In today’s YouTube video, I'm continuing my series of videos using fabric scraps to sew handmade gifts, with a tutorial for sewing a reusable flower tote. This is a great tote to take to the farmer's market and reduce your plastic use. Plus, it's also a really nice way to wrap flowers as a gift. Use this tote to give flowers as a hostess gift or, because it's 2020 and we're all social distancing, you can also leave the flowers wrapped in this tote at your friend's door. After the flowers are spent, they'll still be able to use and reuse the tote.
For this tote, I used a medium weight linen for the exterior and a lightweight cotton for the lining. This tutorial makes a medium sizes tote but you can easily make it larger or smaller by changing the size of the fabric squares. I think a little mini flower holder would make a really cute place setting, filled with small flowers or sprigs of fresh herbs.
The strap and tie are optional. You can make your own out of strips of fabric or use a pre-made ribbon. You could also use a piece of rope or ribbon tied around the stems, without sewing it to the tote.
Watch the video above for all the details on how to make the flower tote. Or, scroll down for written instructions. If the video above doesn’t work for some reason, you can watch it on YouTube here.
How to sew a reusable flower tote
SUPPLIES
Main Fabric
Lining fabric
Thread
2 pieces of 30” ribbon for ties/strap
TOOLS USED IN THIS TUTORIAL
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Cut two squares of fabric. In the video, I use 16” squares for a medium sized tote.
If you want a larger or smaller tote, cut your squares larger or smaller. The construction is the same. For a large tote, try a 24" square. For a mini bouquet, try a 8" square.
Step 2: With right sides together, fold fabric in half on the diagonal. Using a .5” seam allowance, stitch along one edge. Repeat with lining fabric. Press seams open.
Step 3: (optional) Fold fabric with seam centered in the middle of the cone shape. Draw a line near the point of the cone that is two inches long and perpendicular to the seam line. Stitch across line. Cut off point of cone. Repeat for lining.
Step 4: Turn fabric right side and push out corner of the bottom of the cone with a knitting needle or other blunt tool. Put the lining inside the main fabric with wrong sides together. Align the raw edges of the opening and baste at .5”. Trim lining fabric close to basting stitches.
Step 5: Fold and press raw edge to lining side .5 inch and again .5 inch. To make a mitered corner, see this tutorial. Topstitch hem.
Step 6: Attach strap and/or ties by topstitching them to the bag.
This flower tote is a great way to use up your fabric scraps and live a more sustainable lifestyle. Who doesn’t have a square or two of fabric laying around? If you’re looking for more ways to use scrap fabric and want to sign up for the Sustainability and Sewing newsletter that I mentioned in the video, click here.
This tutorial is the third in my series of tutorials for holiday gifts that use scrap fabric. Make sure to check out my tutorials for mitered corner napkins and a 3D style face mask. I hope that you enjoy this series and enjoy sewing this flower tote.
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