Handy Tote

A handy tote can be made to carry any number of things. If you have a heavy object to lift, but you can't get a good grip on it, the weight can be distributed between two people, as my husband and I found out the day we moved a concrete bird bath.

Materials:

• strong material such as denim
• sewing machine
• two broom handles (or similar doweling)

Instructions

The tote can be made any size you want, but I found 42 inches long by 24 inches wide was a handy size. Denim is a good choice and sturdy scraps from old jeans could be pieced together and double stitched for strength.

1. Cut the material as shown.
2. Turn under long edges and hem.
3. Reinforce the U-shaped cutouts with 2 inch bias binding (cut diagonally from the denim.) Double stitch.
4. Fold short ends of tote over to form loops big enough to slide broom handles through. Double stitch seam, and back stitch at the ends, as this is where the tote is most apt to tear.