Quilted tote bag with embroidery on the front panel

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Winter Panes Quilted Tote with Embroidery

Create a beautiful winter-themed tote bag with this sewing, quilting, and embroidery tutorial. This project combines machine embroidery and quilting to bring a cozy, seasonal design to life. Follow the step-by-step instructions to craft a durable and stylish bag perfect for the winter months.

We used designs from the Winter Panes Set. All designs are for the small, 4" x 4", hoop.
The finished size of the bag is about 15"W x 13 1/2"H x 4"D.

You can purchase this tote bag from our Etsy store!

Finished tote bag with embroidery of panes with cats, birds and branches on the front panel.

You will need :

embroidery threads,
a fat quarter of white cotton fabric for the center of the front panel;
scraps of gray cotton fabric for the first border on the front panel;
about 3/4 yard of bluecotton fabric for the outer bag;
about 1/2 yard of cotton fabric for the lining;
light-weight cut-away stabilizer;
low-loft polyester batting;
for the handles, you can either use 1" wide webbing of matching color, or sew the handles out of blue fabric.

You will also need:

quilter's ruler;
rotary cutter and/or scissors;
tailor's colored chalk pencil or disappearing fabric marker;
iron;
#12 universal needle, and sewing thread;
#16 univeral needle and extra strong thread;
#12-14 quilting needle and quilting threads of colors matching the fabrics;
sew-on snap 1/2" large.

Embroidery:

In the center of the white fat quarter, mark the position of the embroidery. Upload the files from the Winter Panes Set.
Select threads. Stabilize the fabric with light-weight cut-away stabilizer and hoop tightly. Embroider the panes one by one. Try to leave an approximately equal distance between the panes, about 1/4".

Trim the stitch-out to 10" x 10" square.

Cutting:

Out of the gray fabric, cut,

2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x 10" each,
2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" each,

Out of the blue fabric, cut,

2 strips measuring 3 1/2" x 12 1/2" each,
2 strips measuring 3 1/2" x 18 1/2" each,
back panel measuring 19" x 19",
1 strip measuring 2 1/2" x about 33"-34".

Out of the fabric for the lining, cut,

2 squares measuring 19" x 19" each,
1 strip measuring 10" x 34" for the inner pocket.

Out of backing, cut 2 squares 19" x 19" each.

The Front Panel:

Note: seam allowance is 1/4" unless otherwise recommended. Press every seam immediately after you make it.

Sew the gray 1 1/2" x 10" strips to the upper and lower edges of the square with the embroidery.
Sew the gray 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips to the left and right edges of the square.

Sew the blue 3 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips to the to the upper and lower edges of the working piece.

Sew the blue 3 1/2" x 18 1/2" strips to the to the left and right edges of the working piece.

Quilting:

Prepare 2 "sandwiches": place the lining/backing pieces on a flat surface (table) face down. Cover with batting. Spread both panels over them.
Pin all layers together.

We quilted in a free-motion style all over the front panel and in grid lines over the back panel Change the threads to match the colors of the fabrics.

After quilting is done, press with heavy steam and trim both panels to 17" x 17" squares. Finish the side and bottom raw edges with zig-zag stitch or on a serger/overlock.

Inner Pocket(s)

Fold the 10" x 34" piece of lining fabric widthwise in half, face inside. Stitch the sides together, seam allowance 1/4". Trim the corners. Turn the piece right side out. Press.

Fold the finished short edge of the piece 6" over and pin. Stitch the in place.
Pin the unfinished side of the pocket to the back panel's wrong side equal distance from the side edges. Stitch in place along the upper edge, seam allowance scant 1/4".

The pocket is stitched to the back panel of the bag.

Pin the body of the pocket to the panel so it was out of way white assembly of the bag.

Assembly:

On the lower edge of both panels, cut out 2" x 2" squares at the corners.

A 2" x 2" square cut at the bottom corner of the front panel.

Repeat for the back panel.

2"x2" squares cut at the bottom corner of the back panel

Position the panels face to face, align all edges. Pin the bottom. Stitch together with seam allowance 1/2".
Open and press the seam.

Topstitch 1/4" on both sides of the seam.

Bottom stitch topstitch 1/4" on both sides of the seam.

Cut the webbing in 2 pieces, choose the length of the handles yourself.
Pin one handles to the upper edges of the front and back panels, equal distance from the side edges.

Pin the handle to the upper edges of the front panel.

Topstitch the handles to the panel, seam allowance 1/4".

Webbing handles are stitched to the front and back panels.

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

Repeat for the other side.

Both sides of the bag are stitched together.

To shape the bottom, fold the bottom of the bag so that the bottom and the side seams align. Pin.

Stitch. Seam allowance 1/2". Stitch several parallel lines.
Finish the raw edge with zig-zag or overlock.

Measure the upper edge of the tote around. Cut the blue 2 1/2" wide strip to the length of the circumference plus 1 inch.

Fold one of the long edges of the strip back about 1/2" and press.

Keeping the folded edge down and wrong side facing, fold the right short edge 1/2" and press.

Right side to right side and raw edge to raw edge, starting with the folded short edge of the strip, pin the strip along the upper edge of the tote. In the end overlap the unfinished short edge with the folded short edge.

Stitch with seam allowance 1/2".