Hello everyone

Happy new week and a beautiful Monday to you all, it's another creative week for us all in this community Hive account@needleworkmonday here we show case our creative design and also learn from others who share their work as well, this community has been so helpful to me in so many ways as I have learnt so many things here. It's nice to be here today to share with you all how I made this simple tote bag with side zipper for my sister's friend's daughter with the combination of two fabrics for carrying her books and other items to school.

My sister friend's daughter gained admission into the higher institution and has been planning to resume school and in preparation, she will need so many things to go with including bags to carry some of her books to class, her mother contacted me to make few simple bags for her since she has spent a lot on other important things and to cut cost, they have decided to make fabric bag instead of buying the expensive ones in stores.

This is the first tote bag I made for her as I will be sharing others subsequently, join me as I take you through the cutting and sewing process

I used two colors of matching fabric to design it so as to make it look more beautiful.

From the main fabric, I measured and cut out 13.5 x 10" with interfacing iron on it and it was used to cut out 2 pieces of lining

I measured 2 pieces from same fabric measuring 9 x 3" and 9 x 6.5" with interfacing iron on both fabrics

For the side pocket, I cut out lining of 9 x 10"

I placed the lining on the 9 x 6.5" of fabric with zipper and it was sewn together

The lining was folded up and I placed the other piece of 9 x 3" on the other side of the zipper and it was sewn together and top stitch on

For the combination of the tote bag, I cut out 2 pieces of fabric from another color measuring 3 x 10" with interfacing iron on both

It was sewn to both sides of the piece with zipper and the excess zipper was trimmed off

For the handle, I measured and cut out 2 pieces of fabric from the lemon color measuring 4 x 16"

It was folded and sewn together after which it was placed 2.5" from the middle on both sides and sewn to both sides

It was placed together right side to right side and was sewn together on both sides, I measured 1.5" on both sides to make a square, it was cut out and sewn together

The same process was repeated on the lining as well leaving an opening at the bottom where it can be turned inside out after sewing the main bag to it

I turned the bag to the right side, insert it in the lining and it was sewn at the top round

The main bag was turned to the right side through the opening on the lining and i top stitched at the top and also on the opening on the lining

This is the final look of the tote bag with some books arranged in it and the side zipper can be used to keep her mobile phone and some cash.

Back view

I hope you like the beautiful outcome with the combination of two fabrics.

Thanks so much for your time, support, comment and encouragement. Until my next post, do have a great and productive week.