Tote Bag tutorial

For a quick, basic, lined bag, with a feature fabric on one side and strips of prints on the other, this is what I do:

1. Cut one panel of 16" x 18"

2. Cut 16" length strips of even width, or mixed widths depending on the effect I wish to create, eg between 1.5"-4", cutting enough to make a 16" x 18" panel when sewn together. 

3. Layer each panel with batting (and a muslin backing if wish) and quilt as you like.

 

 

4. Trim both panels to 15" x 17". Place right sides together and stitch 1/4" or 1/2" seam around the sides and bottom. 

5. Make a gusset so the bag has a flat base: flatten the sides of the bag so that the side seam rests against the base seam and form a triangle.  Sew 1 and 1/4" across the point (I usually do it three times) then trim the point off. Repeat on other seam. 

6. Cut lining fabric 17.5" x 15.5" (two pieces or cut on the fold). With right sides together, sew the side seams and bottom, leaving a four inch gap in the bottom for turning the bag later.  

7. Make a gusset in the lining, as in steps 5 and 6.  

8. Make handles for the bag, choose desired length - mine is usually about 28" (pre-sewing). For two-colour handles: cut two strips of each colour, 2.5" x 28". Press a 1/4" fold along the length of both sides, of each strip. 

9.  Cut batting of 1.5" x 28". Wrap first colour around the batting, then layer other colour on top to make a sandwich. Sew 1/8" along each edge (or closer if possible) and also sew a strip right down the middle of each handle. 

10. Attach handles to the outside of the bag and pin in place, keeping the pins away from the upper edge). Stitch 1/4" from the top edge, triple stitching for reinforcing. 

11. Insert the bag outer into the lining so that the right sides are together and the handles are tucked down out of the way.  Stitch 1/4" around the top, reinforcing over the handles and side seams. 

12. Carefully pull the quilted bag through from the inside by using the gap in the base of the lining. Fold the top down and slip-stitch the gap closed. 

13.  Top stitch around the upper hem of the bag, holding handles up out of the way. 

The bag is finished, remember to date/label it somewhere! 

Tutorial: Slice of Summer lap quilt

 

This is for my future reference, I am not a professional at this so am just recording the process for myself, so the instructions may not be perfect! For my original post about this quilt click here.

I started with five fat quarters and, while I didn't measure it at the time as I had such a long amount of yardage that I knew I would have plenty, I must have used about (making calculations...) 60" (is that just under 2 yards?) of white solid for the sashing and border.

 Cut each fat quarter into two strips of 3" and four strips of 2". I layered 2-3 fat quarters together to save time.

Cut each of the 3" strips into three 6"x3" rectangles. Should now have 6 of these per fat quarter.

Cut each of the 2" strips into three 6"x3" rectangles.
Should now have 12 of these per fat quarter.

 Mix and match the rectangles so there is a 3" piece in the centre with a 2" piece on either side of it.

I used pairs of the 2" rectangles.

 Chain piece the side pieces to the centre pieces.  Press towards the centre (or darker fabric, whichever!)

After both sides are sewn on, the block should measure 6" square.

Place the blocks, five across, six down, to make an arrangement that you like.

I rotated each alternate block by 90degrees.  They could have been left all the same way up.

Cut the sashing fabric: I cut five 3"xWOF strips, then cut each of these into five 3"x6" rectangles. Should be 24 of these. If the fabric is 42" wide (and depending if you have cut the selvedges off) you could maybe cut seven from each WOF and therefore only need three and a half WOF strips?

Sew a 3"x6" sashing strip to the right hand side of 24 of the blocks (not the ones in the right hand column).

Sew each row together.

 Now cut the background fabric into five strips of 3"x WOF.

Sew one strip to the bottom of each of the top five rows. Trim the excess.

Sew each row/sashing to the one below it until quilt top is assembled.

 I added borders: cut five strips of 6.5"x WOF.

I cut two of the strips to 38" and attached them to the top and bottom of the quilt.

I cut one of the strips into two pieces and used these to make the side panels long enough for the quilt top.

I made a big enough backing (and made and attached a label to the backing), layered and pin-basted the quilt.

I stitched in the ditch along the sashing between the rows and around the border first to stablilise it all and then I did the large stipple FMQ all over.

Square up and trim the edges of the quilt.

I used a 2.5" binding: cut five 2.5"xWOF strips plus another strip of about 15"x2.5" and sew together into one long strip etc.

Attach to the quilt using usual method.

Finished quilt size: 49"x 56"