and press the top edges ½" to the wrong side. Now make the handles. Put them together in pairs and top stitch along both long sides. Doubling the handles makes them stronger and more comfortable to hold. Choose one of the bags to be the inside. Lay it flat and pin the handles 6" in from the side seams (measuring to the furthest side of the handle). The ends of the handles should be 1" below the top fold.

1" 6"

Folding the top of the bag so that you can work from the right side, topstitch the handles in place. This is just to hold them so you can take the pins out.

Turn the outer bag right side out and place the inner bag inside it. Match the side seams and pin the two bags together there, at the handles and at a few other points around the top. If you use thin

pins and put them in vertically, you should be able to sew over them. Make sure the handles are both out and then top stitch all round the top of the bag. Finally, trim any thread ends and press the finished bag.

If you enjoy this pattern, please make a donation to the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation via my fundraising page. www.justgiving.com/frankiesknittedstuff

© Frankie Brown, 2017. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale. Please do not use them for teaching purposes without my permission.