Saving the universe one project at a time!
I made these fun little tote bags for quilt market and they are the perfect size for Trick or Treating, a library bag, or a car ride to grandma’s house!
I used my Library Tote Bag tutorial. They sew up fast and you can use your favorite fabrics!
Click HERE for the tutorial.
I am super in love with Tasha Noel’s new fabric line Seaside!!! It just totally captured my little nautical heart!! I knew a beach bag was in order. I love the theme print in the fabric line!! The outer bag only has 3 fabric strips! So it sews up totally fast!
This is my favorite size tote bag. It’s not too big that it’s hard to use and it’s big enough to hold a towel, sunscreen, lunch, and some beach toys! There is even a pocket and a key fob to hook your keys on so they don’t fall out and get lost in the sand!
You can totally switch up the fabrics and choose your favorites.
All seams 1/4″ unless otherwise stated
Supplies and Fabric Requirements
1 fat quarter Navy Flags – outer bag
40″ Seaside Main Print – outer bag
1 fat quarter Navy Gingham – outer bag
2/3 yard lining fabric
1/3 yard Navy Gingham for handles
1 fat quarter pocket fabric
Key Clasp
2/3 yard muslin or inside lining fabric
cotton batting
lightweight stabilizer
Cutting Instructions
Cut the outer bag pieces according to the above photo.
Cut lining pieces (2) 19 1/2″ x 19 1/2″
Cut handles (2) 5″ x 28″
Cut Pocket 14″ x 19 1/2″
Cut Key Strap (1) 2″ x 10″
Sewing Instructions
Sew the three pieces of the out bag together and press seams in one direction. Make a bag front and a bag back.
Baste each outer bag piece to batting and to a piece of muslin or light colored fabric. This gives the bag a little extra weight.
Quilt each outer bag piece. I quilted straight lines 1″ apart on the diagonal. It took some time but it was worth it!
Square up each outer bag piece and measure. Mine shrunk 1/2″ so each piece measured 19 1/2″ square.
Cut (2) lining pieces the measurements of your outer bag (19 1/2″ x 19 1/2″).
Pocket
Cut the pocket 14″ x 19 1/2″
Fold the pocket in half lengthwise, right sides together.
Top stitch the top edge.
Position the pocket 6″ from the top of one of the lining pieces. Pin in place.
Sew along the bottom 1/8″ away from the fold. Sew seams going down where you want the pockets – you can decide what size you want!
Fold the 2″ x 10″ key strap in fourths lengthwise.
Top stitch both edges 1/8″.
Thread through the key clasp, fold under raw edge and sew pin place.
Baste the raw edge of the key strap in place as pictured above.
Place the outer bag pieces right sides together and sew the sides and bottom using a 1/4″ seam
Place the lining pieces right sides together and sew the sides and bottom using a slightly larger 1/4″ seam. This makes the lining fit nicely inside the bag.
Cut a 3″ square and use as a pattern. Cut a 3″ notch out of the bottom corners of the outer bag and the lining.
Match the seams of each corner, pin and sew 1/4″, backstitching to start and stop.
If you would like to add stability to the handles, fuse a piece of light weight stabilizer the same size as the handle strips to the wrong side of the two handle strips.
Press the handle strips in half lengthwise, then press the edges meeting in the center. Fold in half again and press. (The handles will be folded in 4ths)
Top stitch 1/8″ along both sides of the handles.
Measure 4 1/2″ in from each side seam and pin the handles into place.
Baste handles in place.
With the outer bag inside out and the lining right side out, place the lining inside the outer bag (so right sides are together). Match and pin side seams and pin all the way around the bag.
Sew 1/4″ around the top of the bag.
Using a seam ripper, unstitch about 3″ on one of the side seams and turn the bag right side out. Top stitch the opening closed.
Press lining down inside the bag and top stitch 1/8″ around the top of the bag.
You’re all done! Time to hit the beach! Or set sail on your boat!
I recently got to spend time with my friend and her darling children!! I made them each a library tote bag using this tutorial and these new fabrics from Riley Blake Designs! I love that there is a Lancelot and a Guinevere fabric line! You can’t go wrong! This tote bag is the perfect size for library books, music books, ballet clothes, a car ride to grandmas, or a trip to the pool! It’s so versatile!!!
These fun little bags take about an hour to sew (that is if you are focused and not watching Netflix!). They make cute little birthday gifts!
OK let’s get started!!
(In the photos I switch back and forth between the Guinevere and the Lancelot, just focus on the measurements and the process)
Fabric Requirements
1/3 yard outer bag main fabric
5 prints for accent piecing – 10 squares 3 1/2″ each
1/8 yard top band fabric
1/4 yard handle fabric
1/2 yard lining fabric
2/3 yard fusible medium weight stabilizer
Cutting Instructions
Follow the above instructions for cutting the outer bag pieces.
Cut (1) 5″ x width of fabric strip for handles
Cut (2) 15 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ squares of lining fabric
Cut (2) 15 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ squares of staibilizer
Begin by sewing (5) 3 1/2″ squares together in a horizontal row. Press seams in one direction. Make two of these units.
Sew the 2 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ rectangle to the top of the square strip.
Sew the 10 1/2″ x 15 1/2″ bottom piece to the bottom of the square strip. Press away from the square unit.
Repeat this step so you have two identical units for the front and the back of the bag.
These are the lining fabrics I choose! So cute!!!
Fuse the stabilizer to the wrong side of the two outer bag pieces.
Add a little top stitching accent along the square strip.
For the handles, press the 5″ strip in half lengthwise. Open and press the edges in to meet the center crease. Press.
I fused a 1″ piece of stabilizer inside the handle along the entire length. This is totally optional.
Fold the handle in half again (now it is folded in 4ths) and press.
Top stitch 1/8″ along both sides of the handle. I like to use my walking foot so nothing shifts.
I love top stitching! Cut the long handle strip exactly in half so you now have two handles!
Pin the handles to each outer bag piece. Measure in 4″ from the edge and pin in place. Notice I overlap the edge of the handles about 1/4″. This is to ensure that they fully get caught in the seam. Baste the handles 1/8″ away from the top of the bag.
Pin the outer bag pieces right sides together, leaving the top open.
Pin the lining pieces right sides together leaving the top open.
Sew the sides and bottom of the bag using 1/4″ seam allowance.
*Tip – I use a slightly larger seam allowance on my lining – it makes all the difference in making sure it fits inside the bag!
Cut a 2″ square out of paper and use it as your guide to cut a 2″ notch out of the bottom two corners of the outer bag and the lining.
Open the 2″ square and match the seams together. Pin. Sew 1/4″ along this edge, backstitching to start and stop.
Do this to each corner of the outer bag and the lining.
Leave the outer bag inside out and turn the lining right side out. Put the lining inside the outer bag so right sides are together. Match the side seams. Pin all the way around the bag.
Sew using 1/4″ seam allowance all the way around the bag.
Using a seam ripper, unstitch 3″ of the side seam and turn the bag right side out. Sew the opening closed by topstitching on the machine in matching thread.
Press the lining inside the bag and top stitch 1/8″ all the way around the top of the bag.
So fast and easy! The children were so excited to get to keep the bags!! Happy sewing!!
This tote bag is by far my most used tote bag I own!! What I love about it is that it is super big but folds up small so you can keep it in our purse or in your car. My goal is to sew a bunch of these and use them when I go grocery shopping. When they get dirty, just toss in the wash!!
This fabric is called Tutti-Fruitti from Blend Fabrics – it just screams summer! You can click on this link to see all the fabrics in the collection!
My friend, Rachel from Little Fish, and I made them together and she loves taking hers to the pool! (She also makes these adorable euro style swim trunks for little boys). You can fit a ton of beach towels in this bag!!
The bag is also reversible – I love the pineapples!!! So click HERE and download the free pattern and get ready for summer!!!
I am so totally excited to be a part of the Enchanted Blog Tour sponsored by Riley Blake Designs! You can see the entire collection designed by Dodi Poulsen of Two Sisters at Squirrel Hollow by clicking here 🙂
When I saw this new fabric line from Riley Blake Designs called Enchanted, my heart stopped. I took one look at this pink, navy and white plaid and immediately I was transported to a Cape Cod dream! Sailboats, lobsters, quaint homes and preppy boys on vacation from Harvard 🙂
Ok Ok, so I’ve never been to the Cape but a girl can dream right? I knew I wanted to design something that let this preppy plaid be the focus and something that would be perfect for my sailboat (hahaha).
I came up with a simple quilt pattern that uses plaid, navy and white. When only two prints arrived in the mail I began to panic wondering if I had made a terrible decision to make a quilt using only two prints! I decided to go with my instincts and make the quilt……and I am totally in LOVE!!!!
This quilt really lets the plaid shine in and it’s a great pattern to use if you fall in love with a single fabric print. The accent blocks are made of 4 half square triangle blocks.
…..and the quilt fits nicely inside this preppy plaid whale tote bag – made with denim, plaid, and Heat n Bond Fusible fleece. So, are you ready to set sail for the Cape? Grab your fabrics and lets get sewing!
Preppy Plaid Quilt
1/4″ seams
Supplies
2 yards plaid print
1 yard navy print
1 yard white
Begin by cutting the plaid into (40) 6.5″ squares.
Using the navy blue print and white print sew (160) half square triangles (HST) that measure 3.5″. You can use any method you like. I use my Sizzix half square triangle dies! It is super fast, super easy and no squaring up – just perfection!!
Die cut 160 navy HSTs and 160 white HSTs.
Sew the navy and white HSTs right sides together using 1/4″ seam.
Press seams open. Continue until you have 160 HSTs. It’s probably a good idea to put on a movie while doing this!
Lay out 4 HSTs to make the pattern above. Sew together as you would a 4-patch. Press seams open. Finished block will measure 6.5″. Make 40 of these blocks.
Cut 40 squares measuring 6.5″ out of the plaid.
Sew the blocks together (1/4″ seams) as you would a checkerboard, alternating each block. Make sure the pieced blocks are going the same direction. Press the seams toward the plaid. There are 8 blocks across and 10 rows down.
Baste (I always use Spray n Bond basting spray)
Quilt.
Bind.
Love.
Mufasa and I love sewing on rainy days!!
Tote Bag Instructions
I used my pattern, Quilted Tote Bag, for the measurements. I followed the pattern pretty closely with the following exceptions:
Supplies
Denim (2) 20″ x 10.5″
Plaid (2) 20″ x 9.5″
Lining (2) 20″ x 19.5″
Plaid for handles (2) 5″ x 28″
Heat n bond medium stabilizer (2) 5″ x 28″
Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece (2) 20″ x 19.5″
Piece of plaid for the whale
Heat n Bond Lite
Appliqué the whale Click HERE for the whale pattern.
You can print the whale directly on Heat n Bond Lite EZ print sheets, or trace the whale onto Heat n Bond Lite.
Heat set the whale to the wrong side of the plaid fabric.
Cut out the whale. Peel off the backing paper.
Press it onto one of the denim pieces, centering. Using 1/4″ seams, sew the denim piece to the plaid piece to make the bag front and back. Press seams.
Fuse the Heat n Bond Fusible fleece to the wrong side of the bag front and the bag back. Add some accent stitching along the seam.
Bag Handles
Fuse the stabilizer to the wrong side of each of the handle strips.
Press in half lengthwise. Open up and press the long ends in to meet the center. Press. Then press in half again. This makes a super sturdy handle!
Topstitch along both of the long edges of each handle.
Continue following the bag instructions from this tutorial to complete the bag. To make the bag bottom, cut a 3″ notch out of the bottom corners of the bag and the lining.
I am so in love with this tote bag! It is such a great size, and if feels sturdy and it is super preppy plaid cute!!
I’m ready for an Eastern Seaboard Vacation!!!
Together they make the Perfect Preppy Plaid Pair!!!!!
Be sure to check out these amazing designers to see what they’ve created using Riley Blake’s Enchanted Fabric!!!
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, Jan 23rd – Little Londyn
Tuesday, Jan 24th – Jedi Craft Girl
Wednesday, Jan 25th – Loose Threads
Thursday, Jan 26th – Meags and Me
Friday, Jan 27th – Pretty by Hand
Monday, Jan 30th – Tie Dye Diva
Tuesday, Jan 31st – Two Sisters as Squirrel Hallow
Wednesday, Feb 1st – Striped Swallow Designs
Thursday, Feb 2nd – Izzy and Ivy
Friday, Feb 3rd – Ellis and Higgs
Monday, Feb 6th – Aurifil
Tuesday, Feb 7th – The Crafy Quilter
Wednesday, Feb 8th – Two Sisters at Squirrel Hallow
Thursday, Feb 9th – Jina Barney Designz
Friday, Feb 10th – Riley Blake
You could win a bundle of Enchanted fabric by visiting Dodi’s blog, Loose Threads (www.sashgals.com) and leaving a comment.
One entry per blog post, per day of the Blog Tour, there on Loose Threads.
Enter every day to increase your chance of winning!!!
This Wonderland fabric by Blend Fabrics totally reminded my daughter of the Taylor Swift song “Wonderland” so I came up with this little project that I’m sure your daughter will love! I love this size zipper pouch because you can use it to put journals and writing supplies in, sketchbooks and art supplies, small sewing projects, coloring books and crayons – it’s just a great project size!!
I first cut the words out of vinyl on my Cricut to create a stencil. I placed it on light pink fabric and used a metalliac black fabric paint to stencil.
Cut the theme print and pink prints according to the measurements below:
Sew together using 1/4″ seams allowances. Press.
Cut the backing piece 11″ x 14″ – which is slightly larger. It will get trimmed down in a minute.
Fuse the outer zipper bag pieces to Heat n Bond medium weight stabilizer.
Next spray baste the two pieces to cotton batting.
Quilt each piece as desired.
Because quilting tends to alter the measurements, trim both pieces to measure 13 1/2″ x 10 1/2″.
Cut two lining pieces these same measurements: 13 1/2″ x 10 1/2″.
To finish the bag, follow these instructions for inserting a zipper and sewing the pouch.
Before turning right side out, cut a 1″ notch in each of the 4 corners. 
The above photo is from another tutorial but you can see how the notches should be at each corner.
Fold each notch so the two seams align, pin, and sew 1/4″ seam along raw edge. Do this to each corner.
Ella loves her bag! Look at all the things you can use it for:
Journaling supplies, art supplies, or even your favorite magazines on a road trip!
I’m super excited to be a part of Kerri Horsley’s Lovely Little Patchwork Blog Tour! Her book is so adorable with creative projects ranging from quilts to pillows to aprons!
What I love about this book is that not only are the projects inspiring but the book is also fun to read and so pretty to thumb through! I choose to make her Patchwork Market Tote.
For my fabrics I selected Milk, Sugar, Flour by Elea Lutz for Penny Rose Fabrics – one of my all time favorite fabric lines! The pattern calls for an embroidered pocket. I found this vintage pillow case with cats and flowers and knew it would be purrrrfect for this project.
I gathered all my supplies and began cutting and Mufasa decided this would be the perfect place for a catnap 🙂
I followed the cutting instructions exactly. I am a lover of totebags and so I stabilized my bag a little differently. My favorite method is cotton batting + HeatnBond medium weight fusible stabilizer!
Once I had the outer portions of the tote bag completed I fused the Heat n Bond® medium weight stabilizer to the wrong side of the outer bag pieces.
Next, I used Spray n Bond to baste the fused outer bag pieces to cotton quilt batting and then quilted. The addition of the stabilizer gives the bag more strength and substance while the batting keeps it feeling soft!
I cut my pillowcase to the measurements indicated in the pattern.
I used this same method to create the pocket, first ironing on stabilizer to the wrong side of the embroidery piece, followed by quilt batting.
I quilted the entire bag with straight line stitching along each of the seams.
I didn’t have webbing for the straps so I created my own using the same length measurements as in the pattern.
To create a 1″ wide handle, cut a 4″ x desired length piece of fabric. Press the entire length in half.
Open the strap and press both long edges in to meet the center crease.
Now comes the fun part, cut a 2″ x desired length piece of stabilizer and slip it inside the folded handle. Press to fuse. Then fold the 2″ piece in half again lengthwise to result in a 1″ wide strap. Top stitch both sides to secure. There are 4 layers of fabric and 2 layers of stabilizer in the handle! It’s perfect! I topstitched along the handles and then continued following the pattern.
I love it so much!
I took this bag to quilt market in May and I was thrilled to show it to Elea who absolutely loved it!! 
For more inspiration stop by each of these designers’ blogs to see what fun projects they have made from Kerri’s book!!
I created this fun and versitile tote bag for Blend Fabrics. It’s such a great tote because it folds up super flat but then you can fill it with tons of stuff! It’s perfect for beach towels and swimming stuff, goodies from the farmers market, or a fun day in the fabric district in LA! You can download the pattern by clicking HERE.
No really, it’s huge! Sally was thrilled to finally have a photo shoot that involved food!!! This fabric is called Lolly by Blend Fabrics.
You can make this optional Doughnut Money Pouch. Download the instructions HERE
. 
I also made a True Blue version of this bag. 
I used Heat n Bond® Medium Weight Fusible Stabilizer to give the bag more stability. Don’t you just love these whales by Blend Fabrics!!!
Here is how you can make one:
Supplies:
1/2 yard outer bag
1/2 yard lining
1/3 yard bag strap
1 yard Heat n Bond® Fusible staibilizer
Cut:
(2) outer bag 15″wide x 16″ tall
(2) lining 15″wide x 16″ tall
(2) stabilizer 15″wide x 16″ tall
(2) Strap 5″ x WOF
Fuse the HeatnBond® stabilizer to the wrong side of the (2) outer bag pieces.
With right sides together, pin all the way around the outer bag, leaving the top open. Do the same with the lining pieces. Sew using 1/3″ seam all the way around leaving the top open. You should have (2) bags, one outer and one lining.
To form a pleate in the bottom, cut a 1″ notch out of the bottom corners of the outer bag and the lining.
Match seams, pin, and sew 1/4″ seam, backstitching to start and stop.
Sew the (2) 5″ strap pieces together end to end. Press the seams open. Measure how long you want your strap. Mine was 48″. Cut at the desired length. Fold in half, right sides together and sew 1/3″ seam all the way down.
Turn right side out, press and top stitch.
Baste (1/8″) the ends of the strap centering on the side seams on the right side of the outer bag.
Place the lining inside the bag so that right sides are facing each other. Match side seams and pin all the way around.
Sew 1/4″ seam all the way around the top of the bag leaving a 3″ opening. Turn bag right side out and press. Sew a 1/8″ top stitch around the bag top, sewing the opening closed.
To add a little detail to the fabric, I used Deco Foil™ Transfer Adhesive and followed the loops on the fabric. After it dried I rubbed the Deco Foils™ on the adhesive. You can add a little shine to any project this way!!
I love sewing for Sally! And I love that she loves everything I make for her! I was thrilled to receive this bundle of fat quarters from Ft. Worth Fabric Studio. Every Friday they feature a fun Friday bundle! This is the perfect project to make with a handful of fat quarters and a few cuts of yardage. 
This is such a versatile size of bag! And the fabrics are so perfect for a little girl 🙂
Let’s get started!
Supplies:
7 Fat Quarters assorted prints
1/2 yard lining
1/4 yard handles
quilt batting
Press all your fat quarters so they are nice and smooth.
And by “press” I don’t mean let your cat lay on the fabrics!
The bag is made up of 2 outer pieces and 2 lining pieces. For the outer bag, cut 3.5″ blocks. You will need 25 for the front and 25 for the back. I added in 1 solid white square to applique a heart on.
For the applique, draw a heart onto Heat n Bond Lite. Cut the heart out 1/4″ larger than the drawn heart. Iron it to the wrong side of the flaming fabric. Press. Then cut out on the heart line. Peel off backing paper and press the heart onto the white fabric.
Top stitch around the heart a few times in an accent color.
Once you have all the blocks cut and arranged, sew them together using 1/4″ seams, just like you would a quilt. Press each row in opposite direction so the seams match up nicely. Make 2 of these. This should measure 15 1/2″ square.
Next we will be making a quilt. Baste each patchwork outer bag piece onto the quilt batting. Then baste onto plain fabric for the backing. This backing will NOT be seen. I used some fabric I didn’t like very much 🙂 This extra layer will give the bag a bit more weight and stability.
Basting spray is the greatest invention ever!!!
Here you can see my “junky” fabric on the back.
Quilt as desired. I quilted 1/4″ away from each of the seams. The quilting will shrink the up the quilt a little bit. Measure the size of the patchwork piece, mine measured about 15.25″
Once each of the 2 pieces is quilted, trim off any excess batting. Pin right sides together, matching at all side seams, leaving the top open. Sew around the sides and the bottom using 1/4″ seam allowance.
Cut (2) lining pieces 15.25″. This should be the exact measurement as the patchwork outer bag. Place the two lining pieces right sides together, and sew around the sides and bottom, leaving the top open. I like to take a slightly larger seam on the lining, so a generous 1/4″ seam allowance.
Cut a 1 3/4″ notch out of the bottom of each corner.
Open each notch, and match the seams, pinning. Sew a 1/4″ seams across. The picture below is slightly confusing because I used 2 different fabrics on my quilt back.
Once each of the corners are sewn, it’s time to make the handles.
Cut (2) 4″ x 23″ strips. Press in half lengthwise. Then fold each side up to the center. Then fold again, giving you a 1″ wide handle.
Top stitch each handle 1/8″ from the edge. Position the handle 4″ from the side seam. Pin in place. Baste in place.
Place the outer bag and the lining right sides together, matching side seams, and pinning all the way around. Sew all the way around the top of the bag using a 1/4″ seam.
Unstitch a little section on the side of the lining and turn the bag right side out.
Top stitch the opening closed. Tuck the lining down inside and press the top edge of the bag. Pin along the edge so the lining stays down. Top stitch all the way around the bag using a 1/4″ seams allowance.
It’s all done!!! And it’s oh so sweet!!
