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This summer tote-bag features the designs of Daisies and Basket of Daisies for the large hoop. It's a great casual piece for the Spring and Summer seasons.
The finished size of bag is about 15" high x 18" wide x 4" deep.
For the outer bag we used 3 fabrics: white for the central parts with embroidery (2 squres 11" x 11"), 1/2 yard of black for the bottom, handles and trim, and 1/2 yard of daisy patterned fabric for the border around the embroidery. You will also need fabric for the lining, iron-on sewing intefacing and low-loft batting. The optional accessories are 7" zippers for the inner pockets, magnet snap and plastic handles.
Out of white fabric cut 2 squares measuring 11" x 11".
Out of pattened fabric cut:
4 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 11" and
4 strips measuirng 4 1/2" x 15 1/2"
Out of black fabric cut:
one strip measuring 4 1/2" x 19 1/2"
2 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 19 1/2"
2 strips measuring 3" x 22" (handles)
Out of fabric for the lining, cut a rectangle measuring 20" x 36" , 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 22" (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).
Sew the 2 1/2" x 11" pattened fabric strips to the upper and lower edges of the white squares.
Sew the 4 1/2" x 19 1/2" patterned fabric strips to the left and right sides of the units.
Sew the black 2 1/2" x 19 1/2" strips to the upper edge of the first block and to the lower edge of the second block.
Sew the black 4 1/2"x 19 1/2" strip between the blocks.
Stabilize the white squares with iron-on cut-away stabilizer. Make the embroidery. Cut away the excess stabilizer.
You can also use polyester craft felt instead of the stabilizer. In this case we recommend to baste the top to the felt in the ditch along the colored borders. After the embroidery is finished, rip the baste and cut away the excess felt around the embroidery.
Now place the top on low-loft backing, face up.
Pin both layers together with 1" pins and start quilting. We quilted along the lines of the embroidery and made stippling all over the top. Quilt in the ditch between the pattened and upper and lower black strips. Do not quilt the black strips.
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.
Now fold the bag's top in half lengthwise, face inwards. Align all raw edges. Pin them together. Stitch the side seams twice - about 1/4" and about 3/8" from the edge.
Stitch 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 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 raw upper edge 1/2"- 3/4" inside and pin.
We made the lining as it's described in the project Quilted Spring Bag with Flower Embroidery
Place the fabric strips measuring 3" x 22" face down. Position the interfacing strips on top of them, fusible side down. Press the interfacing to the fabric. Fold the strips lengthwise, face inwards, and stitch 1/4" from the raw edge. Turn the tubes out. Press.
Fold lengthwise again and topstitch about 1/8" from the edges.
If you are going to use additional ready handles, you'll need to make sleeves for them. Out of black fabric, cut 2 strips measuring 3 1/2" x 12", out of sewing interfacing, cut 2 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 11".
Position the interfacing over the black strips fusible side down leaving 1/2" margins Press the interfacing to the fabric.
Fold the fabric on short sides over the interfacing. Press. Topstitch 1/4" from each edge.
Place the strips over the long part of the handles. Align the long sides. Topstitch 1/8" from the edges. Now the handles are in sleeves.
Place the sleeves about 1 1/2" over the white embroidered squares and topstitch in place.
Fold the top's black edge 1 1/2" back. Pin.
Insert the lining into the bag. Align the side seams. Fold the upper edge back, and align it with the edge of the black strip. The lining should 1 /4" overlap the edge of the black strip. Pin together.
If you want to use a magnetic snap, you need to install it now, before the lining is permanently attached to the bag.
Insert the ends of the handles between the bag's top and the lining 4"- 4 1/2" from the side seams. Pin. Topstitch over the lining 1/8" from its top edge, securing the lining and the handles. Turn the bag right side in. Topstitch again in the ditch along the seam between the black and patterned fabrics.
Turn the bag right side out.
We hope that you liked our idea and will come up with many of your own.
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