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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Sara says
January 31, 2013 at 9:13 amWhat is your policy on selling completed projects from your tutorials?
Amber says
February 5, 2013 at 1:43 pmYou 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
February 5, 2013 at 5:57 pm!! 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
October 11, 2018 at 10:01 amCan you please send me some information on how you set up Etsy account? How much it cost?
Thank you so much!
Amber says
October 19, 2018 at 8:14 amSorry, I don’t have an Etsy account and don’t know how to create one. :)
Joyce LeBlanc says
April 20, 2013 at 10:07 amI love this idea i am thinking of making some for my grand daughters & maybe one for myself .
Linda says
January 31, 2013 at 9:28 amI love this ! I will be making this after I make the project for week #4.
Michelle Lubbers says
January 31, 2013 at 9:31 amSuper cute bag! Ruffles, hot pink, polka dots?! Really, nothing not to like there =)!!
Peg H says
January 31, 2013 at 9:44 amThis is super-cute! I just love it & can’t wait to make one. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Tammy W says
January 31, 2013 at 9:59 amThis 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
January 31, 2013 at 9:45 pmThat’s such a good idea!
Deena says
April 9, 2013 at 8:55 pmHow can I buy one I have now sewing experience and really want it Just like the tutorial
Amber says
April 11, 2013 at 7:43 amUm, find a friend who sews and hook her up with my blog. :)
Sara - My Merry Messy Life says
January 31, 2013 at 4:36 pmOh, this is super cute! I am partial to hot pink as well :). I love the ruffles. Thanks for sharing at Hookin On Hump Day!
Janelle @ Emmaline says
January 31, 2013 at 5:48 pmHi, found your blog on the Keep Calm link party. I also shared a bag. Great job! Janelle @Emmaline Bags.
Amber says
January 31, 2013 at 9:44 pmHello! :)
Christy S. Lube says
January 31, 2013 at 6:21 pmThat is SO cute!! I am confused on how to get the bag situated where you can sew the ruffle on it, though.
Katka F says
January 31, 2013 at 8:08 pmI 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
January 31, 2013 at 9:43 pmI 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
February 1, 2013 at 11:42 amoh 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
February 1, 2013 at 5:22 pmI love hearing that. :)
Christy S. Lube says
February 4, 2013 at 10:48 amOhh.. 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
February 4, 2013 at 1:12 pmDefinitely…but I don’t know. Good luck!
Christy S. Lube says
February 6, 2013 at 9:19 amMy Mom is coming to visit in a couple of weeks, so I will ask her when she is here :D (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
February 7, 2013 at 7:29 amOh good!
Cozette says
February 1, 2013 at 10:25 amLove this bag! Great for presents!
lindsey says
February 1, 2013 at 6:32 pmI’ve tried the ruffle thing by pulling on the thread carefully but I havent been sucessful yet….looking forward to your tutorial
April says
June 11, 2014 at 6:43 pmI 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.
Lisa Hall says
February 4, 2013 at 3:30 amOh my goodness! This is so adorable Amber!
I have to try making one.
Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Lisa
Amber says
February 4, 2013 at 1:14 pmYou can do it!
Laura @ House Of Joyful Noise says
February 4, 2013 at 7:27 amSO ADORABLE! (Or….sew adorable!)
Pinned!
Amber says
February 4, 2013 at 1:13 pmThanks!
Jeni says
February 4, 2013 at 8:02 amYour bag is very cute!
JoAnn @ SweetPepperRose says
February 4, 2013 at 8:16 amNow I just LOVE this!
Amber says
February 4, 2013 at 1:13 pmThanks-I kind of love it too. :)
Janette @ www.thejohansonjourney.com says
February 4, 2013 at 10:34 amVery 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
February 4, 2013 at 1:12 pmYou do know that I am teaching everyone to sew right now right? Join in! :)
Kristiann says
February 4, 2013 at 3:28 pmI like this idea! it doesn’t take very much fabric either.
Jenn says
February 6, 2013 at 12:49 amThis 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! :)
Meredith @ Wait Til Your Father Gets Home says
February 7, 2013 at 11:07 amThis 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
February 7, 2013 at 12:03 pmWe can be matching then because I will probably be carrying mine around there too! :)
Lisa says
February 7, 2013 at 8:19 pmMy 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!
katie goldsworthy says
February 7, 2013 at 11:54 pmSo cute! I love this ruffle bag. Thanks for sharing.
Christine says
February 11, 2013 at 8:39 amLOVE LOVE LOVE the bag Amber!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality last week!!!
Christine says
February 12, 2013 at 4:54 amCONGRATS!!!
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/
Lindsay @Artsy-Fartsy Mama says
February 13, 2013 at 10:42 pmSo cute!! Love the fabrics you used :)
Jan Remling says
March 17, 2013 at 7:03 pmI 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.
Carrie says
April 5, 2013 at 7:34 amAbsolutely 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
April 9, 2013 at 4:33 pmThanks for the share!
Krista says
May 25, 2013 at 11:49 amThis is super adorable!! I just need to finish my last tote project before starting this one lol
Tiffany says
July 7, 2013 at 6:55 amThis 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
July 8, 2013 at 10:23 amYup! About an inch or half inch.
figureskater11 says
August 27, 2013 at 8:12 pmMade 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! ;)
Ale Zavala says
August 29, 2013 at 10:10 pmThis 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
September 3, 2013 at 9:51 amYou’ll want to cut them about 2.5-3 times the circumference of your bag.
Ale Zavala says
December 15, 2013 at 5:46 amThanks!
Corina says
September 7, 2013 at 12:00 amWhen 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
September 9, 2013 at 11:15 pmThe hem is at the bottom and both of the basting ones are at the top-where the raw edge is.
sharon says
December 10, 2013 at 4:22 pmThanks bunches for all the time that you’ve put into your site for all of us!
Making this for my daughter. Super excited~
Nancy of IN says
January 2, 2014 at 6:40 amLove 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
January 6, 2014 at 3:18 pmYou 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
Kiara says
February 7, 2014 at 6:08 pmI am “totes” making one of these!!!! :P
Bren says
February 26, 2014 at 5:27 pmI 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.
Vicky C says
April 30, 2014 at 5:50 amThanks 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/
jordan says
May 30, 2014 at 9:16 amSo 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.
April says
June 11, 2014 at 6:33 pmHi 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.
Lela Petty says
July 17, 2014 at 8:35 amI 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
LESLIE F. says
July 20, 2014 at 9:56 amare 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
July 29, 2014 at 5:44 pmNo, 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.
Marie B says
August 29, 2014 at 7:09 pmJust 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!
amie kelley says
October 27, 2014 at 2:16 pmHi 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
October 28, 2014 at 11:18 amDid 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.
Karen says
July 22, 2015 at 9:42 amCan 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
July 24, 2015 at 7:19 pmYou definitely could, just more time consuming.
Paula says
September 21, 2015 at 6:42 pmFor 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
Jennifer says
October 3, 2015 at 11:03 pmim 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.
Donna says
December 29, 2018 at 12:00 pmLove 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
January 24, 2019 at 10:35 amSo glad you enjoyed the tutorial!