This is my favorite tote bag.  Of course I didn’t invent the quilted tote 🙂  Here is my tutorial for how I made this one.  Hope you love it!

Supplies:
1/3 yard main outer fabric
1/3 yard bottom contrast outer
3/4 yard muslin or other light weight for the back of the quilting
3/4 yard bag lining
1/4 yard handles
quilt batting
911 feather weight interfacing (optional)
1/3 yard contrasting fabric for pocket (optional)

Instructions
Cut your main outer fabric (top piece) 2 pieces 10.5″ x 20″
Cut your bottom contrast fabric 2 pieces  9.5″ x 20″
Sew these two pieces together and press. 

 

Quilt both pieces

Cut your lining (2 pieces) 19.5″x20″.  (I had to cut 1/4 inch off the 19.5″ piece because the outer bag shrunk from the quilting.  So mine measured 19.25″ x 20″)  Iron the fuseable Pelon to the wrong side of your bag lining fabric – this is optional.  Once I finished mine, I thought this step really wasn’t necessary.

Next, prepare your pocket. Cut 2 strips 6.5″ x 20″.  Sew the two pocket pieces right sides together.

Sew 1/4 inch along the top and bottom – leaving edges open.

Turn and press.  Top stitch along just the top of the pocket piece.

Pin the pocket band where you want the pocket to hit.  I pinned mine 7 inches from the top of the bag.

Now sew along the sides and the bottom using a narrow 1/8 inch seam allowance.  Then sew lines going down the pocket piece to form the pockets.  I just eyeballed mine.  Some are narrow for pencils, others are wider.

Prepare the handles.  Cut 2 strips 28″ x 4″.  If your fabric is thin, iron fusable interfacing to handle pieces before sewing.  This fabric was kind of canvas-like.  Fold longways and sew along the side leaving the ends open to turn.

Turn and press both handles.  Top stitch both sides of handles.

Now, pin your outer bag right sides together, matching the side seams.  Also, pin your lining together right sides together.  Sew around both pieces leaving the top open.  I used about a 1/2 inch seam.  Make sure your seam allowance is exactly the same for both bags or they won’t match up!

Place your handles as desired.  Use this point to shorten the handles if you want.  Baste the handles on to the outer bag using a 1/8 inch seam.

Push out the bottom of the bag – while it is wrong side out.  Flatten and measure 3 1/2″ from the point and draw a straight line.  Do this to both ends of the outer bag and the lining.

Pin in place and sew along your line – back-stitching to start and stop.

Trim along your seam about 1/4 inch.

You are almost done!  Now the fun part!  Leaving the outer bag wrong side out, put the lining (right side out) inside the quilted bag.  Match the side seams and pin all the way around the bag.  It should line up perfectly.

Sew a 1/4 inch seam all around the entire bag.

Unstitch a little place on the side lining of the bag to turn the bag right side out.

Turn bag right side out and top stitch the opening closed using matching thread.

Press the lining down so the top of the bag is flat (it will want to puff out the top).

Top stitch using 1/8″ seam all around the bag.