Two more totes join the line-up of tote bags that Carol Duvall has made on the show. Though most of the others have followed the same basic pattern these differ in both material used and in method of construction. Very little machine sewing is required. It could, in fact, be eliminated entirely. Duvall referred to these as her "Florida Totes" simply because they were bright and sunny-looking which on a cold winter day seemed like a good thing.
Materials:
1/3 yd. knit backed vinyl *
round hole punch
vinyl lacing
ruler, pencil, scissors
optional: hole punched panel from computer paper
*The measurements for the individual pieces measure exactly 1/3 yard. To be on the safe side you might purchase 1/2 yd.
Steps:
- Cut a10" x 21" piece of vinyl for the body of the purse. Cut two 3" x 9" strips for the side panels and two 1" x 14" for the straps.
- Attach the straps first by placing the purse panel right side up on the tabletop. Position each end of one of the straps about 1" down from the top edge of the purse panel and equal distance in from the side edges so they are about 4" apart. Stitch a 1" square at the end of each strap attaching it to the purse panel and stitch an X in the center. Repeat with the other strap at the opposite end of the panel.
- Mark tiny dots down each side of the length of the purse panel placing them about 1/4" in from the outside edge and 1/2" apart. If you have access to computer paper tear off one of the side panels and use this for marking your dots. Repeat process down each side of the side panels making certain that you start the same distance from the top so the holes will match up. Continue across one end of each of these side panels. Using round holed paper punch, punch a hole at each dot.
- Line up one of the side panels with one side edge of the purse panel placing them with wrong sides together. Cut a long piece of the lacing. If it seems too curly to work with easily it sometimes helps to place it in boiling water for a minute then pulling on it to straighten it out. About 4" from one end make a knot large enough to keep it from going through the holes. This 4" tail can be worked into the stitches (on the inside) as you sew or simply pulled down through the stitches after you have finished sewing. Using your fingers as your needle lace the vinyl down the edge of the purse using the overhand whip stitch. When you get to the bottom corner it would seem logical to continue matching hole to hole but here it is necessary to lace the vinyl through the hole in the purse panel twice. Go first through the hole in the side panel that lines up with the hole in the purse panel then go through the next hole on the side panel but lace through the purse panel hole again. Continue as before until you get the next corner where you repeat the process of going through the corner hole in the purse panel twice.
- Continue up the side of the purse, knot the vinyl on the inside and pull the excess lacing down through the stitches on the inside. Repeat on the second side of the side panel. Tote done!
See-Through Vinyl
A second tote was made of the colored heavy weight see through vinyl now available in fabric stores. The construction of the tote was the same with the addition of an outside pocket on each side of the tote. To make the pocket a second panel was cut that was the same width as the purse (10") but 2" shorter. Place this extra panel on top of the purse panel and sew them together when adding the side panels. You will start sewing the two together on the third hole from the top of the purse panel.
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