I decided to try to make a gathered tote bag from a girl’s dress. I created some quilted fabric to use for one half, but that is not necessary. I just thought my daughter would like a bag that looked like Holly Hobby. Here’s the how-to.

First, cut the girls dress just below the zipper in the back.

If adding a quilted section, cut the bottom portion of the dress in half.

Use a cut side, as a pattern to cut a piece of quilted fabric to the right size and shape, then sew back together.

Turn the bag inside out and sew along the bottom.

Square the corners and trim.

Create the lining the same way ( I just used the lining that was on the girl’s dress).

Insert the lining in the bag, wrong sides together.

Match up the seams and pin at the seams. Create 2 pleats folded toward the center on the left and 2 pleats folded toward the center on the right (fold the lining and shell together) and pin in place. Do the same for the back of the bag. You can create more or less pleats depending on how wide you want the opening to be.

Machine stitch around the opening of the bag to hold everything in place and remove the pins.

Measure the opening of the bag and cut 4 pieces of fabric. 2 pieces are for the front and back of the band and the other 2 will be for the lining. The pieces should be to the approximate width that you want the final band to be plus an extra inch for seams. Sew the ends of the front and back band pieces together on the short sides to create a ring as shown, do the same for the lining pieces.

Turn the band piece inside out. Now, insert the lining with right sides together. In between, the band and the lining, insert your handles. I just used the ties from another girl’s dress.

Pin the handles in place. This will be the top of your band on the finished piece. Make sure your handles are evenly spaced and not twisted. Sew around this edge, catching the handles.

Remove the pins and turn inside-out. Press the seam. It should look like the picture below.

Now, open up the band and lining pieces again. Insert the whole section into the bag with the band-lining at the top. Pin in place. Sew around the edge.

Remove the pins. Pull band section out of purse and fold over again.

Fold the unfinished part over, press and top stitch around it.

All finished! Here’s the front and back of the bag.

My daughter loves it. She carries her books and journal in it.