Garment-Dyed Toweling Totes

A cinch to make, our Garment-Dyed Toweling Totes are exactly what you need for gifts, groceries, and life on the go.

Between the snappy stripes and fantastic fringe there’s nothing run-of-the-mill about these lovely little totes, and you need neither expert sewing skills nor a ton of time to whip up a set.

We made our totes following three different patterns, from simple-as-can-be to a bit more advanced (but totally achievable): One uses a simple straight stitch across the bottom; one eschews the bottom seam altogether and opts for a fold; and one has a more dimensional box-bottom.

Our gorgeous Garment-Dyed Toweling really simplifies matters with its double-fold hems along both selvages. Each tote  pattern makes careful use of this bonus feature, which means for the maker, less cutting and finishing.

And more… Our Garment-Dyed Toweling is garment dyed with non-toxic, low-impact dyes, and also has an extra soft hand, is preshrunk, and comes in a glorious spectrum of color. You only need a yard of toweling for each tote, or you can pick up one of our four-color Garment-Dyed Toweling Bundles to make a full set… Too many bags? Never!

Designed for Purl Soho by Keith Foster, based on our original Twenty Minute Tote and Easy, Easier, Easiest Tote, designed by Molly Schnick.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoGarmentDyedTowelingTotes, and #PurlSohoGarmentDyedToweling. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

To make just one tote, you will need…

• 1 yard of Purl Soho’s Garment-Dyed Toweling
• 2 yards of Purl Soho’s Cotton Webbing in the color Natural
• A spool of Purl Soho’s Organic Cotton Sewing Thread to coordinate with the Garment-Dyed Toweling
• An erasable fabric marker or hera marker
• A seam ripper (or pin) for creating the Fringe

Update, May 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!

SIZES

• Vertical Stripe Tote with Folded Bottom: 15 inches wide x 17 inches tall with a 12-inch handle drop
• Vertical Stripe Tote with Boxed Bottom: 14 inches wide x 14 inches tall x 4 inches deep with a 12-inch handle drop
• Horizontal Stripe Tote: 17 inches wide x 15 inches tall with a 12-inch handle drop

NOTE

The raw ends of the Bag Panels are intended to fray with use. To prevent excess fraying, be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of all stitching.

PATTERN

CUT

FOR ALL STYLES

From the Webbing cut…

• Two 26-inch lengths of Webbing. These are the Handles.

FOR VERTICAL STRIPE TOTES

From the Toweling cut…

• A 34-inch length of Toweling. This is the Bag Panel.

FOR HORIZONTAL STRIPE TOTES

From the Toweling cut…

• Two 17-inch lengths of Toweling. These are the Bag Panels. 

VERTICAL STRIPE TOTES

SEW STAY-STITCH LINES

Using coordinating thread, sew 1 inch from and parallel to cut edges of Bag Panel (see Note about backstitching). These lines will prevent unraveling.

ATTACH HANDLES

NOTE: Work this section twice, once for each Handle.

Lay Bag Panel flat with wrong side facing up and a cut edge at the top.

Place one end of Handle 1½ inches left of Garment Dyed-Toweling’s stripe pattern and 1½ inches under Stay-Stitch Line. Pin in place. Without twisting Handle, place other end 1½ inches right of stripe pattern and 1½ inches under Stay-Stitch Line. Pin in place.

Sew Handle to Bag Panel. Here’s how…

Always staying ¼ inch from Stay-Stitch Line and from edges of Handle, begin at top left corner of where Handle is pinned to Panel and sew to right edge of Handle. Turn work and sew to lower opposite corner, creating a “7” shape. Turn work and sew to right edge of Handle, creating a “Z” shape. Finally, turn and sew to starting point, forming a figure “8.” Repeat for other end of Handle.

FOLDED BOTTOM VERSION

SEW SIDE SEAMS

Fold Bag Panel in half, wrong sides together and cut edges aligned. Pin sides together. 

Starting just below Stay-Stitch Line, sew each side together with a ⅝-inch seam allowance, which is just slightly outside the finished hem of the Garment-Dyed Toweling.

Continue to Create Fringe section, below.

BOXED-BOTTOM VERSION

SEW SIDE SEAMS

Fold Bag Panel in half, right sides together. Pin sides together. 

Starting just below Stay-Stitch Line, sew each side together with a ⅝-inch seam allowance, which is just slightly outside the finished hem of the Garment-Dyed Toweling.

Turn bag right side out and press Tote, making sure to give bottom fold a crisp pressing. This fold is the Bottom Crease.

MAKE BOXED BOTTOM

NOTE: For a photo tutorial of these steps, follow along with our Easy, Easier, and Easiest Totes, starting at Step 4 of the Easier Tote (Boxed Bottom) pattern.

Pull front and back of bag apart and refold so that the Side Seam is in the middle. One of the bottom corners is at the top, and the other bottom corner is out of the way, pointing down. Poke the top corner out so it’s very pointy. Line up Side Seam with Bottom Crease and press the corner flat.

Use a fabric or hera marker to mark a line perpendicular to the Side Seam at the place where the corner measures 2½ inches across. Pin the two layers of fabric together along this mark. Sew along marked line, then trim the corner off, ¼ inch from this seam.

Turn bag wrong side out and press this same corner in the same manner, the Side Seam and Bottom Crease on top of one another.

Mark a line perpendicular to the Side Seam at the place where the corner measures 4 inches. Pin the two layers of fabric together along this mark and sew along the line.

Turn bag right side out, repeat for second bottom corner.

Continue to Create Fringe section, just below.

CREATE FRINGE

NOTE: For more tips and tricks, including a photo tutorial, check out our Fringed Edges Tutorial!

Using a seam ripper or pin, one-by-one remove all the threads parallel to and above Stay-Stitch Lines. We’ve left a 1-inch Fringe on all our samples, but if you prefer less, simply give your Tote a haircut, being cautious to not clip into the Handles.

Give your Fringe a combing, press your seams, and you’re all done!

HORIZONTAL TOTE

SEW SIDE SEAMS

Place two 17-inch Bag Panels wrong sides together. Pin Panels together along cut edges, then using coordinating thread, sew together with a 1-inch seam allowance (see Note about backstitching, above)

ATTACH HANDLES

NOTE: Work this section twice, once for each Handle.

Turn piece inside out, wrong sides facing out, and lay bag flat with a finished edge at the top.

Place one end of Handle 2½ inches right of Side Seam and 1½ inches below top edge. Pin in place. Without twisting Handle, place other end 2½ inches left of other Side Seam (on the same Bag Panel) and 1½ inches below top edge. Pin in place.

Sew Handles to Bag Panel. Here’s how…

Always staying ¼ inch from top edge of Bag Panel and from edges of Handle, begin at top left corner of where Handle is pinned to Panel and sew to right edge of Handle. Turn work and sew to lower opposite corner, creating a “7” shape. Turn work and sew to right edge of Handle, creating a “Z” shape. Finally, turn and sew to starting point, forming a figure “8.” Repeat for other end of Handle.

SEW BOTTOM

Turn Tote right side out and press so Side Seams are flat and even. Pin bottom edge together. 

Sew bottom edge together with a ⅝-inch seam allowance, beginning and ending at Side Seams.

CREATE FRINGE

NOTE: For more tips and tricks, including a photo tutorial, check out our Fringed Edges Tutorial!

Using a seam ripper or pin, one-by-one remove all the threads parallel and to the left of left Side Seam and parallel and to the right of right Side Seam. We’ve left a 1-inch Fringe on our sample, but if you prefer less, simply give your Tote a haircut, being careful not to clip the Handles.

Straighten out the Fringe with your fingers, and you’re done!