Fabric, cotton, random or nondirectional print, Outer/handles: 2/3 yard - Lining/bias tape: 2/3 yard
Batting, 45"x 2/3 yard
Fabric clips
Optional: Quilt basting spray
DIRECTIONS:
NOTE: 14" x 14"x 5" tote.
Wash fabric to clean and remove finishes. Follow manufacturers directions for dye.
14" x 14" front, 14"x 14" back and 5"x 14" bottom one piece. Cut one each outer fabric, lining fabric and batting @ 15" W x 33" H. Sides, cut one each outer fabric, lining fabric and batting at 6"x 14 1/2". Bias tape, lining fabric, cut 2 at 2"x 34", 1 at 2"x 40". Handles, outer fabric, cut 4 at 3"x 29", batting 4 at 1"x 27 1/2".
Front, back and bottom: layer lining WSU, batting, outer RSU. Optional: spray with quilt basting spray following manufacturer's directions. Pin and quilt seams no more than 4" apart. Baste as close as possible to raw edges. Repeat for sides.
Find center of length of front/back/bottom on both sides. Measure 2 1/2" from center point either way, mark, snip in from raw edge 1/8" (these will be the turn points for the bottom corners). Place sides to front/back/bottom, lining sides together. Match top corners and bottom corners. Use fabric clips to hold together. Sew together on top of edge baste stitching. Set aside.
Press bias tape. Mark a line centered down the WS of length of the 2" strips. Fold and press each edge to the line. Fold and press in half. Repeat.
Attach bias tape to sides. Open one edge of bias tape. Fabric clip one 34" length to the right top corner of one side, matching raw edges. The remainder of the width of tape should lay on the side of the tote. Sew on the first fold. Clip into the edge of tape to turn corners. Repeat for opposite end. Fold tape over raw edges of tote 1/2" to front/back. Sew close to folded edge of tape. Repeat. Sew bias tape to inside of top edge of tote same as sides, except fold one end of tape under 1/2". Place at center of back of tote. Overlap end of tape on folded start of tape. The raw edge will be concealed when tape is flipped to outer front and back. At top corners of sides fold the side bias tape toward the center of the side panels.
Construct handles. Fold and press each long edge in 1/2". Fold in half lengthwise. Place batting inside of folded strips. Trim length of batting to start and stop 3/4" from either end of handle. Fold ends back 3/4". Sew close to folded edge, across end and along the opposite length and back across the end. Fold the tote to find the center of the top edge on the front and back. Mark 2 1/2" from center either direction. From those marks, add lines 1" down from the top edge extending toward the sides of the tote. Attach the handle folded ends at the 1" mark with the inside edge of the handle at the 2 1/2" mark. Sew handle to bag starting halfway down the top bias tape on top of the handle side stitching. Continue stitching across the bottom and back up the other side and back across the top to connect to the start of the stitching. Repeat, making sure that the handles are not twisted.
JOANN HACKS:
For a directional print the front and back will need to be cut as two pieces. Add 1/2" to 14" height of front and back panels and 1" to 5" width of bottom panel. Use a 1/2" SA. It will be necessary to add bias tape to these seams prior to the tape on the sides. Add 2 strips at 2"x 15" to cut list.