Let’s face it, these ruffle totes are all over the place right now. Â And honestly, my girls love them!! (secretly, I do too.)
My tote bag is on the small side so, I am going to use it as a gift bag when finished. I just dipped into the fabric stash and created this super cute tote bag in a snap. Really, it is super simple. It took me less that 1/2hr from start to finish. That includes gathering up my supplies and setting up the ironing board!  If you can stitch a straight line, this project is calling you!!
Let’s not stop here. I have these drawstring bags with advertising on them that would make the perfect summer bag. (I’m thinking towels, sunscreen and bike riding!)
Ruffle Tote Bag Makeover
This project is for sewers of all levels.
Skill Level- 1 Button
Materials:
- Tote bag
- Strips of fabric (I used two patterns)
- Rip your larger ruffle  4 1/2″ wide x 22″ long. Rip your smaller ruffle 2 1/2″ wide x 21″ long. (Ruffle length is roughly double the length of the bag.)
- Fold under about 1/2″ the top edge of your ruffle strips for a clean edge, pin in place at top and bottom. Â **Note- it is important to pin at the bottom. At first I did not and my ruffle curved towards the center. I needed to rip out a few stitches, pin in place and restitch.
- Using your machine on a standard straight stitch, stitch down the center of the ruffle. As you are stitching with needle in the down position, lift up your presser foot and bunch up fabric into ruffle.  This is very free form, if you are looking for something more uniform, pin your ruffles in place. Just be sure not to stitch through your pins.  😉
- When you come to the bottom of your ruffle, turn under about 1/2″ of each ruffle for a clean edge. Be sure to back stitch at top and bottom.
- You are finished!! I added a zipper flower pin for a fun embellishment.
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Comments & Reviews
great idea Heather!!
Ótima idéia. Obrigada.
SÃlvia
Brasil
Translation-
Great idea. Thank you.
Silvia
If you make it Silvia, please send me a photo!! I would love to see!!
Se você fizer isso Silvia, por favor me envie uma foto! Eu adoraria ver!
Love it! Please post this, and anything else you may have, in my link party at
http://diycraftstomake.blogspot.com/
Thanks,
Peggy
Thanks Peggy. I am heading over to link up!
~Heather
Love these you need to post them to upcycled Awesome this week! http://tinyurl.com/upcycled67
A great way to jazz up a simple tote. I’d love for you to share this (and any other bags) at my linky that’s exclusively for bags… http://threadingmyway.blogspot.com/2012/01/threading-your-way-bags-and-totes-link.html
Hello Pam, thanks for the suggestion. I added it to your collection.
Thanks for linking up…