Hey everyone. Today we're making a sturdy everyday tote bag that lets a garden-inspired check do the pretty work.
The fabric first
Our star today is Bloom Check Tan, from the Flourish and Bloom collection by Helen Prior for Free Spirit Fabrics.
It's a cotton fabric, 44/45 inches wide, sold by the yard. The color in the name is tan, and the design is a check.
Flourish and Bloom celebrates gardens. Their ability to thrive, transform, and burst into life.
Helen works through her signature "Clay to Cloth" process. She draws and imprints motifs into soft clay. Then she layers it with tinted slips and glazes.
That foundation becomes textile. The collection talks about the intricate geometry of plants, and y'all, you can see that idea in a check.
A check gives you rhythm. It gives you order. But this one stays soft and garden-fresh, not stiff or formal.
That's why I wanted it on a tote. A tote is two big, flat panels. A check reads clean across both panels. It looks tailored without any fussy piecing. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
The project: a garden-fresh market tote
Our finished tote measures about 16 inches wide, 15 inches tall, and 4 inches deep across the boxed bottom.
That's a real working size. It holds groceries, books, or a quilt project.
Why does this fabric suit it? First, the tan ground goes with everything. Second, the check helps you cut straight. Third, cotton with good interfacing holds a nice shape while you load it.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. This is a one-afternoon tote, not a big commitment.
What you'll need
- 1 yard of Bloom Check Tan Flourish and Bloom cotton for the outer bag and handles
- 3/4 yard of a coordinating cotton for the lining
- 1 yard of medium-weight fusible interfacing or fusible fleece, at least 20 inches wide
- All-purpose thread to match the tan
- Rotary cutter, mat, and a ruler
- Pins or clips, an iron, and a marking tool
- Your sewing machine — a size 80/12 or 90/14 universal needle handles these layers well
Brief steps
1. Cut everything. Press first. Cut two outer rectangles, 17 inches by 16 inches. Cut two lining rectangles and two interfacing pieces the same size. For handles, cut four strips 4 inches by 22 inches. Keep your cuts on grain and use the check to check yourself.
2. Fuse and make handles. Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of each outer panel. For each handle, fold a strip in half lengthwise and press. Open it, fold both long edges to the center crease, then fold in half again. Topstitch both long edges about 1/8 inch from the edge. Set your stitch length to about 3.0, roughly 8 to 9 stitches per inch.
3. Sew the outer bag. Pin each handle to the right side of one outer panel, 3 1/2 inches in from each side, loop facing down. Baste at 1/4 inch. Place outer panels right sides together. Sew sides and bottom with a 1/2-inch seam. Box each corner by matching side seam to bottom seam and stitching across 4 inches. Trim the triangles, leaving 1/2 inch.
4. Sew the lining and finish. Sew lining the same way, leaving a 4-inch opening in the bottom. Place lining inside the outer bag, right sides together, matching side seams and top edge, handles tucked between layers. Sew around the top with a 1/2-inch seam. Slow down over the handle layers here, folks, or the needle can snap. Turn right side out through the opening. Stitch the opening closed. Press the top edge and topstitch 1/4 inch around.
Practical tips from my table to yours
Reinforce those handles. Stitch a small box with an X where each handle meets the top. It saves you when you load the tote too full. Ask me how I know.
Don't stress about matching the check perfectly at both side seams. Line it up at the front, where your eye lands first. The back can be close, and close is just fine.
And here's your permission beat, because I mean it. It does not have to be perfect. A slightly soft corner still carries groceries beautifully. You're your own worst critic here. Everyone else sees a really really cute, useful tote you made yourself. Take your time. It's not a race. Completely up to you if you add a pocket — a 6-inch square on one lining panel is super duper easy.
Alrighty, that's our tote. Thanks so much for sewing along with me, friends. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Bloom Check Tan Flourish And Bloom 44"/45" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
