DIY Network

Vinyl Tote Bag by Milinda Lawless Learn how to hand-cut vinyl and create a fun tote bag. From "Stylelicious" episode DSTY-103

Guest Milinda Lawless demonstrates how to create a playful "monkey" design tote bag.

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	Guest Milinda Lawless creates this adorably clever tote bag.
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Material:

waterproof vinyl
sparkle felt
upholstery thread
rotary cutter

Vinyl Tote Bag

1. The first bag vinyl artist Milinda Lawless made was a diaper bag. Vinyl is very durable. The first step is to lay out the vinyl, right side down, and trace all the pieces onto the backside of the vinyl and then cut the pieces out (figure A).

2. After she cuts all the pieces for the inside and outside lining, she then draws the images onto the vinyl (figure B) and cuts the images out.

3. Next, she underlays the cut out image with a different color vinyl (figure C) and pins it together so that the pieces will not move around too much when she sews them.

4. She uses a leather needle to sew the pieces together because any other type will just break. Even leather needles will break occasionally!

5. After the two pieces are sewn together the tote is flipped over and trimmed as close to the stitching as possible.

6. Felt is added underneath the belly of the monkey and the face area. Once she is done with a piece, it has approximately ten colors (figure D).

7. On the back of the tote, a coordinating color is cut out and sewn into three equal sections for extra pockets (figure E).

8. The right side pieces of the vinyl are placed together and then sewn around the sides and bottom.

9. Small squares are cut out of the bottom and then sandwiched and sewn together to make the flat square bottom. The tote is then turned right side out and the handles are attached.

10. For the last step, the bag is turned wrong side out. The handle goes inside and the lining is placed inside the vinyl and everything is topstitched. The bag is turned right side out again and everything pulled into shape and then a final topstitching is done to complete the bag.

RESOURCES :

Bags available at:
Parts and Labor
1604 W. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701
-and-
Austin Museum of Art
823 Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701

GUESTS :

Milinda Lawless
Lawless Revolution Wear
Phone: 512-291-2093
E-mail: lawlessrenowear@hotmail.com
Website: www.lawlessrevowear.com