By Janome Maker: Meredith Daniel
The best thing about classics is that they never go out of style. The Classic Duck Tote is perfect for all occasions, from the water to class to a picnic on the lawn. It’s also wonderfully giftable and can be personalized with embroidery. This one features a waxed canvas base, a pocket on the outside, a zippered pocket inside, and even a clip for your keys. It’s ready to pack for your next adventure.
Project Time – 1-3 hours, intermediate bulk sewing
Supplies –
- 1 yard main fabric (duck canvas or other heavyweight fabric)
- 1/2 yard waxed canvas
- 1/2 yard accent fabric
- 12″ x 1″ webbing for straps
- 7″ zipper
- 1/2″ clip
- heavy-duty upholstery thread that coordinates with waxed canvas bottom or main fabric thread that coordinates with webbing
- universal thread that coordinates with accent fabric
- Hera marker
- tailor’ss chalk
- heavy needle for leather or denim (I used a leather needle)
Instructions
Cut the following:
Main Fabric (canvas or other heavy weight fabric):
- Exterior Panels: (2) 19 x 19”
- Exterior Pocket: (1) 17 x 7.5”
- Interior Pocket: (1) 15 x 8” and (1) 2 x 8”
Waxed Canvas:
- Bag Bottom: 14 x 19”
Accent fabric:
- Exterior Pocket Binding: 7.5 x 2”
- Interior Pocket Binding: (2) 9 x 1.5”
- Interior Pocket Lining: 15 x 8”
- Top Bag Binding: 35 x 2”
- Strap for Key Clip: 11.5 x 2”
124” x 1.5” webbing for straps
You will also need: 7” zipper, 1/2” clip, heavy duty upholstery thread that coordinated with waxed canvas bottom or main fabric, thread that coordinates with webbing, universal thread that coordinates with accent fabric, Hera marker, tailor’s chalk, and a heavy needle for leather or denim (I used a leather needle)
Using a heavy duty thread and a 1/2” seam allowance, join main exterior panels wrong sides together at the bottom.
Stitch a line 3/8” from seam to tack down the seam allowance. Switch to thread that you will match your binding pieces.
Use a Hera marker to mark lines 1/2” in on each long side of the waxed canvas, and also down the center (7”). Set aside.
Press outer pocket binding in half lengthwise, then fold raw edges to center crease and press again. Fold outer pocket in half, and open up the binding and pin in place along the top raw edges. Sew along the first crease (1/2”).
Fold and press binding so that the raw edges are inside the binding, and using a 3/8” seam allowance, edgestitch the binding.
If you want to add a label or some sort of embroidery, now is a great time to do it! I added my label after the fact, and that was a mistake!
Place the pocket onto the outer bag 4” from the top of the bag. Sew down sides and bottom with a 1/4” seam allowance.
On the webbing, find the half and mark with a pin. That should be at 62”. The center should be at the bottom seam on the main bag. The outer edge of the webbing will be 4.75” from the side of the bag and the inside will be 3.25” from the center. Pin the webbing in place like so:
The straps should overlap the center pocket so that the raw edges are enclosed once sewn.
Additionally, once pinned in place, use tailor’s chalk or a pin to mark 1.5” from the top edge of the bag- this is where you will stitch to when you attach the webbing on the machine.
Using a coordinating thread, stitch 1/8-1/4” from the edge of the webbing, beginning at the bottom seam. Sew up to the marked line (1.5” from the top) then pivot across the webbing, and backstitch the whole width of the webbing and back, and then continue sewing down the length of the webbing, pivot again at the other marked line, and continue until you reach the starting point. Repeat with second strap. Note: there is no need to overlap the raw edges of the straps because they will be covered and they are secure as long as they meet. See photo.
Switch back to the heavy upholstery thread.
Grab the waxed canvas and carefully press the edges in by 1/2” using your fingers. Do not use heat. Use clips or pins to attach it to your bag. The center line should line up with the seam at the bottom of the main panels and the edges you pressed inward should be facing down. Stitch along the sides (the raw edges) with a 1/4” seam allowance. This will make it easier to keep the fabric lined up when you sew the canvas along the front and back.
Now edgestitch the waxed canvas along the folded edge using a 1/8” seam allowance. Stitch a second line 3/8” from the folded edge. Repeat with second side of waxed canvas to finish securing the bag bottom.
Next, we will make the interior pocket, so use whatever thread is best for your bag. I’m using my standard weight that coordinates with my accent fabric here.
Place the interior pocket pieces and the lining (both 15 x 8” pieces) wrong sides together and stitch all the way around using a 1/4” seam allowance.
Using a zipper foot, attach zipper to the top of the pocket piece you just stitched. Press seam allowance away from zipper and edgestitch with a 1/4” seam allowance. Attach top of pocket piece (2 x 8” – which is unlined) the same way, and edgestitch 1/4” away from it as well. It should look like this:
Fold bottom of the pocket up so that it lines up with the top of the pocket and stitch the sides in place with a 1/4” seam allowance.
Press the interior pocket binging pieces in half lengthwise, and then fold the raw edges in and press so that they are enclosed. Open the binding, and pin to the front side of the pocket piece. Stitch in place along the first crease. Repeat on other side.
Fold the binding along the creases you pressed and repress if necessary. Fold up the bottom excess so that there is no raw edge showing. Using a 1/4” seam allowance, edgestitch the binding in place and backstitch at the bottom of each side.
Attach the pocket to the center of the bag interior with a 1/4” seam allowance. This pocket is on the back part of the bag interior on the opposite panel of the exterior pocket.
Make the key strap by folding your fabric in half lengthwise and pressing. Fold in raw edges to meet center crease and press. Use a 1/8” seam allowance to sew down both sides of the strap. Slide the clip to the center and fold strap in half. Stitch and backstitch a few times to secure the clip in place (about 1/2” from the center fold). Set aside.
Rethread machine with upholstery thread.
With bag folded in half wrong sides together, stitch down each side of the bag with a 1/4” seam allowance.
Turn bag inside out and pin along the sides. Sew down each side again with a 3/4” seam allowance. Clip the bottom corners to reduce bulk in the next steps.
DO NOT BE IN A HURRY ON THIS NEXT PART.
This bag is pretty bulky at this point. If you have not been using a heavy needle for leather or denim, this is the time to use it! Do not proceed without it.
Turn the bag right side out again, and use your fingers or a seam roller to press the seams toward the “back” of the bag (the side that has the zippered pocket). Using a 1/2” seam allowance and a lengthened stitch (3.5-4), work from the right side of the bag and stitch the seam allowance down only on the main part of the bag. Do not sew the waxed canvas. Backstitch at the end of the seam. Repeat on other side.
Now open up the bag and push out the corners well. You want to line up the center seam on the bottom with a side seam so that the bottom of the bag forms a right triangle. Using the Hera marker again, lightly mark 3” in from the corner. Stitch carefully along this line. Repeat on other side.
Turn the triangle you just stitched up to the side of the bag, and it should meet about at the top of the waxed canvas. Now take a deep breath because your beloved Janome is about to slay stitching through all the thick layers. Get as close as you can to the bottom of the triangle, and very slowly edgestitch along the side and upper point and down the second side of the triangle. When you get toward the center point, its a good idea to stop using the foot pedal and slowly hand crank so that you can make sure the needle is puncturing the layers properly and avoid a broken needle!
Okay, you’ve done it. The hard part is over! You can switch back to a regular needle and thread.
Take your key clip and stitch it to the top of the bag beside one of the side seams on the interior of the bag.
Finally, sew the short ends of the top bag binding together using a 1/2” seam allowance. Press the whole thing in half lengthwise, and then fold in the raw edges to the center crease and press again. Open it up, and pin it around the interior of the bag.
Stitch in place using a 1/2” seam allowance (stitch along the first crease). Refold the binding so that raw edges are enclosed and the fold is touching your previous line of stitching. Using a 3/8” seam allowance, stitch all the way around the top.
That’s it! You are all finished. Whether you are headed out on the boat or to class, you have a fabulous bag that is ready to take on life with you! Be sure to share it on social media by tagging @janomeamerica @thefooshe and use #classicducktote