Picnic set - tote bag

By Spotlight

Sew your way to impromptu entertaining perfection this summer. There's a whole set!

Final Result

Materials

• 1.1m printed cotton fabric- stripe
• 35cm printed cotton fabric - paisley print
• 70cm cotton fabric- green to
match print
• 70cm x 90cm wide iron-on pellon or
• cotton batting
• sewing machine
• matching Gütermann cotton thread
• scissors
• tape measure/ruler
• pins
• iron

Optional: Bag base, thin mdf or heavy cardboard cut to 37cmx 23cm to insert into base of bag.

Step 1

Bag outer
Cut 4 pieces of paisley fabric, 35cm high x 40cm wide. For the pockets press 2 of these pieces in half (17.5cm x 40cm) and topstitch along the folded edge 3mm in from the fold. Place one pocket piece on top of each of other paisley pieces aligning the bottom & side raw edges. Stitch the side and bottom edges of pockets to fabric 5mm in from the edge. Cut 2 pieces of stripe fabric (stripes running vertically), 35cm high x 25cm wide. For the bag base cut one 40cm x 25cm piece from the plain green fabric. Cut iron-on pellon as follows - 2 pieces 37cm x 32cm (for paisley), 2 pieces 22cm x 32cm (for stripe) and one piece 37cm x 22cm (lining). Fuse each piece of pellon to the wrong side of each corresponding fabric piece, centering in middle, leaving a 1.5cm border around all the pellon. With right sides together, sew one of the longer sides of the paisley fabric to the longer side of the plain green fabric, stopping the seam 1.5cm short of each edge. With right sides together, sew one of the longer sides of the other paisley fabric to the other long side of the plain green fabric, again stopping the seam 1.5cm short of each edge.

Step 2

Straps
Cut 2 lengths of stripe fabric (with stripes running lengthways) 110cm x 10cm wide. Cut 2 pieces of iron-on pellon, 107cm x 3.5cm wide. With wrong sides together, press each strip of stripe fabric in half lengthways. Open up and place pellon strip on one side of fabric aligning edge of pellon with pressed fold. Centre pellon, so there will be a 1.5cm border of fabric on each end. Fuse pellon in place. Turn in 1.5cm on one of the long sides of the fabric strip and press. Press the remaining long side under 1.5cm then fold sides together. Pin and topstitch down both sides of the strap 3mm in from each edge. Turn each of the short ends under 1.5cm and pin one end to the bottom of the left side of the paisley pocketed front of bag 10cm in from side edges. Take the strap up the front and around into a handle and back down the front and pin 10cm in from the right-hand side. Topstitch in place 3mm from the edge of the strap and stopping 6cm from the top of bag front. Repeat for the other strap on the remaining paisley pocketed front.

Step 3

Sides
Pin the remaining striped pieces of fabric to each of the raw side edges of the bag fronts and bottom. Sew in place with a 1.5cm seam allowance, pivoting at bottom corners. Clip corners. Turn right side out and press 1.5cm under along whole top raw edge.

Step 4

Lining
From the plain green fabric cut the following - 2 pieces 40cm x 35cm, 2 pieces 25cm x 35cm and one piece 40cm x 25cm. With right sides together, sew one of the longer sides of the 40cm x 35cm pieces to the longer side of the 40cm x 25cm piece, stopping the seam 1.5cm short of each edge. With right sides together, sew one of the longer sides of the remaining 40cm x 35cm piece to the other longer side of the 40cm x 25cm piece again stopping the seam 1.5cm short of each edge. Pin the remaining two 25cm x 35cm pieces to each of the raw side edges of the bag fronts and bottom. Sew in place with a 1.5cm seam allowance, pivoting at bottom corners. Clip corners. Press under 1.5cm along whole top raw edge. Insert base into bag if desired. Place lining inside fabric bag with wrong sides together. Pin pressed top edges together, aligning side seams and topstitch along whole top edge 3mm in from edge and press.