| This black-and-white themed tote features the Summer
Fashion designs. Its simplicity and elegance makes it suitable for
any season and any occasion, however casual or dressy. |
|
The finished size of the tote is about 14" (wide) x 15" (high) x 4"
(deep).
You will need solid black fabric (about 1/2 yard), solid white fabric
(1 fat quarter and scraps of black-and-white patterned fabrics. You will
also need backing and batting, each piece measuring about 20" x 38",
sewing iron-on interfacing and a magnet closure (optional). |
|
Cutting:
|
Out of white fabric, cut
1 square measuring 9 1/2" x 9 1/2",
2 strips measuring 1" x 9 1/2" and
2 strips measuring 1" x 10 1/2".
Out of black fabric, cut
1 square measuring 9 1/2" x 9 1/2",
2 strips measuring 1" x 9 1/2",
2 strips measuring 1" x 10 1/2",
1 strip measuring 4 1/2" 18 1/2" (for the bottom) ,
4 strips mearing 2 1/2" x 14 1/2" (for the sides),
2 strips measuring 3" x 26" (for the handles),
1 strip measuring 4" and the length of the width of the fabric for the
upper edge binding,
1 strip measuring 2" and the length of the width of the fabric for
the inner seam binding.
Out of scraps of black-and-white fabrics, cut 48 squares measuring 2
1/2" x 2 1/2" .
Out of sewing iron-on interfacing cut 2 strips 3" x 26" (for the handles). |
|
The Front and Back Panels
|
| Sew the white 1" x 9 1/2" strips to the upper and lower edges of the
black 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" square.
Sew the black 1" x 9 1/2" strips to the upper and lower edges of the
white 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" square. |
|
Sew the white 1" x 10 1/2" strips to the left and right edges of the
black square.
Sew the black 1" x 10 1/2" strips to the left and right edges of the
white square. |
|
| Out of 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares make 4 strips containing 5 squares and
4 strips containing 7 squares. |
|
| Sew the 5-square strips to the upper and lower edges of the central
squares. |
|
| Sew the 7-square strips to the lef and right edges of the central squares. |
|
| Sew the 2 1/2" x 14 1/2" black strips to the left and right sides of
each working piece. |
|
| Join the two panels at the lower edges using the 4 1/2" x 18 1/2" black
strip. |
|
|
Embroidery:
|
| Stabilize the central part of each panel with iron-on cut-away stabilizer.
Embroider the white square with black threads and black square with white
threads. Make sure that you align the fabric properly in the machine. The
black strip bridging the two panels will be the tote's bottom. Cut away
the excess stabilizer. |
|
|
Quilting:
|
| Now place the backing on a flat surface (table) face down. Cover with
batting. Spread your working piece over it.
Pin all three layers together with 1" pins and start quilting. We quilted
along the lines of the embroidery and made stippling all over the central
squares, made curved lines on the black-and-white squares and straight
parallel lines on the black parts.
After the quilting is finished, press the work with heavy steam and
square the work -- all corners should be 90 degrees and opposite sides
should be of the same length. |
| |
|
Assembly:
|
| Fold the working piece in half widthwise, face to face, aligning all
edges. Stitch the sides together. |
| Cut away 2" x 2" squares in the lower coners. Finish the side
seams with binding. |
|
| Now pinch the corners as shown in the diagram below. Pin. Stitch them
closed. Finish the seams with binding. |
|
| Turn the bag right side out. |
| Take the strip measuring 4" and the legth of the width of the fabric
for the upper edge binding, fold it in half lengthwise, wrong side inside
and raw edges even. Press.
Place along the upper edge of the bag, align the raw edge of the binding
with the raw edge of the bag. Pin in place. Do not cut the excess
end of the binding. |
| Start to machine stitch the binding leaving the first 5-6" of the binding
unstitched. Seam allowance should be ¼ " from the raw edges. Stop
aproximately 10"-12" from where you started stitching.
Position the raw edges of the beginning and end of the binding even
with the bag's raw edge.
Position the remaining end on top. On the lower strip, trim away the
excess, leaving a 4" allowance (the width of the unpressed binding strip). |
Open out both ends of the binding and align as shown. Pin the ends
together
and draw a 45 degree angle line from corner to corner.
Stitch on the line. |
|
| Trim the seam to 1/4", then press the seam open. |
|
| Refold the binding and stitch to the bag, overlapping the beginning
and ending stitches. |
| Unfold the binding and press. |
Turn the bag the right side inside.
Fold the binding over the raw edge and pin to the wrong side of the
bag. |
| To make the handles, fuse the interfacing strips onto the back side
of the 3' x 26" black strips.
Fold the strips in half lengthwise wrong side inside and press.
Fold the long raw edges inside towards the crease. Press. Now top-stitch
1/8" and 1/4" from each edge. |
| Tuck the ends of the handles under the binding approximately 6" from
the side seams. Pin in place. |
|
| If you want a magnet closure, install it now.
Topstitch the binding and the handles to the bag. |
| |
Turn the bag the right side out. Pull the handles out.
Topstitch along the upper edge of the bag 1/4" from the edge. Topstitch
back and forth over the handles. |
|
The bag is ready. Enjoy!
|
|
|
Happy Stitching!
|
|
Back to Summer
Fashion
|
|
Back to the Projects Page
|
