Ocean Waves Tote: canvas tote bag with quilted lining and embroidery on the front panel

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Ocean Waves Tote

This tutorial shows how to sew a sturdy canvas tote bag with a quilted lining and wave embroidery on the front panel. You will cut the fabric pieces, embroider the design, quilt the lining, and assemble the bag with strong handles.

The tote bag is made mostly of cotton canvas fabric, with a quilted cotton lining and an embroidered front panel. We used one of the designs from the Woven Grass Panel Set.
The finished size of the bag is about 17"W x 14 1/2"H x 4"D.

You can purchase this tote bag from our Etsy store!

Royal blue canvas tote bag with embroidery of waves the front panel.

You will need:

embroidery threads, colors of your choice;
1/2 yard of cotton medium weight duck cloth (you can choose any color);
1/2 yard of quilting cotton fabric for the lining;
about 1/2 yard of polyester craft felt used as batting;
medium-weight embroidery stabilizer, preferably iron-on;
1" wide webbing.

You will also need:

quilter's ruler;
rotary cutter and/or scissors;
tailor's colored chalk pencil or disappearing fabric marker;
iron;
#14 universal needle, and extra strong sewing thread;
#12-14 quilting needle and quilting threads in a color matching the fabric;
a 3/4" sew-on snap.

Embroidery:

Cut 2 pieces of canvas measuring about 19" x 19". Mark the center on each side of the piece and draw 2 perpendicular lines, dividing the piece into 4 sections.

Mark the position of the embroidery on the left side of the vertical line.
Cut a piece of stabilizer of the same size as the fabric piece. Stabilize the fabric.

Prepare the threads. Upload the larger file from the Woven Grass Panel Set into your machine. Hoop tightly and embroider the design.
Re-hoop the fabric and embroider the same design on the right side of the vertical line.

Trim the stitch-out, leaving 4" margins on the left side, the right side, and the bottom, and a 6" margin on the top.
If you like, you can embroider the back panel as well.

Cutting:

Measure the front panel. Ours measures 18" wide and 17" high. Cut the remaining pieces as follows:

Out of the canvas:

1 back panel, the same size as the front panel.

Out of the lining fabric:

2 pieces measuring 19" x 16";
1-2 pieces measuring 8 1/2" x 13" for the inner pockets.

Out of the craft felt:

2 pieces measuring 19" x 16".

Out of the webbing:

2 strips for the handles, 26" to 28" long each.

Outer Bag:

On the lower edge of both panels, cut out 2" x 2" squares at the corners.
Fold the upper edge 1 1/2" back and press the crease.
Finish the upper edge with a serger, an overlock, or a zig-zag stitch.

Cut 2" squares on the lower corners of the front and back panels.

Position the panels face to face and align all edges. Pin the bottom. Stitch them together with a 1/2" seam allowance.
Open and press the seam.
Topstitch 1/4" on both sides of the seam.

Pin the handles to the upper edges of the front and back panels, an equal distance from the side edges.
Stitch the handles to the panels within the folded space.

Sew the webbing handles to the front and back panels.

Fold the working piece with the face inside and align the sides. Working with one side at a time, stitch with a 1/2" seam allowance. Open and press the seam. Topstitch 1/4" on both sides of the seam.

Repeat for the other side.

To shape the bottom, fold the bottom of the bag so that the bottom and the side seams align. Pin.
Stitch with a 1/2" seam allowance, sewing several parallel lines.

The outer bag is finished.

Lining:

Prepare 2 "sandwiches": place the batting pieces on a flat surface, such as a table, and cover them with the lining pieces.
Pin both layers together.

We quilted in a free-motion style all over both pieces. Use threads that match the color of your fabric.

After the quilting is done, press with heavy steam and trim both panels to 18"W x 14 1/2"H.

Proceed as with the outer bag: cut 2" squares at the lower corners on both panels.

Sew the bottom with a 1/2" seam allowance, open the seam, and topstitch 1/4" on both sides.

Inner Pocket(s)

Fold the 8 1/2" x 13" piece of lining fabric widthwise in half, face inside. Stitch the sides together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim the corners. Turn the piece right side out. Press.

Tuck the unfinished edges of the pocket 1/2" inside and press. Topstitch the opening closed.

Pin the pockets to the quilted lining, 2 1/2" to 3" from the upper edge and an equal distance from the side edges. Stitch in place with a scant 1/4" seam allowance.

Shape and sew the bottom as described above.

The lining is finished.

Finishing:

With wrong sides facing each other, insert the outer bag into the lining.

Align the side seams. Tuck the lining under the folded edge of the outer bag. Align the upper edge of the lining with the folded crease. Pin in place.