Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to sew a sturdy, garden-pretty tote bag, about 15 inches wide by 16 inches tall.
The fabric is the Aubergine Tossed Nosegays. It's from the Lost Gardens of Heligan collection. It's by Henry Glass. The designer is Michelle Yeo. It's 100% cotton. It runs 43 to 44 inches wide.
The color is aubergine. That's a rich, deep purple. Over that ground, little nosegays are tossed across the fabric. A nosegay is a small bunch of flowers. So the floral pattern scatters as it goes. Super duper cute, and it hides everyday scuffs well, too.
This is standard-width quilting cotton. That matters for a bag. It cuts clean. It presses flat. It takes interfacing beautifully. And a tossed print is forgiving. You don't have to match anything at the seams. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
The project: a tote bag
A tote bag earns its keep every single week. Groceries. Library books. A quilting project on the go. This one has a boxed bottom, so it stands up on its own. It also has a simple inside pocket. Handy for keys or a phone.
Why does this fabric suit it so well? The deep aubergine looks smart, not precious. You can carry it daily without babying it. The tossed nosegays give you flowers in every direction. Turn the bag any way you like. The print still looks right. Completely up to you. And one yard gives you the outside and the handles. Any scraps left make a sweet little pouch later.
What you'll need
- 1 yard of this Aubergine Tossed Nosegays for the bag outside and handles
- 3/4 yard of a coordinating cotton for the lining and pocket
- 1 yard of fusible fleece or medium fusible interfacing, about 20 inches wide or wider
- Matching thread for construction, and a slightly heavier thread if you like topstitching
- A size 80/12 or 90/14 needle, set to about 10 to 12 stitches per inch
- Rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, and a warm iron
How it comes together
First, fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of your outer fabric. Follow the package directions for heat and time. Let it cool flat before you cut. I have rushed this step before. The layers bubbled on me. Learn from my mistake, y'all.
Cut two outer panels at 17 by 18 inches. Cut two lining panels the same size. Cut two handle strips at 4 by 24 inches. Cut one pocket piece at 7 by 8 inches.
Make the handles next. Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Press. Open it, fold both raw edges to the center crease, then fold in half again. Topstitch down both long edges.
Sew the outer panels right sides together. Use a 1/2-inch seam on the sides and bottom. Then box each bottom corner. Flatten the corner so the side seam meets the bottom seam. Mark a line 2 inches from the point. Sew on that line and trim the tip. That gives you about a 4-inch-deep bottom.
Build the lining the same way. But leave a 4-inch opening in one side seam for turning. Add the pocket to one lining panel first. Fold its top edge down twice, stitch it, then sew the pocket down on three sides.
Pin the handles to the top of the outer bag, about 4 inches in from each side seam. Baste them in place. Then drop the outer bag inside the lining, right sides together. Match the side seams. Sew around the top with a 1/2-inch seam.
Turn the bag right side out through that opening. Close the opening with a neat edge stitch. Push the lining inside. Press the top edge well. Topstitch around the top, about 1/4 inch from the edge. Here we go. Just like that, you have a bag.
Practical tips
Reinforce your handle joins. Sew a small square with an X inside it where each handle meets the bag. That little box takes the strain of a heavy load. Books and groceries add up fast. Ask me how I know.
Watch your needle at the thick spots. Where the handles stack up, the layers get bulky. Slow down or the needle snaps. Walk the machine over those spots by hand if you need to.
And here's your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. A slightly wavy topstitch line just says a real person made this. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thank y'all so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Aubergine Tossed Nosegays Lost Gardens of Heligan Cotton 43"/44" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
