Tank top totes - after

Tank top totes - before

Before you pack away your summer clothes for the winter, you might want to set one of your tank tops aside to make one of these easy totes. The best kind of tank tops to use for this project are ones that have front and back necklines that are the same height—or very close. Otherwise, your tote bag will be lopsided. The brown tote is reversible, so the pockets can be on the inside or outside. I made that tote small because the straps were thin and wouldn’t hold a lot of weight. The magenta tank top had a gathered neckline in front and back, so a gathered bottom was ideal. A pink store-bought flower pin finished it off.

Tank top tote with six pockets

Supplies and tools

  • tank top
  • straight pins
  • water-erasable fabric marker
  • sewing machine and thread
  • fabric scissors
  • seam ripper
  • sewing gauge or ruler

Remove the tags

1. First remove the tags with a seam ripper or scissors.

Turn the tank top inside out

2. Turn the tank top inside out.

Cut the elastic off

3. If your tank top has a bra liner, cut the elastic off the bottom of it.

Fold along middle

4. Fold so that the straps lie on top of each other.

Fold up the bottom

5. Fold the bottom of the tank over itself. This will become the pockets.

Pin and mark

6. Pin in place, making sure the seams line up. Mark where you want the seams in between each pocket with pins or an erasable fabric marker.

Sew the pockets

7. Using a stitch that stretches with knit fabric, such as the triple straight stitch, sew the seams that divide each pocket. Make sure the bra liner is lying flat before sewing. Back-stitch to lock the seams.

Bottom seam

8. Sew the bottom together about 1/4 inch from the edge. Back-stitch to lock the seam.

Tank top tote - inside out

9. Turn the tote bag inside out so the the pockets will be on the inside—or leave it as is.

Gathered tank top tote

Supplies and tools

  • tank top
  • straight pins
  • water-erasable fabric marker
  • sewing machine and thread
  • fabric scissors
  • seam ripper
  • sewing gauge or ruler
  • flower pin

Remove labels from neck

1. First remove the tags with a seam ripper or scissors.

Mark where to sew

3. Fold so that the straps lie on top of each other. Measure and mark where you want the seam to be. I placed mine five inches from the bottom of the tank top.

Gather

4. Baste two rows (about 1/4 inch apart) along the line you marked. Do not back-stitch. Then pull the bobbin threads tight as you slide the fabric inward to gather it. Then use a straight stitch with a shorter stitch length and sew between the two basted seams. Back-stitch to lock the seam. Pull out the basted seams.

Cut excess fabric off

5. Cut off the excess fabric about 1/2 inch past the seam.

Turn right-side out

6. Turn the tote bag right-side out.

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