Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to sew a sturdy tote bag that shows off a whole pack of doodled dogs.
Here we go.
The fabric is from Dear Stella. It is called Big Dog Walk Dog Doodle Pistachio.
It is a digital-print quilting cotton. The fiber is 100% cotton, sold by the yard.
The width of fabric is 44"/45". The color is Pistachio, a soft, friendly green.
And on that pistachio green ground? Doodled dogs. All over it.
The collection is Big Dog Walk. The name fits, y'all.
The product notes say it suits dog-lover quilts, pet bandanas, and gifts for dog people. Today, I am putting it on a bag you will carry everywhere.
The project: a tote bag
A tote bag is a simple open-top bag with two handles. Ours finishes about 16 inches wide, 15 inches tall, and 4 inches deep.
That size swallows groceries, library books, or a quilt project on the go. Big enough to be useful. Small enough to finish in an afternoon.
This fabric suits the project really well. A tote shows one big, flat panel on each side. Those doodled dogs stay whole and readable.
Quilting cotton presses flat and feeds evenly. With fusible fleece behind it, it stands up on its own.
You could fussy cut one favorite dog for the front center. That is my preference. Or let the dogs run wherever they land. Completely up to you.
Materials
- 1 yard of Dear Stella Big Dog Walk Dog Doodle Pistachio Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard for the outer bag and handles
- 1/2 yard of a coordinating cotton for the lining
- 1 yard of fusible fleece, about 44 inches wide
- 50-weight cotton thread for piecing and construction
- Size 80/12 needle for piecing, size 90/14 for the thicker layers
- Rotary cutter, mat, ruler, pins or clips, iron, and your sewing machine
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Square up one edge. A straight start makes a straight bag.
Cut two outer panels at 17 inches wide by 16 inches tall. Watch the direction of the dogs. You want them upright, not doing headstands.
Cut two lining panels the same size. Then cut two pieces of fusible fleece the same size.
Fuse the fleece to the wrong side of each outer panel. Press in sections, about 10 seconds each, and let it cool.
Cut two handle strips at 4 inches wide by 24 inches long. Fold each in half lengthwise and press. Then fold the raw edges in to the center fold and press again.
Topstitch both long edges of each handle. Use a stitch length of about 3.0 mm. That is roughly 8 to 9 stitches per inch.
Sew the outer panels right sides together along the sides and bottom. Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Leave the top open.
Box the bottom corners. Flatten each corner so the side seam meets the bottom seam. Measure 2 inches in from the point, draw a line, and sew across it. Trim away the little triangle.
Repeat for the lining. But leave a 4-inch opening in the lining bottom seam. We need that gap for turning.
Pin the handles to the outer bag top, about 4 inches in from the side seams. The handle ends point down, and the loop points into the bag.
Slide the outer bag inside the lining, right sides together. Match the side seams. Sew around the top with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
Turn the bag right side out through that lining opening. Press the top edge flat. Stitch the lining opening closed, then topstitch around the top, about 1/4 inch down. Just like that, you have a tote.
Practical tips
Go slow at the top edge. You are sewing through fabric, fleece, handles, and lining. Slow down or the needle can deflect and snap.
Check your dogs before you cut. I once cut a whole panel upside down. Every dog, standing on his head. I laughed, cut a fresh panel, and kept the first one for a lining.
If your handles twist a little, do not stress. A working tote gets soft and lived-in fast. Nobody is grading your handles.
And here is the important part. It does not have to be perfect. You're your own worst critic. Take your time, it's not a race.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. Two panels, two handles, one lining. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Make one for yourself. Make one for a dog lover. Oh my goodness, those doodled dogs are super duper cute on a bag.
Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Dear Stella Big Dog Walk Dog Doodle Pistachio Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
