Patchwork Tote Bag Tutorial

 Patchwork Tote Bag. Free Sewing Tutorial

Supplies
1 yard (.91 meter) of tote body fabric – FreeSpirit Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry PWJ060.CaNary
1 yard (.91 meter) of lining fabric - FreeSpirit Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry PWJ058.CaNary
1/2 yard (.46 meter) of inner pocket fabric - FreeSpirit Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry PWJ064.PoPPy
1/2 yard (.46 meter) of binding fabric - FreeSpirit Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry PWJ067.PoPPy
1/2 yard (.46 meter) of 6 coordinating fabrics for the outer pocket - FreeSpirit Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry
• PWJD064.PoPPy
• PWJD063.PoPPy
• PWJD066.PoPPy
• PWJD068.PoPPy
True Colors
• PWTC006.Turqu
• PWTC019.REDXX
1 yard (.91 meter) fusible fleece
1 yard (.91 meter) of woven fusible interfacing
Coordinating Coats & Clark ®  Dual Duty xP  all-purpose thread

Instructions

Seam allowance is 1/2” (12.7mm) unless stated otherwise.

1. From the tote fabric and from the fusible fleece cut

2 rectangles 16” x 21” (40.64cm x 53.54cm). Iron the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the fabric. Set
aside.

2. From your inner pocket fabric and the woven fusible interfacing cut 2 rectangles 8” x 21” (20.32cm x
53.54cm). Iron the fusible woven interfacing to the wrong side of the pocket fabric.

3. Fold and press the top edge of each pocket 1/2” (12.7mm) to the wrong side. Fold over again 1/2”
(12.7mm) press and topstitch in place. Pin the pockets to the lining pieces matching raw edges and centers.
Mark the center of the pocket and stitch to create 2 sections to the pockets. (image 1) (image 2)

4. Pin the lining pieces right sides together along both sides and the bottom. Sew. (image 3) Trim corners. Press the seams open.

5. To box the corners, pinch the corner of the lining so the side seam and bottom seam meet. (image 4)
Keep the fabric right sides together and turned wrong side out. While the seams are matched pin together through all layers. (image 5)

6. From the point, measure up 2” (5.08cm) and use a marking pen to draw a line perpendicular to the side seam. Sew making sure to backstitch at the start and end. (image 6 & 7) Cut away the corner (image 8)

7. repeat steps 6 & 7 on the tote body. (image 9)

8. From each of your coordinating fabrics cut 2 strips 3” x the width of the fabric (7.62cm x width of the fabric). you will create 2 sets of your 6 coordinating fabrics. Sew them together side by side down the long edges. Press the seams to the darker fabric.  (image 10)

9. Cut one end of each pieced strip set on a 45 degree angle into one corner. (image 11) Measure down 12” (30.48cm) from the lower point of the first angle and cut on a 45 degree angle as well making sure the angles are in the same direction. (image 12)

10. you will have at least 2 sections from each strip set. Sew the strips together end to end. (image 13)
Press the seam toward the darker fabric. Cut a piece of woven fusible interfacing 12” x 42” (30.48cm x
106.68cm). Cut your patchwork pocket to the same size and fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the patchwork fabric. 

11. Pin the patchwork pocket right sides together to create a circle. Sew along the short edge and press
the seam open. (image 14) From your binding fabric 

cut 4 strips 2 1/4” x the width of the fabric (5.71cm x width of fabric). Sew the binding strips right sides
together end to end to create one long binding strip. 

12. Bind the top edge of the patchwork pocket. (image 15) With the pocket right sides together sew a
bottom seam. Box the corners as you did in step 6 & 7. (image 16) Slip the patchwork pocket onto the
bottom of the tote body. (image 17)

13. Slip the lining into the tote body matching the boxed corners and the top edges. on the outside pocket, mark 2” (5.08cm) either side of the side seam of the tote. (image 18) Topstitch through all layers over the binding to tack the pocket in place. (image 18)

14. To create the button tab cut 1 strip 3” x 18” (7.62cm x .45m) from one of the coordinating fabrics. Fold in half lengthwise and stitch along the edge. Turn the strip right side out and press.  Fold the strip in half and mark the center with a pin (image 19)

15. Fold each strip up along the center line (image 20) to create the point. Keep the tab sides parallel and pin the point. (image 21) Fold one tab side over the other side 1/8” (1.58cm). Stitch from the top of the tab stopping 3” (7.62cm) from the point of the tab and backstitch to secure. This creates a “button hole.” (image 22)

16. Sew across the bottom of the f tab 1/8” (1.58cm) from the edge. (image 23) Pin the straight edge of the tab to the center front of the tote. Baste in place. (image 24)

17.  From another one of the coordinate fabrics cut a strip 4” x the width of the fabric (10.16cm x width
of fabric). Cut in half so you have 2 strips 4” x 21” (10.16cm x .53m). Fold in half with wrong sides
together. (image 25) open the fold and fold each raw edge into the fold (image 26). refold along the
original fold and press. Topstitch along each edge. (image 28) These are your straps.

18. Pin the edge of each strap 5” (12.7cm) from the center of both the tote front and back. (image 28)
Baste in place.
19. using the remaining binding strip, bind the top edge of the tote through all layers. as you topstitch the binding in place gently pull the strap up and topstitch in an upright position. (image 29)