Quilted Tote Bag Tutorial - Patchwork and Poodles

I have a super fun tutorial for you today! Ashlee, better known as @crinklyquilts on Instagram, turned her Everglow quilt block into a super cute quilted tote bag! I loved it so much I asked her if she’d be willing to make a quilted tote bag tutorial for all of you! This roomy quilted tote bag finishes at 18″ high, 18″ wide, and 5″ deep thanks to a boxed corner base. Best of all, I decided to film myself making one so I could offer it in video form for all of you!

Supplies:

Everglow Quilt Pattern – you’ll need (1) Everglow block which measures 18.5” x 18.5” unfinished
(1) 3.5 x 18.5” exterior fabric
(1) 18.5” x 21.5” exterior fabric (back of bag)
(2) 18” x 21” lining fabric
(2) 2.75” x 16” handle fabric
(2) 16” pieces of 1” webbing/strapping
(2) 19” x 22” Bosal Form or batting

Get the Everglow Quilt Pattern:

Everglow | PAPER

$12.00

Add to cart
Everglow | PDF

$12.00

Add to cart

(Optional) Perform a Victory Lap to keep all the edges of your quilt block together prior to basting and quilting.

For my tote bag (the blue one above) I used all Riley Blake Designs basics: Dots, Kisses, Tone on Tone White, and Shades.

Watch the Quilted Tote Bag Tutorial:

Quilted Tote Bag Tutorial:

MAKE THE LINING:

1. Using clips, clip your lining front and back RST to secure them. In each of the bottom corners mark a 2.5″ square. Cut the squares out.

2. With RST, sew the sides on the lining together using a 1⁄2” seam allowance. Sew the bottom of the bag together using a 1⁄2” seam allowance, but leave a 5” space in the middle so you can turn your bag right side out once we sew the lining and exterior together. Press your seams open.

3. Box the corners of the lining matching up the side seam and the bottom seam in the 2.5” cut out. Use a 1⁄2” seam allowance.

MAKE THE EXTERIOR:

4. To the bottom of your Everglow block sew the 3.5” x 18.5” exterior fabric RST, press your seam open. This is the front of your bag (Diagram A)

5. Baste and quilt the front and back of your bag as desired.

6. Trim your bag front and back to 18” x 21” and mark a line 4.5” from each side of the bag front and back.

7. Using clips, clip your bag front and back RST to secure them. In each of the bottom corners mark a 2.5” square. Cut the squares out.

8. Using a 1⁄2” seam allowance sew down the 2 sides and the bottom of the bag. Press your seams open.

9. Box the corners of the bag matching up the side seam and the bottom seam in the 2.5” cut out just like we did for the lining. Use a 1⁄2” seam allowance.

10. Turn your bag right side out.

QUILTED TOTE BAG ASSEMBLY:

11. Fold your handle fabric in half RST lengthwise and sew the edges together using a 1⁄4” seam allowance to make a 16” tube. Press your seam open and turn the tubes right side out.

12. Feed your webbing into the tube. Sew along the handles 1/8” away from the edge to secure the webbing in place.

13. Clip your handles RST to the front and back of the bag exterior. The line we marked in step 6 will align with the outside edge of the handle. Using a 1⁄4” seam allowance sew the handles in place.

14. With your lining wrong side out and exterior right side out, put your exterior inside your lining bag so they are RST. Match up the side seams and clip in place. Clip around the top of the bag matching up the edges of the bag and securing them in place. Then sew them together with a 1⁄2” seam allowance.

15. Pull your bag through the gap in the lining fabric so it is right side out. Push the lining fabric into the bag and roll the seam around the top of your bag in your fingers so that it lines up. Clip in place as you go around.