Make an Embroidered Laundry Tote

1. Using the templates, cut four large bag upper side pieces from white cotton and two printed lower side pieces from each of the spotted fabrics. Lay a printed lower piece right side down onto a white upper side piece, aligning along the short straight edge as indicated, and pin. Sew into place with a straight machine stitch. Repeat for the remaining three sides.

2. Trace the ‘Laundry’ lettering motif onto one of the white cotton bag sides at an angle with a pencil. Use two strands of embroidery thread to hand sew a neat chain stitch over the pencil lines to create an embroidered, outlined word.

3. Cut a 17cm square of white cotton to use as a bag base. Pin one edge of the square to the bottom edge of one bag side, with right sides together. Pin the coordinating-coloured bag side to the opposite edge of the square. Pin the remaining sides to the corresponding two sides of the square and sew, using a straight machine stitch.

4. Match up the sides of the bag with right sides together, ensuring the top edges of the spotted panels line up, and pin. Stitch the sides from top to bottom, leaving an 8cm unstitched at the top of the fourth side. Fold a double hem over on the remaining raw edges and stitch to secure. Fold and pin a 2cm double hem along the top of the bag and stitch to make a channel for a drawstring.

5. Make a drawstring. Cut two 5cm x 50cm strips of spotted cotton fabric. Join the strips on one short edge using a straight machine stitch, with right sides together, to make a 5cm x 1m strip. Turn the short edges over to the wr