Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to turn winter wool charms into a festive wool-appliqué tote bag.
Here we go.
First, let's look at the fabric
This one is #Charms11 Modern Winter Christmas.
It's a set of 11 Wooly Charms. They come packaged in a clear box, with a laser engraved keepsake tucked in there too.
The wool is hand-dyed. It is felted, and it is ready for stitching right out of the box. No extra prep to fuss with.
The colors are rich and vibrant — classic Christmas green and Christmas red tones.
I love felted wool for appliqué. It does not fray like a raw cotton edge. Cut a shape, place it, and stitch it down. Just like that.
The project: a festive wool-appliqué tote bag
We're making a tote bag, about 15 inches wide by 16 inches tall finished. That is a good everyday size for a small quilt project, a book, or a run to the holiday market.
The idea is simple. You build the tote from sturdy quilting cotton. Then you cut Christmas shapes from the wool charms — a tree, a star, an ornament — and appliqué them to the front panel before you sew the bag together.
Why does this wool suit a tote? That felted surface adds soft texture you can feel every time you pick the bag up. Those rich Christmas colors pop against a plain background. And appliquéing a flat panel first is much easier than stitching through a finished bag.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. It's a simple tote, with a little wool love on the front.
Materials list
- One pack of #Charms11 Modern Winter Christmas — 11 Wooly Charms, hand-dyed felted wool
- About 3/4 yard of sturdy quilting cotton or canvas for the tote body — cut two panels, 16 by 17 inches
- About 1/2 yard of quilting cotton for the lining — cut two panels, 16 by 17 inches
- About 1 yard of medium fusible interfacing, if your outer fabric is quilting cotton
- About 1 1/2 yards of 1-inch cotton webbing for handles, or fabric to make your own straps
- Thread that blends with your appliqué shapes, plus piecing thread
- A size 90/14 needle for assembling the bag, and a hand needle you like for appliqué
- Paper-backed fusible web, optional, and small, sharp scissors
Brief steps
1. Cut and prep your panels. Cut two outer panels and two lining panels at 16 by 17 inches. Fuse interfacing to the outer panels if you're using quilting cotton. Press everything flat.
2. Cut your wool shapes. Draw simple shapes on paper first. Keep them bold — a tree about 5 to 6 inches tall works really really well. Save scraps for dots and berries.
3. Appliqué the front. Lay your shapes out on one outer panel. Pin them, or fuse them lightly. Stitch each one down with a small blanket stitch, about 4 to 5 stitches per inch. Slow down on the star points, or the needle can jump right off the edge.
4. Sew the outer bag. Place the outer panels right sides together. Sew the sides and bottom with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Box the bottom corners about 2 1/2 inches across for a flat base.
5. Sew the lining. Sew the lining the same way, but leave a 4-inch gap in the bottom seam for turning. Box those corners the same 2 1/2 inches.
6. Add handles and finish. Pin your webbing handles to the top of the outer bag, about 4 inches in from each side seam. Slip the outer bag inside the lining, right sides together, and sew around the top. Turn it through that gap, stitch the gap closed, and press. Topstitch around the top at about 1/4 inch. Just like that.
Practical tips from my table
Do all your appliqué before the bag exists, y'all. A flat panel sits happy under your hands. A finished bag fights you on every stitch.
Keep your shapes simple. A slightly wobbly tree still reads as a tree. Test your stitch on a scrap first — if your thread pulls too tight, loosen up just a touch. Wool is forgiving, but it will pucker if you tug.
Press with care. Use a warm iron on the cotton, and keep direct heat off your appliqué. A pressing cloth helps here, folks.
And here's your permission beat. It doesn't have to be perfect. A stitch that wanders a little is handmade charm, not a mistake. You're your own worst critic, I promise. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the #Charms11 Modern Winter Christmas at Linda's Electric Quilters.
