Sew a simple and stylish tote bag

Step 3: Make the tote bag
A. With the Wrong side of the bottom panel facing up, on each 14" side, fold over 1/2" toward the centre of the panel, then press. This creates the top edge of the bottom panel. With the Wrong sides together, fold the bottom panel in half, matching up the opposite folded edges. Press a crease on the fold, then open the fabric with the Right side facing up. Set aside. (See figure 3A.)

B. With the Wrong sides of the main panel together, fold it in half, matching up the two 14" sides. Press a crease on the fold, then open the fabric with the Right side facing up. With the Right side facing up, pin the bottom panel to the Right side of the main panel, matching up the creased centre folds and the raw edges on the sides. (See figure 3B.)

C. Being careful to keep centre folds of both pieces aligned, edge stitch the two finished edges of the bottom panel to the main panel, making sure you stitch through all the layers of fabric.

D. With the Right sides together, fold the tote in half on the crease, matching up the raw edges. Pin in place, making sure the bottom panel has not shifted on the main panel. Stitch one side together, from the bottom folded edge to the top unfinished edge of the tote, backstitching at each end. Repeat for the other side of the tote. Press the seams open and stitch each raw edge with a zigzag stitch to keep the seams from fraying.

Step 4: Finish the tote
A. On the top (unstitched) edge, fold over 1/2" toward the Wrong side (inside of the tote), then press. Fold over another 1" and press. Stitch a 7/8" seam, making sure you stitch through all the layers. (See figure 4A.)

B. To place the handles on one side of the tote, measure 4" in from each side seam. Mark the points with pins. Place the ends of the handles inside the tote, matching up the bottom edges of the handle with the finished hem of the tote 1" down from the top edge. Align the outside stitched edges of the handle with the pins, making sure the handle is not twisted.

C. Attach the handles by edge stitching a rectangle: With the Wrong side (inside) of the tote facing up, edge stitch the bottom edge of the handle to the tote, stopping just before you reach the side edge of the handle. Without lifting the needle out of the fabric, turn the tote 90 degrees and stitch down the next side, stopping just before you reach the top edge of the tote. Without lifting the needle, turn 90 degrees and stitch parallel to the top edge of the tote, stopping just before you reach the other side edge of the handle. Without lifting the needle, stitch down the other side edge of the handle to complete the rectangle. For added decoration, you can stitch an "X" inside the rectangles. (See figure 4C.)

D. Repeat Steps 4B and 4C to attach the other handle to the opposite side of the tote.

E. Turn the bag Right-side out and press.

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Excerpted from Simple Sewing: Patterns and how-to for 24 fresh and easy projects by Lotta Jansdotter, with photographs by Meiko Arquillos. Text and illustrations copyright 2007 by Lotta Anderson. Photographs copyright 2007 by Meiko Arquillos. Excerpted with permission from Chronicle Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publishers.