return on creativity: lil leaf tote bag

Here's the last of the "lil" tote bags that I made.  What comes after a lil tree and a lil carnation?  A lil leaf a course.

Here's how to make this bag:

1.  Cut four 14 inch squares of fabric.  Two from the outer bag fabric and two from the lining fabric.  I used a home dec weight fabric for the outer bag fabric so I did not add any interfacing to this bag.

2.  Trace the leaf design onto the paper side of some Wonder Under fusible web.  I've included my leaf design below.

3.  Iron the Wonder Under to the wrong side of the fabric you are using for the leaf.  Cut out the designs and remove the paper backing.

4.  Iron the flower to the right side of one of the outer bag squares.

5.  Stitch around the design using a straight stitch on your sewing machine.  Sew very close to the edge of the fabric.  I used white thread.  Here is a view of the back.

6.  Put right sides of the outer back squares together and sew around three sides, leaving the top of the bag open.  Use a half inch seam allowance.

7.  Make a boxed corner on the bag by following the steps below:

Fold the  bottom corner into a point.

Measure one inch from the corner stitching and mark with a water soluble marker across the point.

Sew along the marked line.

Cut off excess fabric and repeat on other corner.

8.  Repeat steps 6 and 7 with the lining fabric.

9.  Cut four 18 inch by 2.5 inch lengths of fabric.  Two from the outer bag fabric and two from the lining fabric.

10.  Place one outer fabric length and one lining length together, right sides facing and sew the long sides with a quarter inch seam allowance.

11.  Turn the fabric right side out with the help of a safety pin.  Press the straps flat.

12.  Place the outer bag inside the bag lining with right sides facing.  Sew around the top of the bag leaving a three inch opening. 

13.  Pull the outer bag through the opening and turn the lining into the bag.  Top stitch around the edge of the bag, sewing the opening closed.

14.  Fold under the raw edges of the straps and pin onto the outside of the bag two inches in from the edge.  Top stitch around the straps sewing them onto the bag as you sew.

And you are done!