Project

Sheer Tote Bag

This sheer little number is made for floating to the beach, pool, or park with just the essentials: keys, book, and SPF.

Photography: Lennart Weibull

Source: Martha Stewart Living, July/August 2020

Introduction

Learn how to sew a tote bag with sheer fabric—it's made for going to the beach, pool, or park with just the summer essentials: keys, book, and SPF. For more ideas, scroll through our entire collection of sheer fabric projects, handmade tote bags, and other sewing projects for the home.

materials

Measuring tape

1 yard lightweight linen fabric (Gray Lines Linen Sheer Stripe Linen, $11 a yd., graylinelinen.com)

Clothing iron

Ribbon, 1 inch wide (Shindo USA Linen-Like Tape, 25 mm, $73 for a 30-meter roll, sicen.shindo.com)

Pencil or tailors' chalk

Sewing machine and supplies

steps

Cut out two 18-inch square of fabric. Fold top edge of one fabric square under by 3/4 inch; press with iron. Repeat on top edge of remaining fabric square.
Cut two 20-inch lengths of ribbon (for handles). Mark top edge on right side of each fabric square, 6 inches in from both sides. Align ends of one ribbon with marks on one fabric square, 3/4 inch below top edge; pin in place and stitch on ribbons (ideally with sewing machine, so stitches are strong). Repeat to attach ribbon handle to remaining fabric square.
Cut two 18 1/2-inch lengths of ribbon (for trim). Align ribbons with top edges of fabric squares, hiding raw edges of handle ribbons.
Pin ribbon in place; edge-stitch along both sides. Secure handles with a box stitch or by sewing an X. Repeat to add ribbon trim to remaining fabric square.
Stack fabric squares, wrong-sides facing in; pin. Stitch all around bottom and sides with a 3/8-inch seam allowance. Turn bag inside out; press seams flat and stitch around bottom and sides with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out, and press.