Union Jack Style Tote

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  Step 1

  Choose your fabrics; I went with a linen-y grey and navy-blue lining. Quel dallas cowboys, non? Anyway, for the measurements I decided how tall I wanted the bag to be (for example, 12 inches) and how wide (again, example, 8 inches, but you can do whatever you want) and cut out two rectangles of width by twice the height (using my examples, that would be 24x8). Also necessary are two strips of the outer fabric (in this case grey) for the handles and eight strips for the stripes on the outside (in the lining fabric), as well as fabric for the bow (which will be addressed below).

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  Step 2

  I used fusible netting business to try to help the handles keep their shape, but interfacing would probably be better. I live in Moscow, though, and god only knows where I can find interfacing so I do what I can with what I've got (that also explains my horrible ironing board). Anyway, cut the handles 3x the width you want them to be, so you can ensconce the interfacing/fusing inside.

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  Step 3

  Then press them and stitch all around the edges.

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  Step 4

  Next take the strips you wanted to use for the stripes (you don't have to make a pseudo-Union Jack design; this is the point to do whatever design you want). Stitch them onto the shell layer of your bag.

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  Step 5

  Here you can see all my strips sewn on, and you can see that my strips don't match up! I probably could've planned those a tad bit better, but I'm not bothered.

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  Step 6

  Next take the lining and sew it on all the way around the wrong side of the shell. You can also at this stage add some fleece or quilt batting to give your bag more of a poof.

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  Step 7

  Fold over how ever much you want the top bit to be so you can close off the top edge. I almost never measure, so, you can decide for yourself.

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  Step 8

  Then stitch (while the bag's inside out) all the way up and down the edges to create what is in essence a sack.

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  Step 9

  Box stitch the handles on to the top.

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  Step 10

  Now it's time to box the corners; pinch the bottom corners and press with your fingers to create triangles; make the triangles however big you want to create the base of the bag. Do the same for both corners, pin, and stitch straight across the base of the triangle. Voila!

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  Step 11

  I also made a horribly sloppy bow to distinguish the front of the bag from the bag, and give it that extra girlie push.

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  Step 12

  Enjoy your bag!

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