Welcome to another Tote Bag Week Post! Are you getting lots of ideas for how to make and dress up tote bags? If you’re just joining in here’s the line up:
- Monday: How to Sew a Canvas Tote Bag
- Tuesday: Dress Up a Store Bought Tote with Piping
- Wednesday: Reusable Tote Bag Sewing Tutorial
- Thursday: Customizing a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt
- Friday: 21 Ways to Make and Decorate a Tote Bag
Today I have a fun tutorial for Customizing a Tote Bag with an Old Shirt.
Materials:
- Canvas tote bag
- Long-sleeve button shirt
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
Instructions:
Begin by cutting off the sleeves and cuffs on your shirt. Save the sleeves to use on another project, like Adding Piping to a Tote Bag (or piping on a pillow, an upcoming tutorial.)
Cut off the pockets (cut as close to the seams as you can.)
For the customized tote bag, we’re going to use the cuff and two pockets.
Fold the cuff in half and cut it.
Stitch the end of the raw edges on the cuff closed.
Pin the cuff halves to the inside center of your tote bag (buttons facing out.)
Stitch the cuff end to the tote bag until secure.
Pin the pockets to each side of the tote bag (if your tote bag doesn’t have sides, the pockets would look just as cute on the front and back of the tote bag.)
Stitch along the top of the pocket. Then lift the pocket flap up and sew the rest of the pocket to the tote bag.
Feel free to finger print a star on your tote bag (tutorial for finger-printing stars here.)
These shirt embellished tote bags are perfect for a day at the beach. Or as a gift for a friend, teacher or grandparent.
Personally, I think I’ll be making many more of these in the future.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial for customizing a tote bag with an old shirt. Get ready for a grand finale tomorrow!
Pin for later!
