These DIY quick sew totes for teacher appreciation are a great way to tell a special educator how much they matter. They can be made in any size to be ready to hold all kinds of things. This one is the perfect size for a book, making a great combination for a spectacular gift. The premium felt from Kunin is awesome because it is easy to work with, sturdy and comes in great colors. This post is sponsored by Kunin but the ideas and opinions are my own.
Let’s get started by gathering supplies and materials. You will need the following:
- Black Premium Felt 12 x 18 – 3 Pieces
- Red Premium Felt 12 x 18 – 1 Piece
- Scraps of Red Fabric
- Scraps of Green Fabric
- Sizzix Die Cut Machine (Big Shot)
- Sizzix Apple Die by Laura Kelly (me!)
- Sewing Machine
- Thread
- Scissors
- Ribbon (1 Yard)
Step one is to cut your felt to size for your bag. I cut two black and one red piece to be 12 X 15 inches.
Next, using the apple die, cut a variety of red fabric apples. Cut off the stems.leaves. Hand cut green leaves. Pin them to the black felt and sew them to get them attached on a sewing machine. I used the zig zag stitch around them.
Next, add a pocket to the red piece. It will be sewn between the black pieces so the bag will have two compartments. The pocket is a perfect addition to create a place for a cell phone or writing pens.
To make handles, layer felt, fabric and ribbon. Sew two sets of layers, 18 inches long each.
Pin them on the black pieces and sew them in place.
The last step is to layer your black pieces over the red and sew the three sides of the bag closed.
Ta Da. This is my back side of the tote.
And this is the front. I added a red scrap fabric ribbon.
The cost to make this bag is less than $10. Which means you can add a great children’s book for the classroom library inside. Here are six of my favorites!
- The Book with No Pictures
- Thank You, Mr. Faulkner
- Mom School
- The Dot
- What Do You Do With an Idea
- Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls
Cheers to Handmade Gifts, To Teachers and To Reading,
Laura
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