Upcycled Tote Bag: Part 2

Did you catch yesterday’s part 1 of upcycling a pair of cargo pants into a tote bag? On to part 2 today!

Now that you have your handles made, place them 2” from the edge at the top of the bag’s exterior. Pin in place with right sides together.

Stitch with a basting stitch as close to the edge as you can. (You won’t see these stitches after the bag is finished.) Repeat for the other strap and other exterior piece.

No picture for this step, but place the exterior pieces right sides together. Stitch around both sides and the bottom of the bag, using a 1/2” seam allowance.

Stitch the lining together. Use a 5/8” seam allowance. Stitch both sides and part of the bottom, leaving an opening large enough to place your hand into.

Now you’ll assemble the whole bag. To do this, turn both the exterior and the lining inside out. Pin the exterior and lining together at the lip of the bag. Make sure that the handles are tucked inside, away from the pins.

Stitch around the lip of the bag using a 1/2” seam allowance.

Place your hand through the opening you left at the bottom of the lining and turn the whole thing right sides out.

Press the raw edges under at the lining’s opening.

 

Stitch the opening closed.

Next, you’re going to add some decorative stitching to the straps. Measure down 2” from the top…

…fold the strap back over onto itself and pin in place. 

Now stitch between the original stitching on the strap, over the bottom and around the other side. (This is optional, but I liked how it looked.)

Press the whole bag flat.

Carries books.

 

Tools.

And, if it were spring, it would make a cute Easter basket.

Now you can make your own bag or buy one from my Etsy shop. It has been sold to a happy home.