Elevated Tote Bags for Beginners

Hobby Lobby’s selection of pre-fabricated totes make customization easy. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to sew yourself something pretty.

Project Prep

The projects in this post use the following totes from Hobby Lobby:

• Cream Tote (13.75″ H x 13.25″ W x 6.5″ D) with six interior pockets and an added exterior accent fabric band.
• Olive Tote (15″ x 16″) with one interior pocket, an added interior accent fabric lining and added exterior band.

When selecting thread, choose a color that matches the accent fabric as some seams will create visible sewing lines.

What You Need

How to Elevate the Cream Tote

[1] Using the yardstick and permanent marker (or tailors chalk), measure, mark and cut the accent band of fabric for your tote. 

[2] Take the accent fabric band and run a 1/2″ seam along the long sides.

[3] Take the finished accent fabric band and pin it evenly around the tote (4″ from the top), making sure to line up any seams to the edges of the tote.

[4] Stitch the accent fabric to the tote by sewing along the band’s TOP seam.

[5] Pinch the corner seams of the tote together and sew the accent fabric along all four edges. Make sure to finish off the edge of the accent fabric band at a corner seam.

[6] Using a sewing needle and thread, tack the BOTTOM seam of the accent fabric band in place, paying careful attention to the placement of interior pockets (so you don’t accidentally sew them shut).

How to Elevate the Olive Tote

[1] Using the yardstick and permanent marker (or tailors chalk), measure, mark and cut the pieces of accent fabric for your tote. 

[2] Take the accent fabric band and run a 1/2″ seam along the long sides.

[3] Take the 17″ x 30″ piece of accent fabric and fold it in half (right side facing in). Sew a 1/2″ seam along the right and left sides of the folded fabric to create the tote liner.

[4] Pin and sew a 1/2″ seam to finish off the top of the liner.

[5] Fold the liner on the left and right seams as shown below. Mark three inches across the corner and seam it on the mark. Fold the fabric corner up at the seam and tack the corner to the side of the liner (to give the liner a similar structure to the tote). Do this to both sides.

[6] Take the finished accent fabric band and pin it evenly around the top of the tote (2″ from the top), making sure to line up any seams to the edges of the tote (and finish). Stitch the accent fabric to the tote by sewing along the band’s BOTTOM seam.

[7] Turn the tote inside out and fold the accent band fabric down toward the bottom seam you just sewed. Turn the accent liner right side out and move the interior tote pocket out of the way. Match up the seams of the liner and tote, pin the liner in place and stitch the liner in place along the it’s TOP seam.

[8] Turn the tote right side out and re-pin the TOP of the accent fabric band to the tote (make sure to move the interior pocket out of the way). Stitch the accent fabric band to the tote along its TOP seam.

voila!

Two pretty options for a customized, elevated tote!

Bonus Black Tote

Hobby Lobby also has a Black Tote (13″ H x 13.5″ W) that can follow the Olive Tote instructions above with the following alterations.