Hey everyone! Today we're making a sturdy harvest market tote bag that lets one beautiful scenic print carry the whole project.
Here we go. First, let's talk about the fabric itself.
This is Autumn Scenes Multicolor, from Michael Miller Fabrics. It's part of the Autumn Flower Market collection. The design is called Autumn Scenes, SKU DDC12762-BLAC-D, and the colorway is Black.
It's 100% cotton, and it measures 44"/45" wide. It's sold by the yard here at Linda's. That is your standard quilting width, so it cuts clean and sews up easy.
The design style is autumn, harvest, scenic, and novelty. The theme is fall and harvest. Think pumpkins, scarecrows, sunflowers, and autumn leaves.
The collection brings ripe pumpkins in wheelbarrows and farm baskets. There are patchwork pumpkins, too. All of it sits in warm seasonal shades. Burnt orange, golden amber, and deep red.
That Black colorway matters here, y'all. It gives those warm colors a rich, dramatic ground. The pumpkins and sunflowers really pop against it. It feels cozy, and a little bit striking, all at once.
Care is simple, too. Machine wash cold on gentle with like colors. No chlorine bleach. Tumble dry low, remove promptly, and use a warm iron if you need one.
Why this fabric for a tote bag?
A tote bag is a roomy carryall with two handles. Mine finishes about 16" wide, 15" tall, and 4" deep across the bottom. That's a good size for a farmers market run. It holds a pie, a bundle of flowers, and a few extras with room to spare.
Here's what I use, and why. A scenic print needs a big, flat surface to shine. A tote front is exactly that. You get one large panel on each side, and the artwork stays whole instead of getting chopped into little patchwork pieces.
Quilting cotton is also a smart tote choice. It's light to carry, but with a little interfacing behind it, it stands up on its own. Super duper practical, and really really pretty for fall errands.
Materials
- Autumn Scenes Multicolor fabric: 1 yard for the outer bag
- Lining fabric: 1/2 yard of a coordinating cotton, 44"/45" wide
- Fusible fleece or medium interfacing: 1 yard
- Webbing or extra outer fabric for two handles, each about 24" long
- Thread: a good 50-weight cotton in a soft neutral
- Rotary cutter, ruler, clips or pins, and a denim or size 90/14 needle for the thick seams
Brief steps
One, press your fabric well. Then fuse the fleece to the wrong side of your outer fabric. Take your time here. Smooth from the center out so you get no bubbles.
Two, cut your pieces. Cut two outer panels at 17" wide by 16" tall. Cut two lining panels the same size. If you can, center a pumpkin or sunflower scene on the front panel. Fussy cutting is completely up to you.
Three, make the handles. If you're using fabric, cut two strips 4" wide by 24" long. Fold them in thirds, press, and topstitch both edges. Use a stitch length around 3.0 for that topstitching.
Four, attach the handles. Pin one handle to the top of each outer panel, about 4" in from each side seam. Baste them in place with a 1/4-inch seam.
Five, sew the bag. Place the outer panels right sides together. Sew the sides and bottom with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Do the same with the lining, but leave a 5-inch opening in the bottom seam for turning.
Six, box the corners. Flatten each bottom corner so the side seam meets the bottom seam. Measure 2" in from the point, draw a line, and sew across it. Trim the extra triangle away. That gives you that nice 4-inch flat bottom.
Seven, put it together. Turn the lining right side out and slip it inside the outer bag, right sides together. Sew around the top edge. Turn everything right side out through that lining opening, then sew the opening closed. Push the lining down inside, press the top edge, and topstitch all the way around. Just like that, you're done.
My honest tips
Slow down at the top edge and the boxed corners. That's my warning at the moment of risk. You're sewing through several layers there, fleece included. Go too fast and you can snap a needle. Ease over those spots, folks, and let the machine do its work.
I learned that one the hard way. I rushed a tote handle seam once and bent a needle clean sideways. The fix was simple. A heavier needle, a slower foot, and a little patience.
You've got options, too. Add an inside pocket if you like. Make the handles longer for an over-the-shoulder carry. Or use a solid lining in burnt orange or golden amber to match the print. My preference is a light lining so I can actually find my keys, but the rest is completely up to you.
And here's your permission beat. It does not have to be perfect. A tote bag gets tossed in the car, loaded with groceries, and set down on the porch. A slightly uneven topstitch will not matter one bit. You're your own worst critic. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Grab your yardage and have some fun.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Autumn Scenes Multicolor 44"/45" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
