ES00045

Oh! Kimono!
This soft tote is the perfect
design By
Linda Turner Griepentrog

place to showcase a
collection of vintage
kimono fabrics or some
wonderful old ties. Make
it in beautiful silk, rugged
denim, suiting-weight linen,
even synthetic suede.

INS T RU C T IONS
Project Notes: Measurements include 1/4-inch seam
allowances unless otherwise stated. Cut the length of the tote
pieces parallel to the selvages.

Cutting
• From the bag fabric, cut two 7 x 18-inch rectangles for
the bag front, one 18-inch square for the bag back and
two 31/2 x 24-inch strips for the handles. Fi n i s h e d S i z e • Assorted vintage kimono or
• From the lining fabric, cut two 16 x 18-inch rectangles. 141/2 x 141/2 x 3 inches, tie fabrics for the patchwork,
• From the kimono fabrics, cut 9-inch-long strips in assorted excluding handles or substitute other fabrics
widths from 11/2–21/2 inches wide. You will need enough of your choice
strips for a finished 18-inch-long band. Strip width varia- M at e r ial s • All-purpose thread to
tions add interest to the pieced band and allow you to cut Yardages are for 44/45-inch- match fabrics
around any stained or worn portions of the vintage fabric. wide fabrics. • 1 (2-inch-long)
• From the quilt batting, cut two 18-inch squares. • 3/4 yard silk dupioni for Oriental charm
bag body • 1 Chinese ball button
Assembly • 1/2 yard lining fabric • 1 (3-inch-long) rayon tassel
1. Arrange the kimono strips in the desired order and • 5/8 yard needled cotton • Temporary spray adhesive
sew together using ¼-inch-wide seams. Press all seams in quilt batting • Air- or water-soluble
one direction. • 2 (11/4 x 25-inch) strips of marking pen
stiff interfacing, such as • Rotary cutter, mat and ruler
2. Use rotary-cutting tools to trim the panel to waistband interfacing, • Basic sewing tools
7 x 18 inches. for the straps and equipment

Copyright © 2008 DRG, 306 East Parr Road, Berne, IN 46711. All rights reserved. This publication may
not be reproduced or transmitted in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.
Oh! Kimono!

Insert the stiff interfacing into the strip and trim the
excess interfacing even with the strap ends. Topstitch
¼ inch from each long edge.

6. Position one handle on the bag front with raw ends

even and the inner edges at the seam lines for the pieced
panel. Machine-baste a scant ¼ inch from the raw edges.
Edgestitch the handle to the bag front for 2 inches, pivot
and stitch across the handle and then pivot again and stitch
the remaining edge to the bag front (Figure 2). Position the
remaining handle on the bag back, matching the position-
ing on the bag front. Stitch as you did for the front straps.

2"

3. With right sides together, sew the 7 x 18-inch strips

to the long edges of the kimono panel. Press the seams
toward the pieced panel (Figure 1).

Press. Press.

Figure 2
Baste handles to tote front and back. Edgestitch to hem allowance.

7. With right sides facing,

sew the bag front to 11/2"
the back at the side and
bottom edges. Press the
seams open. Turn under
and press a 2-inch-wide
hem at the upper edge.
Figure 1
Sew pieced panel to side panels. 8. To box the bag
bottom, align the side
4. Apply a light coat of temporary spray adhesive to a and bottom seam lines
piece of batting and smooth the bag front in place on at each corner and pin.
top. Repeat for the bag back. Draw a stitching line
1½ inches from the point.
5. To make the bag handles, fold each 31/2 x 24-inch silk Stitch on the line and
Figure 3
strip in half and stitch the long edges together; turn right again 1/8 inch from the first Figure
Align side and3bottom
side out and press, centering the seam on the underside. stitching (Figure 3). Align side and bottom seam
seamlines. Stitch.lines. Stitch.

Copyright © 2008 DRG, 306 East Parr Road, Berne, IN 46711. All rights reserved. This publication may
not be reproduced or transmitted in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.
9. Trim the point close to the stitching. Do not turn the 13. Sew the button, charm and tassel to the tote front
bag right side out. as desired. 

10. With right sides facing, sew the lining pieces together
along the side and lower edges, but leave an 8-inch-long
opening for turning. Finish the bottom corners as shown
for the bag. Turn the lining right side out.
11. Tuck the lining inside the bag with raw edges even.
Stitch. Turn the tote right side out through the opening in
the lining.
12. Turn under and press the lining opening edges
and machine-stitch the turned edges together. Tuck
the lining into the bag and re-press the upper edge
of the tote. Optional: Topstitch ¼ inch from the upper
finished edge.
Control Panels
If your kimono fabric is very lightweight or trans-
parent, fuse tricot knit or lightweight weft-inserting
interfacing to the underside before cutting into
strips. This will prevent the seam allowances from
showing through and give it comparable body to
the other tote fabrics.
If you’re using vintage ties for the pieced band,
they’re almost always cut on the bias, so it is essen-
tial to apply a lightweight nonwoven interfacing to
the underside to control the stretch.

Copyright © 2008 DRG, 306 East Parr Road, Berne, IN 46711. All rights reserved. This publication may
not be reproduced or transmitted in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.