Make Piping Out of Thrift Store Finds | Pretty Handy Girl
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Dress Up a Plain Tote with Piping

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Welcome back to Tote Week! If you’re just joining in here’s the line up:

 

If you’re short on time (or don’t have a sewing machine), there’s nothing wrong with cheating a little.

Tote Week | Pretty Handy Girl

Today I want to show you a great way to add some character to a store bought tote bag. You can dress up a plain tote bag with piping. I purchased canvas tote bags at Michael’s for a few dollars. You can purchase piping or make your own easily (if you have a sewing machine.) If you don’t own a sewing machine, purchase pre-made piping and buy some double stick hem tape or hot glue to secure the piping instead of sewing it on.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial

Materials:

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

  • Tote bag
  • Scissors
  • Piping (tutorial to make your own piping)
  • Fabric
  • Rope
  • Thread
  • Needle
  • Sewing machine (use hot glue or double stick hem tape if you don’t have a sewing machine)

Instructions:

Start by making your piping. Be sure to make enough to line the rim of your tote bag and overlap by at least 2 inches.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

If your tote bag handles are sewn to the inside of the bag, rip the top seam off to free the handles from the top edge of the tote bag.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Begin pinning your piping around the inside of the top edge of the bag. Fold the raw edge over and between the bag and the piping as shown below:

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Overlap the edges of the piping in an inconspicuous spot (near a back handle.)

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Using a zipper foot, sew along the edge of the piping and tote bag to secure the piping to the bag.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Sew a second seam 1/4 inch below the first seam.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Finish by hand stitching (if your sewing machine foot can’t go over) the overlapped piping.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Want to make that tote bag even more adorable? Try adding a graphic star to the front.

Fingerprinted Star Tutorial

Materials:

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Instructions:

Print out this Star Template. Lay freezer paper on top of the star print out and cut around the star with the x-acto knife and metal ruler.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Center the freezer paper star on the tote bag.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Iron the freezer paper to the bag using a medium heat setting. The paper will lightly adhere to the bag, but will be able to be removed easily.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Pour some fabric paint into a plate or tray. Let your kids dip their fingers in the paint and fill in the star shape with paint. (I like to use three colors that are analogous compliments. Here’s some tips for picking analogous complimentary colors.)

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

After the paint has dried, gently peel off the freezer paper.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

Leave the star as is or outline the shape with a marker or paint. Be sure to have your finger artist sign the back of the tote bag. We made several of these piped tote bags and gave them to my sons’ teachers as end of the year gifts.

Piped Tote Bag Tutorial | Pretty Handy Girl

I hope you liked this tutorial. Stay tuned for more Tote Bag Tutorials this week.

PHGFancySign

 

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  1. […] okay to cheat a little. Grab a store bought tote and dress it up that plain tote bag with piping. This tutorial also shows a cheat for the […]

  2. […] Tuesday: Dress Up a Store Bought Tote with Piping […]

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