Bag Lady Week: A Simple Tote Tutorial and giveaway by Felicity Quilts

Well, I can't think of a nicer way to wrap up Bag Lady Week than with my fellow Canuck, Felicity, of Felicity Quilts. Felicity has the best quilty ideas, and has made one of my all-time favorite quilts (you should really check it out- it's right here). When I am not perusing her blog I am stalking her on Pinterest- the girl has got style, and next time I make it to the west coast I am totally raiding her shoe closet!

And what better project to wrap up Bag Lady Week than lined totes- they are perfect for numerous functions, you can never have enough of them. And this one with vintage sheet lining? Divine :) Felicity is even doing a giveaway of the finished tote to one lucky reader, so if you would like it to find its way to you, be sure to leave a comment!
NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED



Simple Lined Tote by Felicity Quilts

Fabric Requirements:

Tote: 1 yard/metre home decorator-weight fabric (you'll have some left over but I like to err on the side of caution)
Lining: 3/4 yard/metre quilting cotton (I used a vintage sheet)

Directions:

STEP 1 - Cut Fabric

a. Tote:
2 @ 19" x 19" squares for bag body
2 @ 2.75" x 28" strips for handles
2@ 1" x 28" strips for handle lining

b. Lining:
2 @ 19" x 19" squares
1 @ 9" 12" rectangle for inner pocket (optional)

STEP 2 - Assemble Tote

We're going to make the bag first, then the lining. Here we go!

a. Place bag body pieces right sides together. Using a 3/8" seam allowance, stitch around sides and bottom. Finish edges with a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying.

b. To create gusset, fold over each side of the bag about 1½" along the bottom seam.

and stitch down along the existing seam line at the bottom.

c. Turn bag right side out and push out the corners to create the gusset.

d. Fold over top edge of bag ½" and press (wrong sides together).

STEP 3 - Make Handles

a. Take handle strips, fold over ¼" along each long side and press.

b. Fold handle in half and press.

c. Insert a handle lining piece into the folded handle piece, slipping it under the folded edge.

d. Top stitch about 1/8" from the edge along both sides of each handle. Once you've gone down one side, just zip along the end and continue along the other side - the ends will be buried inside the bag.

STEP 4 - Make Pocket (if you don't want an inner pocket, just go ahead and skip to Step 5)

a. If you want to add a label, do so now, and place it offset from the centre. Don't be misled by the photo - you should stitch the label onto the pocket piece before folding the pocket for step b. I placed it about 1½" from top and sides.

b. Fold the pocket piece in half, right sides together, along the 9" edge so that you have a rectangle that is 6" x 9". Use washable fabric marker (or lightly mark with a pencil, no biggie) to make 2 marks along the 9" side (the side that's not the fold) about 4" or 5" apart. Leave this section open as you stitch all the way around the pocket using a ¼" seam.

If you squint, you can see the marks between those two pins in the top.

c. Turn the pocket right side out, poke out the corners (I use a chopstick) and press.

d. Topstitch about 1/8" from the edge across the top of the pocket only.

e. Place the pocket on the right side of a lining piece 4" from the top. Make sure it's centred then pin it in place.

f. Attach the pocket to the lining by stitching around the sides and bottom using a 1/8" topstitch. If you want to divide this pocket into smaller pockets, stitch again down the centre of the pocket.

Click to enlarge

STEP 5 - Make Lining

a. Take the lining piece with the pocket on it and lay it right side up. Take the other lining piece and place it right side down, lining up the edges as well as possible.

b. Stitch around the sides and bottom using a ¼" seam. If you're concerned about fraying, finish the edges with a zigzag seam.

c. Create boxed corners by taking the bottom corner of the bag and pulling apart the layers and squeezing so that the side and bottom seams lie atop one another and the corner becomes a point with seams down the centre of both sides.

d. Making sure that the seams are lined up, measure 1" from the corner and draw a line.

Stitch on the line. Trim seam allowance to ¼". Repeat for the other bottom corner.

e. Fold down raw edge at the top of the lining ¼" (wrong sides together) and press.

f. Set lining aside for now.

STEP 6 - Attach Handles

a. Centre the handles on the wrong side of the tote, with 6" between them. Make sure the bottom of the handle sits about 1¼" from the top of the tote. Pin in place.

b. Draw a line across the handle about 1/8" from the top of the tote, and another one 1" down so that these lines and the topstitching create a square. Draw an X from corner to corner.

c. Stitch the handle to the tote along the X in a square that you just drew, including along the handle's topstitching. I stitched at least twice over every line to secure the handle.

d. Repeat for all 4 ends of the tote's handles.

STEP 7 - Attach Lining to Tote

a. Turn lining RIGHT side out. Turn tote INSIDE out. Insert the tote into the lining so the right side of the lining is on the outside.

b. Line up side seams of tote and lining...

then pin lining in place at or just below the top of the tote. This keeps the lining out of sight when you look at the outside of the tote.

c. Starting at one of the side seams, stitch 1/8" from the top of the lining all the way around the tote.

STEP 8 - ENJOY!!

Thanks so much for the tutorial and the giveaway, Felicity! Remember to leave a comment below for a chance to win this beauty of a bag :)

NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Bag Lady Week: Quilted Hexie pouch tutorial and a giveaway by the Plaid Scottie!

Kaelin from The Plaid Scottie is here!

I love Kaelin- we are kind of kindred spirits in that, aside from sharing our obvious passion for all things quilty, we both seem to suffer from a similar degree of obnoxiousness and inappropriate behavior ;) Which is great because whenever I hear a really funny fart story, I know just who to tell! (psssst- Go ask her about her recent visit to "Hancocks" Fabrics!!)

Okay, I should also mention that Kaelin has an amazing blog, named in honor of her very cute pooch, Sir Whiskers MacTavish, and is currently hosting a Double Wedding Ring quilt along! That's not for sissies, people! She also does periodic "Scottie Watch" blog posts with all sorts of clever information from the quilting world. Kaelin has an etsy shop with fabrics as well as her pattern for her new Grab 'n' Go wristlet pattern. I was a lucky enough to test the pattern for Kaelin recently and can tell you it is wonderful. In fact, you can find out yourself- in addition to providing today's awesome tutorial for you all, Kaelin has offered to do a giveaway of her pattern for one lucky reader! To enter, just leave a comment below saying what other patters you would be interested in seeing :)

NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED



Quilted Hexie Pouch Tutorial

Howdy ho neighbors! I'm Kaelin from The Plaid Scottie and I'm collaborating with my favorite Canadian Kristie to bring you a Quilted Hexie Pouch for her fabulous Bag Lady Week! The finished pouch measures about 7.5" x 7.5"

SUPPLIES
First of all, you'll need to sew together a small panel of 2" hexies - 23 to be exact. The finished hexie will be about 1.5". If you need paper piecing templates for that size, you can create free ones here. Just type in 0.75" in the "Hexagon Size" box and hit "Download PDF". The panel will have five rows with this many hexies in each (starting with row 1): 5 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 5. Refer to the 2nd photo down if you need a visual. If you've never made hexies before, then you can check out my other tutorial here for instructions. The finished panel should measure 5.25" x 5.75". In addition to that you'll need:

(1) 9" zipper

Exterior Fabric (I used linen)
(2) 1.25" x 5.75" pieces
(2) 6.75" x 1.75" pieces
(1) 1.5" x 8.25" piece
(1) 8.25" x 8.25" piece
(1) 2" x 14" piece, with a medium-weight interfacing fused on the back (for wrist strap)

Lining Fabric (I used Orange Kei Dots)
(1) 1.5" x 8.25" piece
(1) 6.75" x 8.25"
(1) 8.25" x 8.25" piece

Flannel (I used white, but you might want a different color depending on your fabric choices)
(1) 1.5" x 8.25" piece
(1) 6.75" x 8.25" piece
(1) 8.25" x 8.25" piece

Note: You might notice throughout the photos that I have interfacing on the back of my exterior fabric. You won't need interfacing if you use regular quilting cotton, because the pouch is sturdy enough without it. I only used interfacing because I was working with linen and it keeps the fabric from stretching and distorting.

Alright. Let's get this party started. Grab you hexie panel. It should be sewn together just like the picture below.

Once you have your hexie panel sewn together, you'll need to square it off by trimming the ends. The top and bottom are fairly easy - just lop off the pointy ends. But on the sides, you'll need to fold out the seam allowances on the hexies in the short rows (the two rows with only 4 hexies).

Once the seam allowances have been pressed out, line up your ruler with the edge of the seam allowance and trim off the excess.

Grab your two 1.25" x 5.75" pieces and sew them onto the top and bottom of your hexie panel.

Press your seams to set in place.

Attach the two 1.75" x 6.75" pieces to the sides and press to set.

Grab your three flannel pieces and coat with a spray adhesive like 505. You can pin, but with something this small, it's much much easier to spray baste. I keep a cardboard box lid in my sewing room just for spraying small projects like this.

Grab your 6.75" x 8.25" flannel piece (leave the other two where they are) and place your hexie panel on top of it. Press to adhere.

Quilt the flannel and hexie panel. I used free motion, but you can quilt it however you like - straight line, etc.

Here's a view of the back so you can get a better look at the quilting.

Grab your other two pieces of flannel and match them up with their corresponding exterior pieces. Quilt.

Now find your 6.75" x 8.25" lining piece. Layer as follows: Lining (right side up), zipper (right side up and centered), hexie panel (wrong side up). The zipper should be running across the top, 8.25" side.

Make sure the zipper pull is hanging off the end, and pin the layers in place.

Sew together using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Fold the lining back and press both sides in place. You might have to tug the fabric down a little before ironing.

Top stitch (about 1/8") from the edge.

Grab your remaining exterior and lining pieces and repeat the same process (layer lining (right side up), zipper, and exterior (wrong side up) - just like you did on the other side of the zipper).

Pin in place and sew 1/4" seam. Unfold, press and top stitch.

Move the zipper pull over a little, and sew the two sides of the zipper together to keep them from pulling apart too far. If you look below at the right end of the zipper (the part that's hanging off), you can see my stitches where I sewed across the zipper. When you're done, go ahead and open the zipper 2/3 of the way.

Now grab your 2" x 14" interfaced piece. Fold in half and press.

Unfold, and tuck the edges in toward the center seam you just made.

Fold in half along the original center seam you made and top stitch down the open end. It should be about 1/2" wide and look like the photo below.

Fold the strap in half and place the raw ends about 1" below the zipper. Fold the lining back so it doesn't get caught in the seam, and attach the strap to the exterior with an 1/8" seam. Doesn't have to be fancy - it's just to hold the strap in place until we sew the pouch together.

Next you'll layer as follows: remaining 8.25" x 8.25" lining piece (right side up), exterior hexie panel (right side up), remaining exterior panel (wrong side up). Pin and sew all three pieces together along the top side only using 1/4" seam.

Now fold your exterior panels back so that they're right sides together. Sew a 1/4" seam along the bottom only.

Repeat for the lining panels, leaving about a 3" opening in the center.

Now fold all the layers back together so that they make a wholesome and delicious fabric sandwich.

Sew ALL four layers together along the sides, starting 1/4" from the top and ending 1/4" from the bottom. I brought out big momma walking foot for this job because of how thick the layers are together, and I recommend you do the same. When you get to the zipper, sew over it, and then back up and run over it again to make sure it's good and dead secured. You'll actually end up going over it three times once you go forward, hit reverse, and then go forward again. Do this for each side of the pouch.

Your pouch should now look like the photo below. Trim the corners and excess zipper, then turn the bag right-side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining.

Then sew the opening shut with a teeny tiny seam.

Finish turning your bag right-side out and you're done - YAY!

Thanks, Kaelin!