Rag Rug Tote

You are going to love love love this tote bag!  A few years ago I made these with a friend and the help of my mom--the sewing expert--since then it is my go to bag when I'm packing for trips, pool, beach, etc.  It is so durable and it seems you can squeeze so much into them because they stretch.  Can you imagine a little Rag Throw Rug can be this cute!?

For those of you that don't sew don't get discouraged because this bag could very easily be done with a heavy duty needle and thread.  Use a needle like these Yarn Darners:

You will need:

A rag rug with NO fringe on the ends. 

(I got this one at Target a couple years ago but they do have new ones now.  You can probably find rag rugs at most big box stores--Target, Wal Mart, TJ Maxx, World Market etc.)

Pins

Grosgrain Ribbon

Webbing for the straps

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Heavy Duty Needle for machine

Thread to match your bag

1:  Gather up your supplies

2:  Fold your rug in half (wrong side of rug is facing you) to line up the top

3:  Start stitching on your machine or by hand.  Be sure to not force it through your machine.  You may have to do alot of "walking" the needle to get it through the heavy rug

4:  Hold it nice and tight so you can get the seams even and no puckers

5:  See all those broken needles?  Yep, that was from machine sewing with heavy duty needles so if you try to rush it you will go through alot of needles.  Patience is good when doing this bag.

6:  Once you bag is stitched on the to sides lay out your webbing and your grosgrain ribbon to be the length you want.  My straps are about 26 inches long.  Sew the grosgrain to the webbing.  You will stitch both sides of the ribbon.

7:  Sew the grosgrain ribbon to the webbing.  Follow right along the edge of the ribbon.

8:  Now that the handles are ready, take the finished bag and open it up so the seams are facing each other.

9:  Lay the bag flat on the table so you have points.

10:  See how your bag has the points facing you?  That is what you want.

11:  Measure in about 3 inches

12:  This is the spot you are going to stitch across so you have a gussett.  You will stitch horizontally across the bag where your 3 inch mark is.

13:  Handsew across the point of the bag to create your gussett

14:  This is what the bottom of the bag will look like when you turn it right side out

15:  Now that the bag is right side out, lay it flat on the table again and you are going to get ready to place the straps

16:  Measure across the top of your bag and mark the center with a pin

17:  Decide where you want your straps to be placed--mine are 4 inches out from the middle.  This will vary depending on the size of rug you purchase. You want to fold the raw edge of your webbing under just a tad when you pin the stap in place.

18:  Start sewing the webbing to the bag, being sure you sew all the edges tightly.  You can do this by hand too.

19:  A shot showing how the handles look

20:  Here is the finished product

21:  Ready to roll with my Rag Rug Tote

22:  A few other bags shown in this photo

These are great to keep in your car for all sorts of uses but you will love them as a market tote!

Have you made these before?  If so leave a comment below.

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