I've had 2 sort of requests for sew alongs for the handles on the totes I'm making so here's a go at explaining it.

FIRST:

Prepare your fabric as if you were making a square bottomed bag or tote.

Square Bottom Bag Sew Along here at AW:
Square bottom bag directions w/ photos by bluehalo/Christine
(http://www.amitymama.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89055&highlight=square+bag) making sure to use a stiff interfacing.

OR Tote Bag Bag Sew Along at MD:
Tote Bag Sew A Long by Sellin Threads/Becky (http://mama-drama.com/mdforum/index.php?act=ST&f=40&t=9700&) this included the interfacing and pockets.

Now cut:
4 pices of fabric to be the interfacing/lining for the pockets.

Use the same fabric for all 4 pieces and it looks best if you use one of the fabrics that you are using as the in or out.

Smaller hand holds that I like best but are too small for Scarelts tastes:
4 @ 3x6"

OR

Larger handholds:
4 @ 6x6 or 4x6 (6x6 will make the handle 2" away from the edge 4x6 will make it 1" away from the edge)

Take your 4 pieces and add one layer interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric.

Then take out your pencil and ruler and mark on the interfacing

On the smaller:
Mark a 1"x4" rectangle in the center. I measure 1" from top, 1" from bottom and 1" from either side. Nice and easy and centered.

On the bigger:
Mark a 2" x 4" rectangle in the center of the pieces.

Also take the time to mark the center of the top of the piece of fabric because you'll need to line it up with the center of the bag.

Line the pieces up with the center of the sides (in and out) of the bag. Must be centered exactly because they have to line up in the end or it won't work.

Here is a pict of one side of the bag all prepared to go to the sewing table.

the small pieces are pockets that I wanted to have 2 right sides too

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=943723

Yes, I do mark and pin on this project and I don't usually do either.

Once you have sewn on your lines using a small stich length. I've read that it only has to be super small near the corners but I just do it all on 1.

Cut an "X" in the middle of the box.

I then trim the inside of the "X" away a bit.

Then take a sharp pair of pointy sissors and cut a bit as close as you can to the corner. If it is not as close as close can be it will not turn well.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=943726

The little snips to the corner didn't show up well in the above pict.

But when you try to turn and press you'll know if you did it enough or not.

Now take the piece and push it through the opening you just made.

The fabrics will now be wrong sides toghether.

Remember you should have 4 different pieces of "windows" right now.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=943728

Now press those windows open.

Complete the bags with the above linked directions.
Making sure to line the windows up when you sew the tops right sides together. I pin this step also.

Again, make sure they are lined up after you have turned and are getting ready to topstich. Yet another time for those pins imho.

Then topstich the windows together.

Some of the interfacing/facing fabric might show and that is why you want it to match the fabric you are useing.

This is a picture of the clutch bag completed:

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=943730

The begining demensions were 15" wide by 10" tall. The pockets were 15" wide by 6" tall. The bottom cut outs were 2.5". This model has the small hand holds.

Below you will find a pict of 2 additional bags.

The Green One.
Merrimekko fabric from Scarlet for Scarlet.
Was cut 18" x 18" with 3" cut outs. There is a pocket on the inside like the pockets that Becky describes in her tote bag post above. This model has the bigger hand holds.

The Car Catch All.
Plaid and print from Fabric.com from 2002 or 2003.
This was cut 20x20 with 5" cut outs and smaller handles.
The bag ended up square and if I were to do it again I ould do 3.5 or 4" cut outs insted of the 5". The bag just looks wrong with the demensions I choose.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=943731

This is a pict of the first clutch I did.
It has the larger handles that I felt overwellmed the smaller size of the bag.
My sister is the owner of the bag and wishes that it had some sort of closure so things didn't fall out.
I have brainstormed and wanted to use magnetic snaps but the placement ends up too low after you leave enough room to topstich the hand holds.
My father has suggested that a thin strip of velcro accross the top right about the handholds would be the best way to provide closure. I have an aversion to velcro so I won't be trying it but I do think it would be a great way to do it.
Also a toggle type closure through the handle is another possiblility.

AW would not allow me to post the pict in this post.
I will try again in the next post.

Ugh. AW is refusing all attachments at this moment. I will try again at a later time.

Aside from that this sew along is completed.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Enjoy and have fun.

Thanks Jenn! I was just thinking about this bag tonight. I think I need one for our vacation to CA! (((((

...hopefully I'll have a s-n-s to post this week!

Way too cool! Thank you so much for this!!

Must be moved to FAQs...

You're awesome! Thanks so much :D

What type of interfacing do you use on those?

Wow Jenn, those are soooooooo cool! I need to make one for me.

Enlighten us on the interfacing, I am interfacing challenged :)

I believe full instructions are in the second set of directions above.

I used CraftNBond from JA's. 2 layers on the outside, 1 layer on each of the facings for the handles.

I don't know that CraftNBond is the "best" but it does work and since I bought a bolt of it I'll keep using it until something better comes along.

If you are tyring to use what you have on hand use the stiffest interfacing you have. The flippy stuff I had on hand from the facings for camp shirts were not adequate for what I wanted although it might have been for someone else kwim?

the green one is the nicest IMO *g* Jenn made it as a surprise for me (-:

Oh thanks :)

that was how i was envisioning doing it but now i don't have to fiddle and figure out sizes :) Thanks Jenn!