I started out to make this bag thinking it would be cute but not something I would carry around myself. I was really just doing it as a project option for Week 5 of the Learn to Sew series. But now that it’s done I am in love and I think I just might keep it for myself. If you have a daughter I think it would be fantastic as a little dance bag or you could use it yourself for a library bag. Anyway, I’m pretty excited to show you this ruffle tote bag tutorial.
Three layers of ruffles on a cute little tote bag.
And it’s got hot pink in it. And that makes me happy. But you can do any colors that you want!
And guess what? It’s really not too hard to make at all. Bet you’ll wow people with this one when you are out on the town.
OK, so enough talk. Let’s make this thing!
Ruffle Tote Bag Tutorial:
Supplies Needed:
3 coordinating fabrics. You’ll just need about 1/4 yard of each.
Coordinating ribbon-1-2 yards
1 tote bag (you get them at any craft store and they come in other colors too if you prefer)
Instructions:
1. Cut your fabric pieces so that they are 7″ by 44-45.”
2. Hem each fabric by folding under the long side (the raw edge) about 1/2 inch and then again about 1/2 inch and pressing it. Then straight stitch it in place. Do this on both of the long sides of all 3 pieces.
3. Now you are going to ruffle it. To do this, run a baste stitch along one of the hems you made then gently pull on the top thread and slide the fabric along it and gather it into a ruffle. (More about how to do this in Learn to Sew Lesson 5-coming next week). Gather it until it is twice the width of your tote bag or about 1 inch more.
4. Fold your ruffle in half with right sides together and sew the short end so that the fabric forms a loop now.
5. Slide your fabric onto your tote bag. For the bottom layer try to have it line up so that the bottom of the ruffle is at about the same level as the bottom of you bag. Pin it in place and then sew around the top of the ruffle.
6. Then slide your next layer on and do the same thing lining it up so that it overlaps the bottom layer but leaves several inches showing. Finally do the same with the top layer.
7. Then, pin your ribbon right over the top of your top ruffle (so that you hide the top edge of it). Sew that in place with a straight stitch at the top of the ribbon and at the bottom.
And that’s it! You could add a little bow for embellishment if you want. Pretty great isn’t it?
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Donna says
Love this tutorial. Made one for my granddaughter gave as Christmas gift. Embroidered her name in space on top. She loved it. Wish I had pictured it but, I didn’t. It turned out real cute though. Will most likely make more.
Amber says
So glad you enjoyed the tutorial!
Jennifer says
im trying to embellishing an existing bag. It is 24″ around and 5″ long. Can you help me adjust the amount of fabric? I’m new to sewing. Thanks.
Paula says
For the people wo do not have a portable sewing machine with the free arm for sewing inside a tube, this is the old fashioned way. It works just fine. First, I would pin on the bottom ruffle. Turn your bag inside out. Now you will put the bag with the opening toward the presser foot. Slide the bottom of the opening under the foot. Put the presser foot on the top of the ruffle and stitch. Be sure you are stitching only 1 layer. Do the same steps for the other rows of ruffle
Karen says
Can this be done without an sewing machine? I can sew pretty good but must say am IN LOVE with this tote. Thank you so very much. Karen Carroll Clark.
Amber says
You definitely could, just more time consuming.
amie kelley says
Hi amber, I am trying to sew a slightly ruffles strip onto the front of a dress and my machine keeps pulling it straight. Any advice
Amber says
Did you pin it a lot? I would say make sure you have pins all the way across it to help hold the ruffle in place.
Marie B says
Just saw the answer to the question I had about sewing the bag together when putting on ruffles! Yay! Now I can get to work…..thank, thank you, thank you! I love your projects…..all of them! I just feel bad because you don’t have a little girl to sew for….:(. Oh well. You have proven you can sew for boys, too!
God bless, Amber!
LESLIE F. says
are you splitting open the tote bag to sew on the ruffles as I have found so many tutorials and they all show the tote bag intact and wondering how you are sewing on the ruffles without opening the side seams on the totes?
Amber says
No, just wrap the bag around the machine so that you are sewing through only one layer of the bag at a time and can go all the way around it.
Lela Petty says
I have a little rectangular purse that I like but don’t like the material. I’m going to alter your pattern and cover it. Thanks
April says
Hi Amber,
I made the ruffle bag with your step by step instructions and it was so easy to do. I had a ton of fun with it. I gave it away as a gift for my mom and am making two more for myself. Thank you so much for sharing your pattern and instructions.
jordan says
So it has been a really really long time since I’ve done any sewing, but I want to start making some of my own dresses and stuff and was just looking for a place to reteach me the basics quickly without too much detail so that I can just skim through, refresh myself, and apply my knowledge again. I know I am late to this blog and this series but it is really awesome. This is the first of your projects I’m going to do because I never did much ruffling and it is super cute. I am making a couple of these this evening and am super excited about it.
I just really wanted to say good job on the blog.
Vicky C says
Thanks so much for this brilliant tutorial Amber – I’ve linked to it for readers of my blog. Loving your work x
Here’s my own effort with added internal pockets from upcycled hanging shoe storage http://shabbyshe.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/upcycled-shoe-storage-ruffle-tote-bag/
Bren says
I just made one! It turned out so cute. I made it for my seven year old. I’m making mine tomorrow. I’ll probably have to make one for my 5 year old too. Thanks for the easy and fun project.
Kiara says
I am “totes” making one of these!!!! 😛
Nancy of IN says
Love the tote for my grands. The only problem I see for the new sewer is how to sew on the ruffle. I know that you sew in the round with only the only layer under the needle but the pictures look like you are sewing flat. I can see my self sewing the tote closed.
I hope to get one made for each of IN grands
Amber says
You are going to loop it around the arm of your sewing machine like I describe here: http://crazylittleprojects.com/2013/01/learn-to-sew-series-lesson-1-how-to-sew-a-straight-line.html
sharon says
Thanks bunches for all the time that you’ve put into your site for all of us!
Making this for my daughter. Super excited~
Corina says
When you say hem, do you want the straight stitch on the bottom? Also, for the 2 baste stitches, do you do one on top of your hem stitch and one below? Or where exactly do you put your 2 baste stitches in accordance to your hem stitch.
Amber says
The hem is at the bottom and both of the basting ones are at the top-where the raw edge is.
Ale Zavala says
This is just fabulous! I can’t wait to make a couple of these for my girls.
Question, is there some sort of measure for the length of the ruffle strips? I’m also thinking on making some as favor bags for my 2 year old’s birthday party but I was thinking on using the little canvas bags, I’m sure its easy to figure out but being a newby at sewing I rather ask
Amber says
You’ll want to cut them about 2.5-3 times the circumference of your bag.
Ale Zavala says
Thanks!
figureskater11 says
Made this in under a hour! So excited about it, I got frustrated with the ruffles so I just sewed with shirring elastic thread for 2 rows and it did the job. I also did 4 ruffles instead of 3. Thank you so much for these patterns! 😉
Tiffany says
This would be a super cute halloween candy bag for my 2 yr old. When you fold the ruffle to form the loop how much do you fold under? Just enough to sew the two ends together?
Amber says
Yup! About an inch or half inch.
Krista says
This is super adorable!! I just need to finish my last tote project before starting this one lol
Carrie says
Absolutely adorable! Love your colors! I just did a blog post on totes and featured your bag with a direct link back, here: http://whittskitsfabricscrafts.blogspot.com/2013/04/find-it-free-on-friday-totesbags.html
Thanks for sharing such a great tutorial!
Carrie
Amber says
Thanks for the share!
Jan Remling says
I wish cottons ran 44-45 inches wide. Mostly seeing 42-43 these days. I would hate to have to piece it, but it is so cute, I’m going to make some.
Lindsay @Artsy-Fartsy Mama says
So cute!! Love the fabrics you used 🙂
Christine says
CONGRATS!!!
You have been featured at The DIY Dreamer! Come on over and grab your Featured Button, you deserve it!
http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/features-53/
Christine says
LOVE LOVE LOVE the bag Amber!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality last week!!!
katie goldsworthy says
So cute! I love this ruffle bag. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa says
My DD took one look at this and wants to make one. I think that we will sew our own tote bag to attach the ruffles to. It will be easier to attach the ruffles before sewing the bag together. Thanks for the cute idea!
Meredith @ Wait Til Your Father Gets Home says
This is on my “to do” list for SNAP! Hopefully my sewing skills will get me by, and I’ll have a cute ruffle tote to carry around the conference! :o)
Amber says
We can be matching then because I will probably be carrying mine around there too! 🙂
Jenn says
This is so cute Amber! I totally want to do your sewing series when I have a little more time. I have a nice lonely sewing machine sitting in my craft room! 🙂
Kristiann says
I like this idea! it doesn’t take very much fabric either.
Janette @ www.thejohansonjourney.com says
Very cute ruffle tote!! I love all things ruffle. I just wish i could sew…. I’ve got it on my list of things to learn! 🙂
Amber says
You do know that I am teaching everyone to sew right now right? Join in! 🙂
JoAnn @ SweetPepperRose says
Now I just LOVE this!
Amber says
Thanks-I kind of love it too. 🙂
Jeni says
Your bag is very cute!
Laura @ House Of Joyful Noise says
SO ADORABLE! (Or….sew adorable!)
Pinned!
Amber says
Thanks!
Lisa Hall says
Oh my goodness! This is so adorable Amber!
I have to try making one.
Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Lisa
Amber says
You can do it!
lindsey says
I’ve tried the ruffle thing by pulling on the thread carefully but I havent been sucessful yet….looking forward to your tutorial
April says
I had a similar issue and found that I had to set my stitch length to a longer length. Only set the longer stitch length for the part that is for forming the ruffle. I think I set it to 4 from 2.5. I was able to create my ruffle without breaking the thread. I hope this helps.
Cozette says
Love this bag! Great for presents!
Katka F says
I was also wondering how you would position the bag so that you don’t sew the bag closed while sewing the 3 tiers of ruffles on it.
Amber says
I should have taken a picture of this for this bag. BUT, I do have it in this tutorial here: http://crazylittleprojects.com/2013/01/learn-to-sew-series-lesson-1-how-to-sew-a-straight-line.html. You need to take off the front part of you machine and sew like I am showing in that very first picture-the leg of the pajama pants. Do you see what I am talking about? You can loop the fabric around your machine and sew it.
Katka F says
oh ok! thank you! I didn’t realize you could do that! Now I’m excited to go try it out on my machine! thank u Amber! I love this learn to sew series!! I’m actually sewing 🙂
Amber says
I love hearing that. 🙂
Christy S. Lube says
Ohh.. hm.. my machine is built into its own table :/ There still has to be a way to do it, though, I would think?
Amber says
Definitely…but I don’t know. Good luck!
Christy S. Lube says
My Mom is coming to visit in a couple of weeks, so I will ask her when she is here 😀 (She has a similar age machine, though hers does more stuff.) I will try to remember to post what I find out!
Thank you 🙂
Amber says
Oh good!
Christy S. Lube says
That is SO cute!! I am confused on how to get the bag situated where you can sew the ruffle on it, though.
Janelle @ Emmaline says
Hi, found your blog on the Keep Calm link party. I also shared a bag. Great job! Janelle @Emmaline Bags.
Amber says
Hello! 🙂
Sara - My Merry Messy Life says
Oh, this is super cute! I am partial to hot pink as well :). I love the ruffles. Thanks for sharing at Hookin On Hump Day!
Tammy W says
This is really cute but I have no need for another bag so I will make this with one of the bags I already have. I have bags with logos on them that I can use because you won’t see the logo once the ruffles are sewn on 🙂
I love the fabric you used, ubber cute!!
Amber says
That’s such a good idea!
Deena says
How can I buy one I have now sewing experience and really want it Just like the tutorial
Amber says
Um, find a friend who sews and hook her up with my blog. 🙂
Peg H says
This is super-cute! I just love it & can’t wait to make one. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Michelle Lubbers says
Super cute bag! Ruffles, hot pink, polka dots?! Really, nothing not to like there =)!!
Linda says
I love this ! I will be making this after I make the project for week #4.
Sara says
What is your policy on selling completed projects from your tutorials?
Amber says
You know, I have had several people ask me this and I haven’t known what to say. So, I’ve thought about it (hence the delay in responding) and this is what I think. I am fine with you selling things I have tutorials for (I don’t plan to do much selling of things so no worries there) but I would like some credit. So, if you could please put a link back to Crazy Little Projects (just the main page is fine) in your product listing I would really appreciate it! 🙂
melle e says
!! Thank you so much! You have some great ideas and projects! I’m already making them as gifts. Nice to know I can list them on our Etsy shop also. 🙂
Melle
Shelia Evans says
Can you please send me some information on how you set up Etsy account? How much it cost?
Thank you so much!
Amber says
Sorry, I don’t have an Etsy account and don’t know how to create one. 🙂
Joyce LeBlanc says
I love this idea i am thinking of making some for my grand daughters & maybe one for myself .