return on creativity: lil' tree tote bag

Here's how to make this cute lil' appliqued tote bag.

1.  Cut six 11 inch by 14 inch rectangles of fabric; two from the outer bag fabric, two from the lining fabric, and two from Craft Fuse interfacing.

2.  Iron the Craft Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the outer bag fabric rectangles.  (I first used Craft Fuse on my ruffled sunglass case and I like the weight it adds to fabric for bags.  However, this step is optional.)

3.  Trace a tree truck onto the paper side of Wonder Under fusible web.  I've provided my tree trunk drawing below.

4.  Iron the Wonder Under onto the wrong side of the fabric you would like to use for the tree trunk.

5.  Cut out the tree trunk, peel off the paper backing, and iron onto the right side of one of the outer bag rectangles of fabric.

6.  Using a straight stitch sew the trunk to the fabric staying close to the edge.  (Take your time and go slow.)

7.  Iron Wonder Under onto the wrong side of the fabric you want to use for the tree circles.  Trace circles onto the paper side and cut out.  My circles have a 1.75 inch diameter.

8.  Remove the paper backing from the circles and iron onto the tree.

9.  Using a zig zag stitch sew around the circles.  Go slow and turn the fabric as you sew.  You may need to stop from time to time and turn the fabric without sewing to make a tight turn (always with your needle in the down position holding the fabric in place).

10.  I'm not sure what this stuff is called (below), but I cut two seventeen inch lengths for straps and sewed the ends to the right sides of the outer fabric two inches in from the side of the bag.  Use a quarter inch seam allowance.  Match the raw edges of the fabric and the straps together.

11.  Put the right sides of the outer fabric together and sew three side together with a half inch seam allowance.  Leave the top open.  Repeat with the two lining fabric rectangles.

12.  Turn the outer bag right side out and place inside the lining fabric.  Sew around the top of the bag with right sides of the fabric facing each other.  Leave a three inch opening.

13.  Pull the outer bag through the opening and turn the lining inside.  Top stitch around the top of the bag sewing the opening closed.  I top stitched another row of stitches about a quarter inch below the first.

14.  Enjoy your bag!