DIY Weekender Tote

Suitcases are great but sometimes all you need is a big weekender tote. Here's a super easy tutorial for creating your own from a vintage blanket. We used real leather for our straps but you could use faux or thrifted belts instead! Have fun customizing your own weekender tote.1. Supplies: Thrifted blanket or rug, yarn (we used bright yarns c/o Premier Yarns), leather, scissors, needle, large buttons. 2. Begin by cutting out the base and sides of your bag. You can make the bag whatever size works for you best. Our measurements were a 24x16 in. base and the sides pieces were 6 1/2 in. wide and then 24 inches all along the edge of the side. 3. Next, cut out a strip of leather for the handles. The strip should be 4x the length of your bag which made ours 96 inches. This is a very long strip but you can definitely sew strips together so you won't have to purchase as much leather. Once you've cut out the leather, sew it all together, making one big hoop. 4. Next, begin sewing the leather onto the bag with the yarn. We made big, messy stitches with different colored yarn all the way around. 5. Once you've finishing sewing on the leather it will look like so. Make sure the straps have an even length on both sides. 6. Then, begin sewing on the sides of the bag. 7. After you've sewn on the sides, stitch on three buttons to the front. 8. Lastly, stitch along the edge to secure it from fraying. (We only had to stitch one side of the top hem because we used the edge of the blanket for one side). As you're stitching the top hem, add loops of yarn symmetrical to the buttons on the other side. This will be the latch to close the bag shut.Stuff your bag with a summer dress and a few esstentials and take a weekend trip somwhere this month! xo. emma and elsie

Comments

[marcela]

amazing! love your blog, elsie!

[Tinacious.Me]

great idea! perfect for the weekend!
http://www.tinacious.me

[stephanie kelley]

AWESOME!!! I can't wait to try this :)

Steph at http://mycreativebrightside.blogspot.com

[Jenn]

This looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing. I totally want to try it.

[kat]

Really cute project. It would be great to work on while traveling as much as it is good for travel. Thanks for sharing!

[Natasha Fatah]

you MADE that tote!?
Ok yeah, that one is pretty cool. :)

xoxo
~Natasha Fatah~

[Erin]

So cute. You girls find the best patterns! xo

http://www.insidethebirdcage.com

[Allie]

Oh I just love this! I'm going to keep my eye out for a cute blanket to try this with now!

Thanks for sharing, ladies!
xo, Allie

[rory]

I love the fun print on that! SO PERFECT for the summer and spring! :)
Rory
http://www.wearaboutsblog.com

[Heather]

Very cute! Love the idea of having a personalized, handmade bag!
xo Heather
http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/

[Kate]

I actually cannot express how much I love this DIY! I am so excited to make my own! Now all I need is to find a rug!
www.styleisalwaysfashionable.blogspot.com

[Megan]

I love it! I'm going to have to try out some of your ideas soon :)

Megan @ Storybook Love Affair

[Viveca Johansen]

It's amazing, this!

http://stainsofpaint.blogspot.com/

[Vicky]

love it!!

xo, vicky
http://somehowlovely.blogspot.com

[Elizabeth]

So cute! And so simple!

[Joanna]

This is cute :)

[Annir]

oh this is so sweet! love the idea. the neon colors are so eyecatching!!

X, Annie
www.anniwear.blogspot.com

[Laura]

Fab idea, I'd love to try this!

[Rachael]

I love the way you could personalise this bag to suit your own colours etc.Rx

http://sandersonsmithstory.blogspot.co.uk/

[Vivi K]

Super cute!

http://vivikstyle.blogspot.com