Boro Scrap Tote Bag

Measuring approx 15"x 12½"

[email protected] www.nellsbellesdesigns.com.au Boro Scrap Tote Bag

Sewing Supplies Stitching Variety of 100% fabric scraps I used cotton. Alternatively, you can Two 16" x 13" pieces of calico fabric choose to use the traditional sashiko or Two 16" x 13" pieces of inside fabric cotton. Two 4" x 32" strips of fabric for the straps Parlan or wadding Before you start to , be creative and have a Cotton thread think about the direction of your stitches.

Hand stitch using a running stitch. I stitched Instructions mine in a vertically and horizontally design. As Now is the fun part. an alternative, you could do circular stitching to emphasise a particular piece of fabric. On the calico fabric, lay out your pieces of cotton fabric scraps in a design that There is no limitation to the stitching designs is pleasing to your eye. you can use or the width between each line of stitching.

I marked my stitching lines with a chalk marker however, you may choose to do yours freehand so there is a natural variation to your stitching.

Be confident and have fun stitching.

Repeat for the second side of the bag. Ensure that your patchwork design is slightly bigger than the calico fabric and that all your pieces of scrap fabric are layered and overlap each other.

Pin them all into place.

Run a tacking stitch over each piece of fabric to hold it all in place.

[email protected] www.nellsbellesdesigns.com.au

Page 1 Boro Scrap Tote Bag

Body Of The bag Once you have completed both sides iron a piece of parlan to the wrong side of each side of the bag.

Trim off any excess fabric, ensuring both sides measure the same width and length.

Place the fabrics right sides together.

Using a ¼" allowance sew down the Draw a line across the bottom of the ruler. sides and across the bottom raw edges. Add a couple of to secure the fabric. To give the bag some depth, box the corners. Using your , sew along the Press the seams open. drawn line. Be sure to secure it with backstitching at the beginning and the end. Pinch and pull apart the corner of the bag so the side seam and the base seam line up Note: If you wish you could reinforce the corner together and form a peak in the corner. by going over the stitching line a couple of times to add that extra strength at the corner. It's important that the seams align perfectly. Repeat these steps for the other corner. Place a in the seams along the stitch line to hold them together. away the peak ¼" from the seam and turn the bag right side out. Place it down on a flat surface and using a quilters ruler, place a line on the ruler directly Bag Lining

on top of the seam line. Iron parlan to the wrong sides of the lining fabric. Slide the ruler down from the peak to form your desired size for the boxed corner. Place the fabrics right sides together.

Be sure that the fabric on the left side of the Using a ¼" seam sew down the sides and seam measures exactly the same as the fabric across the bottom leaving at least a 6" opening on the right side. If they don't, adjust the box in the centre of the base of the bag. corner and measure again. Box the corners. I boxed my corners so that each side of the seam line measured 2". [email protected] www.nellsbellesdesigns.com.au

Page 2 Boro Scrap Tote Bag

Straps Assembling The Tote Bag

Iron parlan to the wrong side of your strap Slide the lining over the tote bag so the right fabric. sides of the fabric are together. Be sure that the straps are sandwiched between the two fabrics. With wrong sides together, fold the shoulder strap fabric in half and press the entire length of Align the side seams and pin it all into place. the strap. Using a ¼" sew all the way Open the fabric and fold each raw edge to the around the top edge of the bag. centre and press. Note: Due to the bulk, I used my to Fold the strap together and press. sew it all together.

Close the strap by ⅛" seam allowance Reach through the hole in the bottom of the along the long edge of the opening of the strap. lining and turn the bag right side out.

Topstitch ⅛" seam allowance along the other Fold in the raw edges of the bag lining and side of the strap. stitch the edges closed. at the beginning and the end. Repeat these steps to make the second strap. Tuck the bag lining down into the bag and press around the top edge of the tote.

Finish the bag by topstitching along the top edge.

Your ready now to use your new tote bag.

Pin the straps to the top edge of the outer fabric of the tote bag, aligning the raw edges of the handles and raw edges of the bag.

Pin the straps to the top of the bag 3" from each side. [email protected] www.nellsbellesdesigns.com.au Be careful not to twist the handles Page 3 Boro Scrap Tote Bag

Thank you for downloading my .

I do hope you enjoyed making it.

I would love to see how you made your Boro Scrap Tote Bag.

You are welcome to share your pictures on our Facebook page.

I also invite you to visit our website regularly for more patterns and inspiration.

www.nellsbellesdesigns.com.au

In the meantime...

Stay Happy

Stay Motivated

Enjoy Life

Jenelle

[email protected] www.nellsbellesdesigns.com.au

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