Beginner Quilting: Easy Quilted Tote Bag
Today, I want to sahre with you are lovely new book out on the market: Quilting for Everyone! I love when the “old crafts”, come around with fresh new projects. Quilting is a fantastic skill and a great way to upcycle and create sustainably. You can use all kinds of fabrics for quilting – cut offs, samples, recycled sheets and old clothes.. making these are really amazing skill to have. To give you a taster of quilting, why not give this easy quilted tote bag ago, feel inspired by it and get the book for more amazing Quilting for Everyone Projects!
Please note: this project has been reproduce with permission from the publisher and is not allowed to be republished in any way, without their constent. It is for personal use only.
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Quilting for Everyone Book
Quilting for Everyone by Amy Latta: Dive into the charming world of modern quilting with this beginner-friendly guide. Perfect for anyone new to the craft, this book guides readers on their quilting journey by building on fundamental techniques with easy to follow, step-by-step projects. Learn how to cut, press, and sew fabric with smaller projects like a striped mug
mat or pillow before jumping into exciting large-scale projects featuring classic quilt patterns like stars, triangles and pinwheels.
The book has 30 wonderful step by step projetcs. You will find handmade quilts and other adorable accessories like a wall hanging, embellished denim jacket, tote bag and zipper pouch! Take a peak at Quilting for Everyone today!
Easy Nine-Patch Tote Bag
To build a cute and simple tote bag, we’re going to use a charm pack and the patchwork technique to make two nine-patch squares, which will become the front and back. Then, we’ll add the bag’s base and a simple lining on the inside. Let’s get started!
Finished Size for Tote Bag:
- 15½ x 13½” (39.5 x 34.5 cm)
- All seams are ¼” (6.35 mm) unless otherwise noted.
Fabric Requirements to make your Quilted Tote
- Patches: (1) pack 5” (12.5-cm) squares (or 18 squares)
- Lining: ½ yard (.46 m)
- Bottom: ¼ yard (.23 m)
- Batting: ½ yard (.46 m)
Other Materials
- Cotton webbing (1” [2.5 cm] wide), for the handles
Fabric Shown
Bloom & Sew by Amy Latta for Andover Fabrics
Prep Work – Cutting your tote bag fabric pieces
Cutting
- Patches: Cut (18) 5” (12.5-cm) squares if not using a pre-cut pack
- Lining: Cut (1) 14 x 32½” (35.5 x 82.5–cm) piece
- Bottom: Cut (1) 5 x 14” (12.5 x 35.5–cm) rectangle
- Batting: Cut (1) 16 x 34” (40.5 x 86.5–cm) rectangle
- Handles: Cut (2) 29” (73.5-cm) straps from cotton webbing
How to make your Quilted Tote Bag for Beginners
Outer Bag Assembly
Lay out nine of your squares into three rows of three squares. This will form the front of the bag.
Starting with the top row, lay the center square on top of the left square, right sides together, and sew a vertical seam down the right side. (See Figure A)
Next, lay the third square (right side down) on top of the center square and sew. (See Figure B)
Press the seams. Now you have a row of three squares. Repeat this for the remaining squares so that you have three rows. (See Figure C)
Pro Tip: Press the seams in each row in opposite directions so that your seams will nest.
Place the top row, right side down, on top of the center row. Line up the seams and pin in place. Then, sew the rows together. (See Figure D)
Press the seams, then lay the bottom row on top of the center row, lining up the edges/seams and sew together. This will give you a 14-inch (35.5-cm) square. (See Figure E)
Repeat to create the back of the bag with your remaining 5-inch (12.5-cm) squares.
Lay your 5 x 14–inch (12.5 x 35.5–cm) rectangle, right side facing down, on top of the lower part of the bag front with one edge lined up along the bottom. Sew the pieces together. (See Figure F)
Lay the other edge of the bottom piece, right side facing down, along the lower part of the bag back and sew a seam. This will join your bag back and front, with the bottom piece in between. (See Figure G)
Start sewing your tote bag
Quilting
Place the piece you’ve just sewn on top of the rectangle of batting. Pin in place, then quilt as desired.
One way I like to quilt this design is to sew diagonal lines from corner to corner through the squares to form an “X” pattern. (See Figure H)
You can mark these lines with heat-erasable pen or with painter’s tape to help you keep the seams straight. Another way I often quilt a nine-patch is by sewing ¼ inch (6.35 mm) inside the edges of each seam. (See Figure I)
Finishing Your Bag Finishing Your Bag
Fold the bag in half with the right sides together and sew a ¼-inch (6.35-mm) seam down each side. (See Figure J)
Box your corners by grabbing the sides of each bottom corner and flattening them with the seam in the center as shown below. Sew a straight seam about 1½ inches (4 cm) in from the point. Cut off the excess fabric. (See Figure K)
Turn the outer shell of the bag right side out, and set it aside.
Lining
Fold your lining piece in half with the right sides together. Sew ¼-inch (6.35-mm) seams down the sides, leaving a 2-inch (5-cm) opening in one side. (See Figure L)
Box the corners of the lining, just as you did for the outer shell. (See Figure K)
Handles
Pin the ends of one handle to the front side of your bag. You can space them out however you like. I pinned mine about 3½ inches (9 cm) in from the side seam on each side. Then, pin the other handle to the back side of the bag. Baste in place with ?-inch (3.2-mm) seams. The cut ends of the handle should line up with the top edge of the bag. (See Figure M)
Keep the lining wrong side out, and place the (right side out) bag shell and handles inside it. Sew a ¼-inch (6.35-mm) seam around the top. (See Figure N)
Using the 2-inch (5-cm) opening in the side of the lining, turn the lining right side out. Machine or hand stitch the opening shut, then stuff the lining down inside the bag. You can press around the top with an iron to make the lining lay flat. Topstitch around the upper edge of the bag. (See Figure O)
Now your bag is finished and ready to fill with your favorite things.
Pro Tip: For a smaller variation of this bag, you can create a six-patch tote instead! Follow all of the same steps; just leave off the top row of squares so that you have two rows rather than three. It will be more of a standard purse size, and as an extra bonus, it is quicker to make!
Credit: Reprinted with permission from Quilting for Everyone by Amy Latta. Page Street Publishing Co. 2025.
Now if you enjoyed this project, you really should check out the rest of the book: Quilting for Everyone: