Screen Tote Bag Instructions by Trudi Koch mailto:dtbkoch@apk.net

Supplies Needed:
Polyester Window Screen
Designs of choice
Stabilizer
Solvy
Thread
Chalk 
The polyester screening comes in black or gray and can be
purchased at Sears Hardware or Home Depot.  It comes on a
roll 36 inches wide in various lengths.


1.  Fold the screen in half with the fold towards you.
2.  Measure and cut 12 inches (you now have a piece 12 x 36")
3.  Leave this as is (folded) and cut off 4" at the top  
    (the open end).  These two pieces will be the straps.
    So now you have a piece 12 x 32" and two pieces 12 x 4 "
4.  Fold down a double 1 inch hem at the top and bottom of your
    screen.  Stitch close to end along the fold and again on the
    top edge.  Repeat on the other end of bag.
5.  Now, if you fold in half again, you can place a pin on the 
    fold line to be sure your designs are above it, since the fold 
    is the bottom of the bag.  The center of the design should be 
    about 4 1/2 inches above the bottom of the bag (or the fold).
    Place one design towards the bottom to the right and the 
    second design towards the top to the left. Hoop the stabilizer
    and the screen, put hoop on machine and place a piece of solvy
    on top.  Choose your design and stitch it out.  Remove from hoop.
    Tear away the solvy and the stabilizer. Repeat with a second design.    
 6. Stitch side seams.  With wrong sides together, stitch down 
    both sides 1/4 inch seams. Now, turn inside out, and finger 
    press the sides nice and flat and stitch again 1/4 inch.  See,
    nice french seams.  While still inside out, fold the bag so 
    the side seams are matched up.  The bag will form points at 
    the bottom.   Measure 1 1/2 inches from the tip of the point
    and make a chalk line across the bag.  Stitch on the chalk  
    line.  This will square off the bag on the bottom. 
    Turn right side out and admire your work.  
 7. To make the straps, take your 12 x 4 pieces, fold ends to 
    center, then fold in half.  Stitch across both edges. 
    Put straps 2 inches in from the sides and stich down. 
You could get the straps ready first and stitch them down as you stitch
the hem across the top of the bag. That would eliminate extra stitching.
If you do them before you stitch the side seams, you would stitch them
3 inches from the raw edge.