drawstring tote

Click image to enlarge

Designer: Lisa Truesdell

 Summer means long days spent swimming – and heading to the beach or pool means rounding up a lot of STUFF.  Swim trunks, hats, towels, sunscreen, sand toys – and someone has to carry it all!  This simple drawstring backpack will be a perfect way to let your child carry their own things to and from the water.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

1. Using your ComfortGrip Rotary Trimmer, trim fabric to 18in x 13in.

2. Iron the top edge over 1/4in, and then iron your new edge over 1.5in.

3. Mark where the pressed edge comes down to, and then iron the sides in ¼ in from the top of the fabric to that line. Stitch into place.

4. Fold the top edge back over and stitch into place along the bottom. This creates a pocket for your drawstring.
5. Trim a piece of fabric to 9 x 7.5in for the pocket.

6. Apply iron on interfacing to a small scrap of fabric.  Use your USX template to trace a star onto the fabric, and then cut out using pinking sheers.
7. Iron into place in the center of the pocket, then stitch into place.
8. Fold over all 4 edges of the pocket 1/4in. Sew along the top of the pocket.  Pin the pocket in place on one of the larger pieces of fabric and sew along the remaining three sides.
9. Place your two large pieces of fabric right sides together and pin along the sides and bottom.  Stitch around those three sides. Leave a small gap at the bottom corner of each side.
10. Flip the bag right side out and iron the seams.
11. Cut the cording into 2 pieces – 1 should be about 12 inches longer than the other. Thread the short piece through the drawstring pocket on the front of the bag and out the other side.  Thread the longer piece through the back drawstring pocket and out the other side, and then through the front drawstring pocket and out the other side, then back through the back drawstring pocket.
12. Tuck the ends of your drawstrings into the holes you left in step 9.  You might want to have your child try the backpack on so you can adjust the length to fit.  Pin in place and stitch the holes shut.  I went over mine several times to make sure the drawstrings would be able to stand up to stress.

Supplies:

Fiskars : 12-9898 softgrip pinking shears
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_softgrip-pinking-fabric-shears.aspx
Fiskars : 12-87327097 6.5x24.5in Easy To Read Ruler
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_65-x-245-easy-to-read-ruler.aspx
Fiskars : 12-83717097 18x24in Cutting mat
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_18x24mat.aspx
Fiskars : 12-9476 7097 No 5 Softgrip MicroTip Scissors
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_comfort-grip-micro-tip-scissors.aspx
Fiskars : 12-4856 7097 Stars Shape Template
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-stars-1-wcoloni.aspx

Other: ½ yard fabric (bag), fabric scrap (appliqué), interfacing, 4 yards of cording