Equipment
- 1 split suede calfskin - Thickness 1.4 mm - Minimum area: 0.65 m2
Preferred references :
Charcoal gray split leather: LPG35GRIS0
Taupe split leather: LPG33TAUPE0
Chocolate split leather: LPG34CHOCO0
- 2 skins of suede goatskin (lining) - Thickness 0.5 mm. Recommended surfaces: 0.55 m2 and 0.35 m2
- 1 welded half-round ring - NICKEL steel - 20x15x3 mm
- 1 rotating carabiner - NICKELE - for 20 mm lanyard
- 2 T2 double cap rivets
- Foam for bag bottom and sides (we have chosen foam-lined leather).
- Cutter and rotary cutter
- Polyester thread n°30
- machine needle
- small sewing clips
Machine sewing leather
Discover, in the guide below, the essential points to know before embarking on machine sewing of leather (with a family machine).
Boss
Using a silver pencil, trace the pattern on the leather skins. Seam allowances are included in the dimensions given below.
split leather
Cut 9 pieces in the split leather skin (here gray suede calfskin 1.3 mm thick).
- 37 x 32cm x2
- 37 x 12cm x1
- 32 x 12cm x2
- 7 x 2cm x2
- 120 x 4cm x2
Lining
Cut 7 pieces in the leather lining (here yellow suede goatskin 0.8 mm thick).
- 37 x 32cm x2
- 37 x 12cm x1
- 32 x 12cm x2
- 61 x 6cm x2
Trick
If your leather is not long enough to cut 120 cm long strips, 2 solutions are possible. Either trim the leather and make a connection (see the guide) or divide your strap into 2 parts and come and assemble it with accessories (example rectangular loop).
HOW TO SKIN LEATHER > 
1. Cut out the pattern pieces
Cut out the pattern pieces using a craft knife and a ruler. 
2. Double the straps
Put contact glue for leather on the back of the 4 strips.
- Full length strappy lining
- Over 61 cm for split leather straps. Make 2 marks 29.5 cm from each side.
Wait a few moments then glue the strips together. Press/Smooth the leather with a roller (ref. TA289) to obtain good adhesion of the glue. 
3. Trim excess lining
Cut the excess leather lining with a rotary cutter. 
4. Sew the strips over 55.5 cm
Sew 2 parallel seams over 55.5 cm and on each strap => lined part only.
Start the seam 2.7 cm from each side of the lined part. 
5. Glue the strips on the front and back
Make 2 marks 6 cm from each side of the front and back of the bag (width 4 cm).
Then put some glue.
Glue a strip (make an arc) on each piece (front and back).
Be careful to leave the strips overhanging about 1 cm at the bottom (and therefore do not put glue at the bottom of the strips). Also be careful not to put glue on about 2 cm at the top of the front and back (in order to be able to sew the lining => see photo n°2). 
In this photo, the doubled part of the strap is not sewn but it must be sewn in the previous step.
6. Sew the straps on the front and back
Sew the straps on the front and back of the bag up to the securing points (sewing in step 4). 
Be careful not to sew the strap with the leather on the top of the front and back of the bag for about 1.5 cm (in order to be able to sew the lining). 
7. Sew the sides and the bottom
Sew the 2 side pieces right sides together on each bottom width (split leather). 
Glue/flatten the seams on the back of the leather and topstitch (on the right side). 
8. Assemble the bottom + sides with the front
Position the sides + bottom on the front of the bag right sides together (use sewing pliers). 
Then make 3 "straight" seams: 2 in width and 1 on the length. 
9. Assemble the back to the front
All that remains is to sew the back to the front of the bag (right sides together): sew 3 seams as in the previous step. 
Cut the ends of the strap that protrude and return the bag. 
10. Assemble the liner
Cut out 2 rectangles of foam (here we used scraps of foam-lined leather) 30 x 12 cm. Then stick them on each side (back) of the leather lining: the rectangles are voluntarily 2 cm smaller in order to be able to sew the lining on the bag without having any extra thickness. 
Assemble the liner pieces in the same way as the bag (steps 7, 8 and 9). Do not turn the liner over at the end of the last step. 
11. Reinforce the bottom of the bag
Stick foam on the bottom of the bag to reinforce it. 
12. Position the small closure tabs
Come and stick the small strips (7 x 2 cm) for closing the bag in the center of the front and back of the bag (see photos). 
13. Put the liner in the bag
Put the lining in the bag (wrong side against wrong side) and put glue on the entire upper edge (be careful to bring out the small closing tabs). 
Work each side by flattening the excess thickness (see photo below). 
Then glue the lining edge to edge of the bag. 
14. Sew the lining
Sew the lining to the bag (seam along the entire top edge). 
15. Add a carabiner and half-round ring
Attach 1 half-round ring 20x15x3 mm and 1 rotating carabiner on the small closing straps: using a T2 double-cap rivet. 
16. Option: make a pompom
Decorate your bag with a small two-tone leather pompom.
HOW TO MAKE A LEATHER POM? >
YOUR TOTE BAG IS FINISHED!
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Discover another version of the tote bag!
SEE THE TUTORIAL OF THIS NEW VERSION >
