BERNINA Corporate Blog -Today, I continue to explore the many decorative stitches on the BERNINA 790 PRO sewing machine. Additionally, I wanted to share with our readers how to sew easy decorative stitched notion totes. We will be making 3 at a time. Trust me, they are so easy to make in an afternoon or evening. You may wish to duplicate this process and make more. These totes are useful to organize & decorate your sewing space and/or make awesome gifts for sewing friends and relatives.
Three decorative stitched notion totes
Supplies you will need:
- scraps of fabric , strips 1 1/2” x 18” , I used 16 different colours
Note: you could use less and/or a fat quarter 18 x21” to make these from a solid piece of fabric
- light weight fusible interfacing 17 x 21”
- 6 strips of fabric for handles 8 1/4” x 2 1/2”
- 6 strips light weight fusible interfacing for handles 8 1/4” x 2 1/2”
- 3 strips bag bottom fabric 2 1/2” x 16.5”
- 3 strips of interfacing 2 1/2” x 16.5”
- lining fabric -3 strips 7” x 16.5 ( may need to be trimmed to size of outer bag fabric)
- decorative threads with colours to suit or contrast fabric
- a sewing machine with decorative stitches or the BERNINA 790PRO
- bobbin fill thread for embroidery thread
- Reverse Pattern Foot # 1C
- thread stand , (optional but recommended)
- embroidery needles for a sewing machine
- decorative stitch menu selected on your sewing machine
- neutral thread for sewing notions tote together
- BERNINA Patchwork Foot #37
- rotary cutter, cutting mat and 6 x 24” cutting ruler
- iron & ironing surface
- fabric starch ( optional but recommended)
- sewing clips or pins
- cardboard template 2 1/2”square ( optional but recommended)
Reverse Pattern Foot #1C
The “ C “ on this foot stands for coded , which means there is a sensor that specifies the stitch width to the sewing machine . It’s for BERNINA sewing & embroidery machines with a maximum stitch width of 9mm.
Fabric strips for decorative stitched notion totes
Strips of fabric cut out for 3 bag bottoms & handles
How to sew easy decorative stitched notion totes:
After all the cutting is complete and all supplies have been gathered, it’s time to sew the 1 1/2” x 18” strips of fabric together as shown using a 1/4” seam allowance and the Patchwork Foot #37
16 strips of fabric sewn together to make 3 notion totes
Now it’s time to iron interfacing to the back of the fabric strips & to the wrong side of the handle and bag bottom pieces.
Strips of fabric with light weight fusible interfacing fused to the wrong side of the fabric
Interfacing fused to the wrong side of the bag bottom fabric
Interfacing fused to the wrong side of the handle fabric
The fun is about to begin …..
Insert the BERNINA Reverse Pattern Foot #1C onto your sewing machine ( a Reverse Pattern Foot #1 will also work for other BERNINA machines). Consult your screen for presser foot recommendations &/or the machine manual. Now you can select the icon for the decorative stitch menu as shown.
Decorative stitch icon selected and stitch menus showing on screen of BERNINA 790 PRO
Stitch each strip of fabric down the centre using your presser foot and the edge of the fabric as a guide. Alternatively, draw a line down the center of the strip to help with the alignment of the decorative stitch. Start stitching strips in the center and move out right & left to avoid fabric bunching. Stitch from the many decorative stitch menus to explore the numerous options available with the BERNINA790PRO.
Many lines of Decorative Stitches on the BERNINA 790 PRO are completed
All of the strip pieces fabric is now completed with beautiful contrasting decorative stitches
Preparing the handles:
Press each piece of handle fabric down the center towards the interfacing ( wrong side) on the length of fabric. Iron one side 1/4” in towards the wrong side along the length . Fold the opposite side towards the center and the fold the previously pressed (1/4”) side over the top so that all edges are folded, press well. Clip or pin ready for top stitching . Top stitch 1/16” from both long edges.
Finally, you are ready now to stitch a decorative stitch down the center of each handle. The stitches will not only give the tote decorative appeal, but an abundance of strength as well. The short ends as they will be sewn into the tote later and therefore do not need to be pressed under.
Pressing handle fabric in half on the length
Pressing & folding one long side of handle under 1/4” to the wrong side
Pressing the other side towards the middle fold
Folding & pressing handle fabric so 1/4” fold is pressed over encasing all raw edges
All tote handles clipped (or pinned) ready for top stitching
Handles are top stitched and decorative stitched
Sewing the tote bag:
From the decorative stitched fabric, cut 3 strips 5” x width of fabric as shown.
Tote body fabric cut into 5” x width of fabric strips x3 to make 3 totes
In addition , sew the bag bottom strips to the decorative stitched strips as shown, right sides together and sew with a 1/4” seam allowance & the Patchwork Foot #37.
This is now the outer tote fabric.
Bag bottom strips laying right sides together ready to be sewn to body of tote /decorative stitched fabric
Cut each of these tote outer fabric pieces in half through the center and then cut a 2 1/2” square out of each bottom corner as shown with the purple bottomed tote below.
Tote bottom sections for purple bottom notions tote with corner squares cut out
Clip or pin & sew the handles 2” apart centered on the tote outer fabric as shown with a 1/8” seam allowance.
Handles are clipped, ready for sewing
Preparing the lining:
Cut the lining pieces in half and cut 2” squares out of each bottom corner as you did with the tote outer fabric pieces as shown.
Lining fabric pieces cut in half and corner squares cut out
With lining fabric placed right sides together, leave a 3” opening on one side and sew down each side and bottom of the lining as shown.
Lining sewn with a 3” opening for turning
The next step is to box both corners by matching together the bottom seam and the side seams, pin or clip & sew as shown.
Clipping the corners, ready to be sewn
Corner is sewn with a 1/4” seam allowance.
Finishing the notions tote:
Sew the outer tote fabric together on the sides and bottom as was done with the lining except no opening is required. Also, box sew the corners.
Turn the outer bag to the right side, handles facing down. Insert the outer tote into the lining with fabric right sides together. While matching all seams, the lining will be wrong side out as shown and clip or sew around the top edge with a 1/4” seam allowance.
The tote outer fabric is placed inside the lining right sides together
Turn the tote to the right side as shown through the opening in the lining , stitch the opening closed, roll the lining inside the tote, press and top stitch 1/4” from the edge, making sure to keep the handles out of the way.
Opening in lining
Turning the tote to the right side through the lining
Edge of opening is zig zag stitched with matching thread
Lining turned to inside & top stitched, measures approximately 4” wide x 4 1/2” high
Three decorative stitched notion totes, useful, practical & gift worthy
And finally … admire your efforts. Yes, there are several small steps to this project but it’s so fun to sew easy decorative stitched notion totes. You can make 3 fabulous gifts/organizational totes at a time. Once you’ve mastered this technique, I’m sure you will be addicted to sewing more of these adorable little totes. Additionally, you will be more enthusiastic about exploring your own unique decorative stitches. I love my BERNINA 790 PRO and what it can do.
When and how do you sew the bottom of the actual bag together, please?
See under finishing the notions tote -sew along the sides and bottom . Hope this helps 😊