Free Pattern to Sew a Cat Lover's Tote Bag

Sew a tote any cat lover would enjoy. The tote pictured is made from ½ yard of Debbie Mumm's design for Jo-Ann Fabric which has a print of cat food cans, fish skeletons and feathers on a solid background. I created a cat appliqué showing a cat waiting with the food dish in its paws.

The design for the appliqué is shown on a one inch graph in the pictures attached to this content. You may find an appropriate finished appliqué to purchase or a printed fabric square for an appliqué.

Materials:

½ yard 45 inch fabric for tote

½ yard 45 inch fabric for lining

Interfacing if desired

Sewing machine

Contrasting thread

Scissors

Paper for appliqué pattern

Wonder-Under Fusible Web

Iron

Pieces of felt or other material for appliqué

Cut two 17X13 inch pieces of fabric for tote front and back

Cut two 17X4 inch pieces of fabric for handles

Cut pockets from remaining material for optional inside pockets

Cut two 17X13 pieces of lining and interfacing

Cut one 35X2 inch piece of interfacing for handles

Cut appliqué pieces from paper for pattern

Cut appliqué pieces from fabric

Step1:

Make the appliqué pattern from the graph provided. Cut fabric pieces for the appliqué. Follow the Wonder-Under directions to prepare the appliqué for fusing onto the front. Place the appliqué pieces onto the right side of the front and fuse the design. Place the fabric front onto the front interfacing and stitch around the design adding whiskers and a mouth with machine or hand stitches.

Step 2:

Place the appliquéd front on a flat surface and place the back fabric and interfacing on top; right sides of fabric together. Stitch around the edges and bottom using a ½ inch seam allowance. Set aside.

Step 3:

Make the handles by folding the fabric in half and pressing; wrong sides of fabric together. Place the handle interfacing inside the folded fabric and turn under the raw edges and pin closed. Stitch the handles edges to finish the handle. Fold the handle in half to form two handle pieces. Set aside.

Step 4:

Make the optional pockets at this time. Sew the pockets to the right side of the lining as desired. Place the right sides of the tote lining together right sides facing and sew the sides only. Leave the top and bottom open. Set aside.

Step 5:

Turn the pieces of the tote to the inside; right sides facing. Pin the handles in place tucking them inside the bag as they are pinned onto the raw edges. Turn the tote lining inside so that the right sides are facing. Tuck the lining inside the tote and pin around the top edge lining up the seams and pining around the handle edges. Sew around the top edge of the tote using a 5/8 inch seam allowance. Grab inside the tote through the lining and turn the bag. Place the bottom edges of the lining together and sew closed. Tuck the bottom of the lining inside the bottom of the tote. Pin the top edge of the tote together turning the seam edge slightly toward the inside of the tote aligning the seams. Top stitch the top edge of the tote approximately ½ inch from the top edge.