Fast & Frugal tote bag

A great tutorial from Daisha

Here is an extremely easy Placemat Tote Bag Tutorial for you. This is such a cute, cheap, simple and frugal way to make a new bag to take with you to the kids soccer games, the park, or to church. The possibilities for colors and fabrics are endless.

Here's what you need:

- 2 Placemats
- 1 spool of ribbon
- Thread
- A few pins
- Sewing Machine

That's it. I got all my supplies at Walmart. The placemats where  $1 each and the ribbon $2.97 - only $5.00 for a new fun homemade bag!

Here's what you do:
1. Cut off a few inches ( I took off 3) from the length of your placemats.

2. Fold under 1/4 inch than another 1/4-1/2 inch so all those frayed ends are tucked inside. Then sew to hem and secure. This will be the top edge of your bag. (Make sure your thread matches your bag here.)

3. Cut your spool of ribbon in half. Lay the ribbon out from the bottom of the placemat up and around to make the handle for each mat. To ensure your ribbons are going to match up measure 3-3.5 inches from the outer edge on both sides. Pin the ribbon in place.

Once pinned lay the two placemats with right sides together and check to make sure that the ribbons line up correctly at the bottom, so once you  complete the project everything will be lined up and matching.

4.  Carefully sew the ribbon on to each placemat sewing very close to the edge on each side of the ribbon.

5. Put the placemats right sides together. Line up the bottom ribbons and pin the two sides and bottom. Sew the edges together  about 1/4 inch from the edge.

6. To square off the bottom you need to pull the sides of the bag away from each other. Then you will grab one corner and squish the bottom and side seams together until they line up. Just feel with your hand to make sure the seams line up and pin in place. (I hope that explains it well enough:) I used pics from another bag I made because they were easier to see. Let me know if you have questions.)

7.  Sew about 2 inches in from the "triangle tip". Repeat on the other side.

8. Turn your bag inside out and admire your work!! 

TA-DA!