| This colorful tote bag is composed of 2 quilt blocks - one on the front
and one on the back. Both blocks feature flower embroidery. We used Hibiscus
and Anemone
for the large (5"x 7") hoop. Actually any flowers from our extensive Flower
collection will work. |
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| The finished size of this bag is about 18" x 18" x 3".
We used about 1 yard of solid yellow fabric, 1/4 yard of bright
patterned fabric and 2 squares measuring 4" x 4" of solid white fabric
for the outside of the bag; about 1 yard of light cream fabric for
the lining and about 1 yard of low loft batting. You will also need
two 6" long zippers for the inner pockets and iron-on medium weight sewing
intefacing. |
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Cutting:
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Out of solid yellow fabric cut:
2 squares measuring 10 1/2" x 10 1/2"
8 strips measuring 3" x 10 1/2"
12 squares measuring 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"
2 strips measuring 3" x 20" (for the handles)
Out of patterned fabric cut:
8 strips measuring 3" x 10 1/2"
16 squares measuring 3 5/8" x 3 5/8"
Out of white fabric cut
4 squares measuring 3 5/8"x 3 5/8"
Out of fabric for the lining, cut a rectangle measuring 19" x
38" , two strips measuring 2" x 7" and two squares measuring 7" x 7" (for
the inner pockets).
Out of iron-on interfacing, cut 2 strips measuring 2" x 20" (for the
handles), 2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" and 2 squares
measuring 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" (for the inner pockets). |
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Making the Blocks:
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| For this block you will need 32 half-triangle squares. To make these
units, take a 3 5/8" x 3 5/8" patterned square and cover it with a white
3 5/8" x 3 5/8" square, face-to-face. Align all edges. |
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| With a sharp graphic pencil draw a diagonal from one corner to the
other. Stitch a scant 1/4" on each side of the line. |
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| Press the unit, and cut along the line. Open the two new squares, and
press the seams towards the patterned fabric. |
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| For each block, you will need 4 white half-triangle squares and 12
yellow half-triangle squares. |
| To assemble the block, attach the patterned strips to the left and
right edges of the yellow square, then attach the yellow strips to the
left and right edges of the piece. |
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| Assemble the top and bottom strips (they are identical): |
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| Attach the strips to the top and bottom edges: |
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Sewing the Top of the Bag:
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| Sew the blocks together along one edge. |
Stabilize the central squares of each block with iron-on cut-away stabilizer
and make the embroidery. You can also use low-loft batting or polyester
felt instead of the stabilizer.
Note: The bottom side of the embroidery should be directed to
the seam. |
| Cut-away the excess stabilizer close to the embroidery. |
| Place the blocks onto the low-loft batting and quilt the work. First
quilt around the embroidery to fix it in place. Then quilt in a free motion
style all over the work. |
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| Press with heavy sream and square the top: all corners should be 90
degrees and opposite sides should be of the same length. |
| We also attached the 3D flowers at this stage. |
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| The 3D flowers are made using Clover's templates. You can find them
in your local craft or quilt shops. |
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| Now fold the bag's top in half by the bottom seam, face inside. Align
all raw sides. Pin them together. Stitch the side seams twice - 1/4" and
about 3/8" from the edges. |
Stitch the box corners at the bottom of the bag. For this separate
the front and back sides at the corners. Center the seams on each side
of the corner on top of each other. Measure 1 1/2" along the seam from
the corner and draw a line perpendicular to the seam across the corner
and machine-stitch it. Do not trim the seam. Fold the "ears" to the side
seams and hand-stitch the tips to the side seams.
Turn the bag out.
Fold the upper raw edge 1/4"-1/2" inside and pin. |
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Sewing the Lining with Pockets:
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| For the pocket you will need the strip measuring 2" x 7" and the square
measuring 7" x 7" that were cut out of the fabric for the lining, and the
strip measuring 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" and the square measuring 6
1/2" x 6 1/2" that were cut out of the iron-on interfacing. |
| Place the 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" interfacing strip with the fusible side down
onto the wrong side of the 2" x 7" strip. Leave 1/4" margins. Press the
interfacing to the fabric strip to fuse it. Fold over the margins and press
again. |
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| Place the 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" interfacing square with the fusible side
down onto the wrong side of the 7" x 7" fabric square. Leave 1/4" margins.
Press the interfacing to the fabric strip. Fold over the margins and press
again. |
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Pin the 6 1/2" strip to the zipper. Topstich the strip to the zipper.
Pin the 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" square to the other side of the zipper. Topstitch
the square to the zipper. |
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| Fold the lining widthwise, face inwards, and align all edges. Lightly
press the folded line to mark the crease. |
| Cut 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares out of the lower corners. |
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| Unfold the lining. Position the pockets and pin in place. Top-stitch
the pockets to the lining. |
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Fold the lining again, aligning all edges. Sew along the right and
left edges, seam allowance 1/2".
Press the seams open.
Now pinch each corner so that the end of the side seam matches the crease
of the bottom (see the diagram below; the ends of the side seams
and the ends of the bottom crease are marked in red). Pin. Stitch through
all the layers across the bottoms of the corners (see the last picture
in the diagram below). This will square the bottom of the lining. Do not
turn the lining right side out. |
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Fold the raw upper edge of the lining back 1" and press.
Insert the lining into the bag. Align the side seams and the upper
edges. Pin together along the upper edges. |
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Making the Handles
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Place the fabric strips measuring 3" x 20" face down. Position the
interfacing strips fusible side down. Press the interfacing
to the fabric. Fold the strips lengthwise, face inside, and stitch 1/4"
from the raw edge. Turn the tubes out. Press.
Fold lengthwise again and topstitch about 1/8" from the
edge. Leave 3" unstitched on both ends. |
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Assembly:
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| Insert the lining into the bag. Align the side seams and the upper
edges. Pin together along the upper edges. |
| Insert the ends of the strips between the bag's top and the lining
5" from the side seams. Pin. Topstitch 1/4" from the bag's top edge
securing the lining and the handles. |
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Happy Stitching!
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