CleverTote Bag - Free Pattern

Perfect project to do with your beginner sewer; great gift bag for baby showers, quilters on the go and birthday gifts!

Fabric Requirements Center Panel : fat quarter - 1/4 yard Top Border : fat quarter - 1/4 yard Straps: fat quarter - 1/4 yard Lining: 1/2 yard or pieced from scraps Pellon Interfacing : 3/4 yard Cutting Directions 20 1/2" x 14 1/2" : cut 1 3 1/2" x 14 1/2" : cut 2 2 1/2" strips LOF to total 84 1/2" 14 1/2" x 26 1/2" : cut 1 26" x 14" : cut 1

Please read all directions first. Totes can be made from several fat quarter packs - look for attractive top border fabric with small scale patterns or solids for center panel. Fabrics used in our demo bags are available here.

1) Cut fabric per directions above. Fold Pellon in half and cut 2"x2" squares off the folded outside corners. Your Pellon will have a 2"x4" cut in both sides when unfolded. (See figure B).

2) Attach border fabric to top and bottom of center panel. Iron flat. (See figure A)

3) Attach Pellon to wrong side of fabric per figure B, leaving a 1/4" allowance around all sides.

4) Attach strips of strap material, end to end to make 1 strip 84 1/2" long. Sew ends together to make a loop. Iron flat. With wrong side up, iron in towards center both sides 1/4", all around. Fold over in half and top stitch 1/8" along both edges. For a heavier strap, you can layer in 1/2" batting or a stiff strap material and then fold over and top stitch. Fold in half and find the middle points of the strap. Mark with pins.

5) Lay bag panel on table, right side out, fold in half to find the middle point. Arrange straps, per figure C. Pin in place and sew down length of straps to secure to bag, stopping 3/4" from the top of the fabric.

6) Fold bag in half, right sides together and sew up both sides leaving top open. Create box corners using Pellon cut outs as guides. See figure D. There will be no Pellon in the triangle at the bottom of the bag.

7) Sew lining, right sides together, down along sides, leaving a 5" hole to use when turning bag right sides out. Create box corners per figure D and iron.

8) Place lining inside bag, right sides together and pin top edges. Sew around top. Turn bag right sides out and iron top edge flat. Top stitch top, 1/8" from edge.

Fabrics for Beautiful CleverTotes: Island Batiks Hoffman Batiks Lakehouse Fabrics