How To Make A Florence Tote Bag

So, you’ve bought your gorgeous Florence Broadhurst fabric and completed your project… What do you do with that end piece?

Make a very useful tote is what you do!

After a few searches on Pinterest I found an easy, no zipper, fold over tote.

What You’ll Need

• Florence Broadhurst fabric. This one is Swedish Stripe ‘Autumn’ printed onto Palermo velvet.
• Contrasting fabric for lining.
• Fabric for handle tabs (I used the same as the lining)
• Either fabric for the strap or, I utilised a handle off another bag.

Prepping The Tote Bag Pattern

Using the width of fabric I had left leftover, I folded it until getting the depth of the bag I wanted.

The Sewing Part

Putting a 3/4 lining in was super easy as you don’t sew the bottom in and I also made the handle tabs out of the lining fabric.

I started by sewing my lining to the tops of the bag and finishing the seams and the hem on the lining.

Then I pinned a very easy tuck in the bottom in the bag to create a no-cut gusset.

• For the bag handle, either pin in your handle tabs (if you’re re-purposing a bag strap like I did) or pin the full length of strap at the point you want your fold-over flap.
• Sew up the sides.
• Turn the right side out to check everything is where you want it to be. Then turn it back inside out and finish your seams.
• Next, turn the right side out and tuck your lining back in.
• Pin top the opening and top stitch all way around.

If you made handle tabs, now attach the strap and you are done!

You have yourself a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Florence Broadhurst tote bag.

Tote-ally amazing, don’t you think?