Origami-Fold Bag Tutorial

Origami Fabric Bag Tutorial: Easy to Make Tote Bag.

This sweet and simple bag is a surefire way to add style and individuality to your daytime look. Pick your favourite patterns and colours and team them up for a Japanese-inspired accessory that's uniquely yours. 

MATERIALS

■    Patterned cotton fabric, 35 x 99cm (13 3/4 x 39")
■    Plain cotton fabric, 35 x 99cm (13 3/4 x 39")
■    Matching sewing thread
■    Beige felt, 16 x 5.5cm (6 3/8 x 2 1/4“)
■    Tailor's chalk
■    Set square

1. Place the plain and patterned fabrics right sides (RS) together and pin. Sew around all four edges using a 1.5cm (5/8") seam allowance, and leaving a 5cm (2") gap.

2. Trim the seam allowance to 1cm (3/8") and clip the corners.

Turn the fabric RS out and press, folding in the edges of the turning gap to the wrong side (WS). Sew the gap closed.

3. Positioning the fabric with the patterned side up, fold the bottom right hand corner up to meet the top edge, creating a triangle. Fold the top left corner down in the same way.

4. Make a diagonal fold along the middle of the patterned fabric, bringing the top right hand corner down towards you.

5. Where the plain fabric edges meet, pinch together with patterned sides facing and pin 0.5cm (1/4") in. Carefully turn the folded fabric over and pin where the edges meet on the other side in the same way. Sew the pinned lines, oversewing at the start and the end to secure.

6. Turn the bag RS (patterned side) out. Bring together the two points to form the handle, pin together neatly, then sew using zigzag stitch. 7. Wrap the felt lengthways around the section where the points join, making sure you position the long edges on the underside of the handle. Pin the long edges together, then sew to secure.