Toddler Tote

Happy New Year!

This is a project that you could do any time of year, but I made it for my granddaughter for Christmas.  I couldn’t show you before, because my daughter reads my blog on occasion, so I had to wait until now.  To make this tote I used remnants and scraps of fabric I already had.

The main part of the bag is made from some remnants of dropcloth that I had.  The toile-like children’s storybook fabric was a long remnant that I had bought over the Summer, figuring it would be good for “something”.  The blue and white polka dot was a scrap I had left when I made the rag quilt here.

This is not really a tutorial since there are so many good ones on other blogs and Pinterest.  I will tell you that I like simple, so I went really simple and easy in putting this together.  I cut the dropcloth 12 x 18 {the remnant was already 12 inches wide}, using the finished edge as the top opening.

I put right sides together and sewed the two sides and bottom.  I wanted to do the ruffle under the band of patterned fabric, but after ripping it out for the third time, I went an easier way.  I hemmed the band of fabric on all four sides and attached it to the tote.  Then I added the ruffle to the bottom of the band.  To hide the rough edges of the ruffle, I sewed on a thin trim that just covered it all.  So it all worked out in the end.

To make it a little more personal, I then took one of the “E’s” out of a CREATIVE sign I have in my craft/sewing room.  It was the perfect size to cut an “E” out of the patterned fabric to add to the tote {for my granddaughter’s first name}.  I ironed on some fusible interfacing to give it some support, then used fabric glue to glue it onto the bag.

The finishing touch was the handles, which is webbing that I did have to buy, but I used a coupon, so it was just a few dollars.  It will be the perfect tote for her to bring to the library for the books she takes out, or for visits to LaLa’s house!