Totes are great for carrying a variety of things. Totes are easy to make, usually without much effort or time. They can carry groceries from the store, books to and from the library, and a current project to work on while waiting somewhere for an appointment. Add your own uses for a tote or three.

The only thing I frequently don’t like about totes is the plain webbing that is usually used for the strap. On commercially made totes, that can be expected, but on my totes or totes you might make, there is little excuse for a plain and boring strap. I decided to try two techniques to see if I could take that plain webbing strap and make it a bit more interesting.

Technique 1 – Adding fabric:

Supplies:
Cotton or poly webbing – in desired width and length. I prefer one inch wide for tote handles.
Fabric Strips

Instructions:
1. Cut webbing to desired length – make sure you have allowed extra for attaching to your tote.
2. Cut fabric twice the finished width you want the decoration strip to be.
3. Use a bias tape maker, or any other method you prefer to fold and to press the edges.

4. Use either Wonder Tape or glue stick to hold the fabric strip in place on the webbing.
5. Set sewing machine to sew a blind hem stitch with a stitch width of 4.0 and a stitch length of 2.5. Use a contrasting or variegated thread on top and a bobbin thread that matches the webbing.
6. Edge stitch along both sides of the fabric strip.
7. Attach strap(s) to your tote.

Technique 2 – Adding chenille

Supplies:

Cotton or poly webbing in desired width and length.
Bias cut chenille fabric 3 times the length of web strap. This can be purchased or you can cut your own.

Instructions:

1. Cut fabric strips one inch wide on the bias.
2. Three layers gives a nice full chenille appearance.
3. Sew down the center of the three stacked strips. The photo above shows a chenille foot on my machine. If you have a chenille foot use it, if not, use your regular presser foot.

4. Trim the sewn strips to ¾ inch finished width.
5. If your machine has a chenille foot, it makes applying the chenille sandwich strip much easier.

6. Place webbing next to feed dogs. The chenille strip goes through the guide on the foot if you are using a chenille foot. If using a regular foot, keep the chenille strips centered on the webbing.

7. Sew chenille sandwich along the center line  to the webbing.
8. Using a chenille brush, or other stiff bristle brush, brush the bias strips to fluff them.