Canvas bags are made of canvas which is a type of cotton and is gaining popularity these days because of its high quality and value for money. Also it doesn’t cause any environmental issues like plastic bags. Canvas bags can be of wide variety like canvas tote bags, duffel bags backpacks etc.
1.Tote bags: It is a kind of large, mostly unfastened bag with long parallel straps from the sides. The word tote likely descends from Low German tute which means bag.
History of tote bags:
The first tote bags were seen in the 1940s when US company LL Bean created their first bag for carrying ice and wood. The canvas is sturdy which makes it practical to carry ice and wood. In the 1960s, creators were designing all varieties of tote bags to demonstrate the evolving sense of political and social awareness. Designer Bonnie Cashin created her Cashin carry tote. Big, bold and beautiful, it fitted in well with the bright and colourful fashions of the time.
In the 1980s, New York bookshop The Strand introduced a new version of the tote. Similar to the bag we know and love today, this had a softer structure and was created from natural cotton canvas with the purpose of carrying items purchased in store. With the name of the shop printed in bright red on the front, this was one of the first tote bags to be used for advertising, and it worked.
2.Duffel bags: A duffel bag or kit bag is a large bag with a top closure using a drawstring. Commonly it is used by military, travellers and sport persons to carry large amounts of goods in the same bag. A good quality duffel bag will use sturdy fittings and strong zips.
History of duffel bags:
The bags made in Duffel, a town in Flanders, Belgium, in the 17th century were originally crafted from a tightly woven cloth that would later be called canvas. These well-made bags soon became popular throughout Spain, Portugal, and other parts of Europe.Poet E.E. Cummings is credited with officially coining the term “duffle bag” during World War II. The bags commonly used during this period were long, cylindrical bags closed with a drawstring rope. These “doughboy duffle bags” mostly carried military supplies. After the war, they became popular for civilian use because there was a huge surplus that made them affordable.
LET US MAKE A CANVAS TOTE BAG
Materials required:
- 1.5m of canvas (Any colour of your choice)
- Fabric scissors
- Colour thread
- Measuring tape
- Leather
- Hole punch
- Rivets
Procedure:
1. Trace the pattern of the tote bag on the wrong side.
2. Serge the edges of the fabric first. Since we don’t have an overlock machine, we used a zigzag stitch to serge the edges.
3. Sew the sides and leave the corners open.
4. Open the corners of the bag. Fold the corner, matching the centerfold on the base with the side seam. Sew across to secure the corner.
5. Flip the bag out and Fold down the top seam and sew it shut.
6. Punch holes on top for straps and attach them by screwing the studs.
