Home » How to Sew an Autumn Flannel Tote Bag

How to Sew an Autumn Flannel Tote Bag

October 14, 2021 Pat Bravo
Hello‌ ‌fellow‌ ‌makers,‌ 
‌
It’s‌ ‌officially‌ ‌the‌ ‌fall‌ ‌season‌ ‌which‌ ‌means‌ ‌the‌ ‌colors‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌leaves‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌trees‌ ‌start‌ ‌to‌ ‌change,‌ ‌pumpkin‌ ‌spiced‌ ‌lattes‌ ‌are‌ ‌out,‌ ‌and‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌those‌ ‌sewing‌ ‌machines‌ ‌running‌ ‌with‌ ‌cozy‌ ‌autumn‌ ‌projects!‌ ‌With‌ ‌the‌ ‌new‌ ‌substrate‌ ‌release‌ ‌of‌ ‌Art‌ ‌Gallery‌ ‌Fabrics‌ ‌Flannel,‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌so‌ ‌giddy‌ ‌to‌ ‌sew‌ ‌something‌ ‌unique‌ ‌with‌ ‌these‌ ‌fabrics.‌ ‌
If‌ ‌you‌ ‌haven’t‌ ‌felt‌ ‌AGF‌ ‌Flannel‌ ‌before,‌ ‌trust‌ ‌me‌ ‌when‌ ‌I‌ ‌say‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌because‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌‌100%‌ ‌cotton‌ ‌and‌ ‌DOUBLE‌ ‌BRUSHED,‌ ‌meaning‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌super‌ ‌soft‌ ‌on‌ ‌both‌ ‌sides‌ ‌and‌ ‌ideal‌ ‌for‌ ‌cool‌ ‌and‌ ‌transitioning‌ ‌months.‌ ‌After‌ ‌playing‌ ‌with‌ ‌these‌ ‌fabrics‌ ‌and‌ ‌noticing‌ ‌how‌ ‌easy‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌work‌ ‌with‌ ‌them,‌ ‌I‌ ‌couldn’t‌ ‌wait‌ ‌to‌ ‌start‌ ‌creating‌ ‌projects‌ ‌with‌ ‌them.‌ ‌ 
Of‌ ‌course,‌ ‌I‌ ‌had‌ ‌to‌ ‌show‌ ‌my‌ ‌love‌ ‌to‌ ‌patchwork‌ ‌so‌ ‌I‌ ‌created‌ ‌this‌ ‌patchy‌ ‌tote‌ ‌bag‌ ‌‌using‌‌ AGF‌ ‌Flannels‌‌ ‌and‌ ‌mixing‌ ‌it‌ ‌up‌ ‌with‌ ‌our‌‌ ‌AGF‌ ‌Linen‌.‌

 

Follow‌ ‌along‌ ‌with‌ ‌me‌ ‌on‌ ‌how‌ ‌to‌ ‌create‌ ‌this‌ ‌fun‌ ‌and‌ ‌easy‌ ‌project!‌

Fabric Requirements to Sew the Autumn Flannel Tote Bag

  • Fabric A  F-56302-1         1/2yd
  • Fabric B  FS-203              1/8yd
  • Fabric C  FS-200              1/4yd
  • Fabric D  FS-202              1/8yd
  • Fabric E  DEN-L-4000   3/4yd
  • Fabric F  FS-201               1/8yd

Additional Materials to Sew the Autumn Flannel Tote Bag

Cutting Instructions:

  • One (1) 8 1/2’’ x 7 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric A.
  • One (1) 6 1/2’’ x 2 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric A.
  • One (1) 16 1/2’’ x 15 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric A (back of tote)
  • One (1) 10 1/2’’ x 2 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric B.
  • One (1) 6 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric C.
  • One (1) 16 1/2’’ x 5 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric C.
  • One (1) 8 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric D.
  • One (1) 5 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric E.
  • Two (2) 16 1/2’’ x 15 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric E (lining).
  • Two (2) 23’’ x 4’’ strips from fabric E (handles).
  • One (1) 5 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric F.

Steps to Sew the Autumn Flannel Tote Bag

Step 1:

Join one (1) 8 1/2’’ x 7 1/2’’ piece from fabric A with one (1) 8 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric D.

 

Sew at a 1/4” seam allowance.

Step 2:

Join one (1) 6 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ piece from fabric C with one (1) 6 1/2’’ x 2 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric A.

Step 3:

Join one (1) 5 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ piece from fabric E with one (1) 5 1/2’’ x 3 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric E.

Now, join both pieces together.

Step 4:

Take the first assembled piece, one (1) 2 1/2” x 10 1/2” rectangle from fabric B, and the second assembled piece and join them in a row.

Sew at a 1/4” seam allowance.

 

Step 5:

Join one (1) 16 1/2” x 5 1/2” rectangle from fabric C on the bottom part of the assembled piece.

Step 6:

Place batting on the wrong side of the piece and pin all around. Quilt your piece.

I decided to do a diamond motif at a 3/8” distance and using the Reverse Pattern Foot #1D, I was able to make a perfect stitch line.

Step 7:

Now, take the front and back of the tote and place them right sides facing and pin.

Sew all three sides at a 1/4’’ seam allowance.

Repeat the same with your lining piece, by placing them right sides together and sewing all three sides at a 1/4” seam allowance, leaving about 3” of opening.

Step 8:

To make the boxed corners, fold the corner to align your seams in the center. Press the corner & seams with an iron.

Measure and mark along both sides of the corner for your desired depth. In this example, I used 1″ on each side, which will give us a 2″ finished corner seam. Use a ruler to connect the two marks with a straight line.

Sew along the line you drew, back tacking both ends. Cut off the corner.

Turn your project right side out to form your box corner. Repeat the same process for the lining.

Step 9:

Now, insert the tote inside the lining, right sides facing together. Make sure to line up the seams together and pin your tote.

Sew all around the top part of the tote.  Remove the free-arm table of your machine to sew more comfortably and be able to rotate your tote.

Then, from the 3” opening, turn your piece inside out and close the opening by hand or machine stitch.

Step 10:

To create your handles, follow the instructions on Step 6 in my How to Sew Back-to-school Pencil Rolls tutorial.

Fold the ends of the handles and place them in front of the tote, 3 1/2” distance from each side and 6” apart from each end. Pin in place.

Sew a 1/2” rectangle in order to attach the handles repeating the same for the other end. Sew the other handle on the backside of the tote.

Now you have yourself a beautiful autumn flannel tote!

Difficulty level
Beginner
Time to Complete
Weekend
Used Material
basic sewing supplies, batting, coordinating thread, flannel
Projects
tote bag
Seasons
all seasons, fall
Techniques
quilting
Print this page

Used Products

Autumn Tote Fabric Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all of our WeAllSew fans who entered!

Congratulations to our winner(s):

  1. dixie1mom

Keep an eye out for the next WeAllSew giveaway!

What you might also like

303 comments on “How to Sew an Autumn Flannel Tote Bag”

Leave a Reply

Used Products

Interested in these Products?
Get in touch with your local BERNINA store.

Recent Blog Posts

Archive