Charm Pack Tote
You will need:
(47) 5” squares + up to 6 more for centre appliqué*
(2) 19” squares of wadding
(3) 6” x 19” pieces of wadding (cotton gives a floppier bag, polyester
tends to make it a little more rigid)
6” x 35” piece of wadding (for handles)
9 ½” square of plain/neutral/co-ordinating fabric (for appliqué background)
Small piece of bondaweb or freezer paper (depending on which
appliqué method you use!)
1 yard lining fabric (plus extra for any pockets you want to add)
Any embellishments you fancy!
*If you can’t get charm packs then it’s not a problem -you can cut your
own squares! You’ll need about 1 yard of fabric in total but try to use
at least 2 different prints – more for a really shabby chic, “scrappy” look!
Method
1. Lay out 16 squares for the front panel of your bag, and 16 for the back. You can arrange them however you choose in a way that is pleasing to you!
Take away the 4 middle squares of what will become the front panel of your bag. You’re going to use these to make the appliqué pieces.
Sew the four squares together like this
Tip: Press seams of each row in opposite directions – this will make it easier to sew the rows together!
Press seams
2. Now to make the appliqué block. You will need the 9 ½” square of background fabric for this. Make sure it is pressed and it is helpful to draw a faint ¼” line all the way around the edge of block – this is where your seam will go when you join the block to the other pieces and it is a good guide to help you to position the appliqué pieces centrally.
When you trace the appliqué piece, ensure you also trace the cross. This should be lined up on the back of the block you’ve just made, where the stitches cross at the centre, this will give your appliqué piece a nice symmetrical look!
Appliqué the design to the centre block using your chosen method (see general directions for more details)
Apply any buttons or embellishments on top of the appliqué pieces once they are both in place.
3. That’s the hard bit done! Now let’s make the outside of the bag.
Starting with the front panel, join the squares together in rows, like this:
Press the seams in alternate directions, just like you did on the appliqué block.
You should now have this: (arrows indicate suggested direction of seam pressing but of course you can press yours the other way if you like!)
Don’t sew the rows together just yet because you’re going to use a quick quilt method, which will save you a bit of time later!
4. Lay the top row, which you’ve just made along the top edge of one of the 19”, squares of wadding, right side up.
Lay the middle section on top of that row, with right sides together. Join the rows together with a line of stitches, stitching all the way through the wadding. Like this:
Row 1
Wadding
Fold the middle section back and press.
Repeat with the bottom row.
You have now made the front panel of your bag and you’ve almost quilted it! You just need to sew down the vertical lines and across the two small horizontal lines of the middle panel to have completely ditch stitched it to the wadding (see below)
Sew down here
You can add any more quilting you like – for example, stitching around your appliqué piece will give a nice effect.
5. The back panel is made in exactly the same way as the front but as there is no appliqué panel it is a bit quicker! Start by making 4 rows of 4 blocks and then join them together and to the wadding in the same way as for the front panel. Finish off by stitching down your vertical lines and you’ve completed the back panel!
6. Make the side and bottom panels.
Each panel is made up with 4 squares and a piece of batting (approximately 6”x19”)
Again, you can quilt as you go with these – simply take four squares of fabric and join them together and to the batting in the same way as before. For these panels, you’re joining single squares rather than rows.
You will need 3 sets of these – one for each side and one for the bottom of the bag.
Trim off any excess wadding from around the edges of each panel. You should now have 5 pieces, quilted and ready to join!
Join the front panel to the bottom panel and then the bottom panel to the back so you have one long piece (A). With right sides together, pin one side panel to the front (B).
A) B)
Sew down the length of the side, stopping ¼” from the bottom. Now pin the bottom of the side pale to the bottom of the bag, like this:
Sew along the short edge, stopping ¼” from the end. Finally, pin the long side to the back panel of the bag, and sew along the long edge, from bottom to top.
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