Flat Pack Tote Tutorial

This easy to make tote bag is designed to pack flat when not in use. Choose an appropriate feature fabric or, better still, create two panels (one for each side) for a more personalised look.  The fabric handles can be made to your desired length or you can choose to add purchased handles.

The interior of the bag has a fold back base incorporated in the lining enabling the bag to be packed flat for easy storage. The finished bag measures 14½ x 11-inches with a 4½ x 9½ -inch base.

Requirements
• Fat quarter or 25cm of feature fabric *
• 40cm of contrast fabric for the handles etc.
• 40cm of lining
• 25cm of lightweight fusible interfacing
• 30cm of firm bag wadding
• Piece of template plastic (or similar) 9 x 4-inches

* For a more personalised bag you can make two design panels each measuring 15 x 9½-inches

Cutting
From the feature fabric:
   Cut two rectangles each 15-inches wide x 9½-inches
From the contrast fabric:
   Cut two strips each 44 x 4-inches from the width of the fabric. Cut 15-inches the end of each of these strips.
   Cut a 15 x 5-inch rectangle and two 15 x 2½-inch strips from the remaining contrast fabric.
From the lining fabric:
   Cut one rectangle 15 x 10, one rectangle 15 x 14½ and one rectangle 10 x 10-inches
From the bag wadding:
   Cut two rectangles each 14 x 11 and two rectangles each 9½ x 2-inches
From the lightweight interfacing:
   Cut two strips each 4 x 29-inches

Making the bag

 
Step 1 – Side panels
Draw a line 1¾-inches from and parallel to the top edge of each of the larger rectangles of wadding.
With right side out, align the top edge of the feature fabric with this line, leaving a gap of ½-inch at each side edge and ¼-inch at the lower edge.
Pin in place and secure with simple quilting stitches. Repeat with the second panel.
This easy to make tote bag is designed to pack flat when
not in use.
Choose an appropriate feature fabric or, better still, create two panels (one for each side) for a more personalised look. The fabric handles can be made to your desired length or you can choose to add purchased handles.
The interior of the bag has a fold back base incorporated in the lining enabling the bag to be packed flat for easy storage.
The finished bag measures 14½ x 11-inches with a 4½ x 9½ -inch base.

Tip: For quick and easy quilting, just follow the design lines on the feature fabric.

Step 2 – Handles
Fuse the interfacing onto the wrong side of the fabric strips. With wrong sides together fold the strip in half lengthwise and press.
Open and bring the side edges to the centre and refold along the crease line. (This will give you four thicknesses of fabric) Stitch down the two long sides close to the edge through all four  thicknesses of fabric.
Trim the handles to the desired length plus 2-inches.
Position the handles onto the right side of the panels approximately 3½-inches in from the edge.
Stitch in place a scant ¼-inch from the cut edge of the strap.

Place the 15 x 4 contrast strip, right side down on the right side of the panel in line with the top edge of the design piece. Stitch with a ¼-inch seam. Flip back and press in place.
Fold the handles back towards the top and stitch in place as shown.

Tip: You may like to add a narrow contrast strip between the two fabrics. To do this cut a 15 x 1-inch strip and attach it to the base wadding before adding the 15 x 4-inch strip. You will need to trim ½-inch from the width of the contrast strip so that it measures 15 x 3½-inches.

Step 3 – Base
On the wrong side of the 15 x 5-inch base fabric, mark the centre of the piece in both directions. Position the two small rectangles of wadding either side of the centre line leaving a ¼-inch gap between them and a generous 2½-inch gap at either end.
Stitch around each rectangle close to the edge to hold in place.

 

Join the lower edge of each side panel to the base, creating a long piece as shown.

Step 4 – Lining
Fold the 10 x 10-inch square of lining in half, right sides together and along stitch the two short edges with a -inch seam.
Turn to the right side and slip the template rectangle into the pocket.
Stitch across the open end close to the template plastic. Trim the seam to ¼-inch

Place this section of lining right side down onto the right side of the remaining section, so that the template pocket is
between the two sections of lining with all raw edges matching. Stitch with a ¼-inch seam.
Note: You may need to use a walking foot to stitch close to the edge of the plastic.

With right sides together, join the bag to the lining along the 15-inch (handle) ends.
Turn to the right side and press.
The contrast strip should overlap the wadding at each end and the lining should lie flat.
Check that the seam across the lining with the flap matches the seam across the bag where it joins the base.
Stitch down each side a ¼-inch from the edge.
From the right side, stitch across the centre of the base through all thicknesses. Take care not to stitch through the flap on the lining side.

 Step 5 – Completing the bag
Fold the bag in half with lining side out and flap towards the handles.
Take one side of the bag and fold back where the flap is joined to the lining.
The base piece will now be folded underneath.
Keeping the base folded, bring the two sides of the bag together, right sides out.
The base section will now be between the two outside panels.
Secure each edge with pins and stitch inch in from each edge stitching through all layers.
Trim to ¼-inch.

With right sides out, fold the two 15 x 2½-inch strips of
contrast fabric in half lengthwise and press Use these two strips to bind each edge of the bag as follows.
Lay the binding along the side edge with all raw edges in line and leaving a generous 2-inches extra fabric at each end. Stitch ¼-inch from the edge.

Fold the ends of the binding round the ends of the seam, to the back and stitch in place along the same line of stitching.
Bring the folded edge of the binding piece over to the back of the bag. Hand stitch in place making sure that the ends are tucked in and the machine stitches are hidden.
Open the bag and fold the flap down so that it sits on the base of the bag inside to form a flat base.
The bag will now stand vertical without falling over.
To store the empty bag just fold the inside flap back, away from the base.