Difficulty: Beginners (basic sewing machine knowledge)

The Quilted Tote Bag Craft Course

By Debbie Shore

Upgrade your sewing skills with the help of Debbie Shore. This course has been designed as an online video format, giving you the opportunity to watch a demonstration of the project while crafting along throughout. Alternatively, you can read the step-by-step instructions.

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A lovely summer accessory

This course focuses on how to make a quilted tote bag with calico lining, a zipped inside pocket, and magnetic snap to fasten. You’ll be able to learn the simple techniques in no time!

Follow along to learn how to sew seams and turn simple shapes into a tote bag. You’ll soon master how to make easy work of sewing flap pieces, sewing handles, and trimming seams to make a neat edge. Finally, enjoy tips on how to create a zipped pocket and attach a magnetic snap.

Join the session for free without a craft kit if you wish to use your own materials, or you can access the full craft kit to support the tutorial for £19.99 (excluding delivery). The perfect course to grow your sewing confidence!

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You Will Need:

Scissors
Thread
Sewing Machine

Optional Equipment

Rotary Cutter
Ruler
Mat
Erasable Marking Pen
Fabric Glue Stick
Small piece of Bondaweb for the Applique

An example of the final product

Video Tutorial - Step by Steps

Tutorial Step 1 - Debbie Shore Tote Bag

Step 1 provides instructions and material recommendations for making a fabric bag. Debbie Shore suggests using printed linen look canvas for the outer fabric and calico for the lining, which gives a natural and organic look. Fusible fleece (H630) is recommended for added stability and softness to the bag. Other materials include a zipper, magnetic snap, and handles. Debbie offers a kit with these materials, but alternatives are suggested for those not using the kit.

Tutorial Step 2 - Debbie Shore Tote Bag

In Step 2 Debbie Shore recommends using a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat for accurate fabric cutting. They demonstrate cutting straps, main bag pieces, lining fabric, pockets, and flap pieces to specified dimensions. Fusible fleece is applied to the 'wrong side' of the outer fabric and one side of the flap for added stability. Debbie suggests alternatives such as wadding or felt for those without fusible fleece. The pieces are then cut out using scissors or a rotary cutter. The importance of interfacing for bag structure is emphasized, with options for both soft and firm interfacing. The next step discussed is quilting the fabric pieces.

Tutorial Step 3 - Debbie Shore Tote Bag

In Step 3 Debbie Shore demonstrates how to quilt fabric for a bag. They suggest using a rotary cutter and a heat erasable pen for precision. Debbie explains how to create a quilted pattern using the printed fabric's design as a guide. They demonstrate drawing diagonal lines between the printed motifs using a ruler and the heat erasable pen. Alternatives such as cross-hatching and diamond patterns are also discussed. Quilting is done using a longer stitch on a sewing machine, with Debbie emphasizing experimentation with thread colors for different effects. After quilting, they show how to erase the heat erasable pen marks with an iron. The importance of double-checking the quilted lines from the wrong side of the fabric is highlighted. Lastly, Debbie mentions alternative quilting techniques such as free-motion embroidery.

Tutorial Step 4 - Debbie Shore Tote Bag

In Step 4 Debbie Shore demonstrates how to make the bag handles and flap. They fold the fabric for the handles and press it to create neat edges, then topstitch along the sides for reinforcement. The handles are then set aside while Debbie moves on to the flap, where they apply an appliqué bee design using heat-bond adhesive and stitch around it. A magnetic snap is added to the flap, and then the flap is sewn together, leaving the top open. Topstitching is done around the edges of the flap for a professional finish. Finally, Debbie explains the placement of the flap and handles on the bag and prepares to make the zip pocket for the bag's interior in the next segment.

Tutorial Step 5 - Debbie Shore Tote Bag

In Step 5 Debbie Shore demonstrates how to create an inside zip pocket for the bag. They fold the lining piece in half and mark the center, then fold one of the pocket pieces in half and mark its center as well. The pocket piece is then placed over the lining piece, one and a half inches from the top, and a box for the zip pocket is drawn six inches long and half an inch wide, positioned one inch from the top. A Y-shaped outline is drawn at the end of the box to mark the opening for the zip. Debbie then sews around the box outline and cuts along the center, pressing the seams open.

Next, the zip is positioned face down over the hole, and a fabric glue pen is used to secure it in place. The zip is sewn around the edges of the hole using a narrow stitch, and the excess zip is trimmed off. Finally, the second pocket piece is placed over the first, right sides together, and sewn around the edges, leaving the lining unstitched. This creates the inside zip pocket for the bag.

Tutorial Step 6 - Debbie Shore Tote Bag

In Step 6 Debbie Shore begins constructing the bag by adding the flap and handles. They measure and mark the center of the bag, then sew across the flap to secure it in place. The handles are positioned on each side of the flap and sewn in place as well.

Next, Debbie matches up the handles on the front of the bag, ensuring they're in the same position as those on the back. They sew the handles to the front of the bag, again within the seam allowance.

Finally, Debbie adds the second half of the snap closure to the front of the bag. They measure and mark the position, ensuring it aligns with the flap when folded over. The snap is then attached using the same method as before.

With the flap, handles, and snap closure in place, Debbie mentions that the next step will be to construct the remainder of the bag, which will be covered in the following segment.

Tutorial Step 7 - Debbie Shore Tote Bag

In this final part of the tutorial, Debbie Shore brings together all the pieces of the bag that have been prepared. They match the lining pieces with the back of the bag and the front of the bag accordingly, ensuring that the pocket is positioned on the back of the bag. The pieces are sewn together, leaving a small turning gap in one side of the lining.

After sewing all around the bag, including the handles and the flap, Debbie trims any loose threads and turns the bag right side out. They press the seams for a neat finish and then topstitch around the top edge of the bag for added reinforcement and a professional look.

Finally, the bag is complete, and Debbie demonstrates its functionality and versatility. They suggest that it could be used for various purposes, such as a day out or an evening bag, and highlight the potential for personalization through fabric choice or embellishments.

Overall, the tutorial concludes with encouragement for viewers to enjoy the process of making their own bag and to take pride in their finished creation.

Picture Tutorial - Step by Steps

Preparation:

Cut the selvedges off your fabrics.
Cut two pieces of outer and two pieces of lining fabric each measuring 14" x 12".
Fuse fleece to the wrong sides of each outer piece.
Cut two pocket pieces from the lining each measuring 7" x 7"
Cut two handle pieces of outer fabric each measuring 4" x 23"
Cut two flap pieces from the lining each measuring 7" x 8".
Fuse fleece to the wrong side of the outer flap piece.

Step 1

Take the two large outer and two lining pieces and cut a 1.5" square from the bottom two corners of each piece.

Step 2

Draw diagonal lines in two directions across the outer fabric, in between the bee print. (If you are using your own fabric, these lines are 2.25" apart.)

Step 3

Sew along these lines to quilt.

Step 4

To make up each handle, fold the long edges of the fabric to the centre and press.

Step 5

Fold in half again and top stitch along each side.

Step 6

Take the flap pieces and fold in half lengthways to crease the centre. Measure 2" from the bottom of each side and cut from the crease to these measurements to create a point.

Step 7

Cut around one bee shape for the applique. If you have Bobdaweb fuse this to the wrong side first.

Step 8

Fuse the bee applique to the centre of the of the outer flap, 2" from the point. Use a glue stick if you don't have Bondaweb. Sew around the edge, then add a free hand swirly line from the bee to the side of the flap to make it look like it's flying!

Step 9

Fix the slim half of the magnetic snap to the remaining flap piece. Measure 1" from the point, draw through the holes in the back of the snap.

Step 10

Make small snips into the straight lines, push the prongs of the snap through the holes, add the snap back and squash the prongs open.

Step 11

Sew the two flap pieces right sides together, leaving the top open. Snip across the corners, turn the right side out and press. Top stitch along the seam.

Step 12

To make the zipped pocket, pin one pocket piece over a lining piece, centrally, 1.5" from the top. Draw a box measuring 6" x 1/2", 1" from the top of the pocket. Draw a line through the centre going into 'Y' shapes at each end.