How to Sew a Notions Catch-all Tote

Are you getting ready to sew on the go? How about making a fun and easy Notions Carry-all Tote to make moving your favorite tools from your home sewing area to the next exciting place!

The tote has a ton of pockets and will stand up on its own, right next to your sewing area! This is a fun and easy project to make, and we even made a video tutorial so you can follow along.

For this project, we will be using the BERNINA Patchwork Foot #97D and the BERNINA Edgestitch Foot #10D. You can do the whole project with a 1/4″ foot but it is much easier and looks nicer to use the Edgestitch foot for the finished details. If you are not using a machine with dual feed, you may need to use a walking foot when assembling the bag.

Materials to Sew a Notions Catch-all Tote

Fabric

Fabric Collection: Contempo Full Bloom by Cherry Guidry

All fabrics are 100% cotton.

• 1/3 yard of Blue Floral
• 1/3 yard of Peach Tonal Floral
• 1/4 yard of Green Mini Daisies

Additional Supplies

• 1/3 yard of Deco Bond Stabilizer
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Patchwork Foot #97D (1/4″ seam)
• Edgestitch Foot #10D
• Walking Foot (Optional)

Cutting for the Notions Catch-all Tote

• From the Blue Floral, cut:
  • (1) 10-1/2″ x Width of Fabric (WOF) strip. Sub-cut (2) 6-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips, (4) 4-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips and (2) 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ strips.
• From the Peach Tonal Flowers, cut:
  • (1) 10-1/2″ x WOF strip. Sub-cut (2) 6-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips, (4) 4-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips and (2) 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ strips.
• From the Green Mini Daisies, cut:
  • (1) 4″ x WOF strip.
• Deco Bond Stabilizer, cut: 
  • (2) 6-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips, (1) 4-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips and (2) 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ strips.

Steps to Sew the Notions Catch-all Tote

Step 1

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the Deco Bond Stabilizer, to press a piece of stabilizer, equal in size to the wrong side of the following Blue Floral pieces; (2) 6-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips, (2) 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ strips and (1) 4-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strip. These are going to be the outer bag pieces. Set these aside.

Step 2

Place (2) 4-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ Blue Floral pieces, right sides together, aligning the edges. Sew across one long side to make one outer pocket. Flip the fabric over along the sewn seam so the fabrics are wrong sides together. Press the sewn edge flat to form the pocket. Repeat to make a second Blue Floral outer pocket and (2) Peach Tonal Floral lining pockets using (2) 4-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ strips for each pocket.

Step 3

Topstitch the folded edge of each pocket using the #10D Edge Stitching Foot. I set my needle position 3 clicks to the left (-3).  Make sure to use a cotton thread that compliments your fabric since this stitching will show on the outside of the pocket.

Step 4

Position (1) Blue Floral Outer Pocket on top of (1) 6 ½” x 10 ½” Blue Floral piece with stabilizer, aligning the sides and bottom edges and clip in place using wonder clips.

To measure and mark the pocket divider lines, use a fabric pen and a ruler. Measure in from each side 3 ¼” and mark a line for the pocket dividers.

Sew down each drawn line through all the layers to create the pocket divider and to attach the pocket to the 6-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ Blue Floral piece to make the Outer Bag Front panel.

Repeat with the second Blue Floral Outer Pocket and 6 ½” x 10 ½” Blue Floral strip to make the Outer Bag Back Panel.

Repeat with the two Tonal Peach Floral lining pockets and (2) 6 ½” x 10 ½” Tonal Peach Floral strips to make the Lining Front and Back Panels

Step 5

Place the Outer Bag Front panel to the 4 ½” x 10 ½” Blue Floral piece, align the raw edges along the pocket edge, and pin them together. Starting and stopping ¼” from each edge sew the two pieces together (Fig. 5). Repeat to sew the Outer Bag Back Panel and the other long side of the 4 ½” x 10 ½” Fabric A strip to make Unit 1.

Step 6

Fold the long sewn sides out of the way to align (1) 4 ½” x 6-1/2” Blue Floral strip to one short side of the Unit 1 piece, right sides together. Sew the short side to the bottom, starting and stopping ¼” from each edge sew the two pieces together. Repeat with the second 4 ½” x 6 ½” Blue Floral strip and the second short side of Unit 1.

Step 7

To sew up the adjacent sides of the Outer Bag, align the two adjacent edges for each corner and clip them together. Sew the two edges together to make one corner of the outer bag. Repeat with the remaining three corners to make the outer bag. Turn the outer bag right side out and press the seams so they are crisp.

Step 8

Place the Lining Front panel to the 4 ½” x 10 ½” Peach Tonal Floral piece, align the raw edges along the pocket edge and pin them together. Starting and stopping ¼” from each edge, sew the two pieces together. Repeat to sew the Lining Back Panel to the other long side of the 4 ½” x 10 ½” Peach Tonal Floral strip, leaving a 4” opening for turning in the seam to make Unit 2. Add (1) 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ Peach Tonal Floral strip each short side.

Repeat Step 7 to sew the adjacent sides together to make the lining.

Step 9

To make the handles, fold one 4″ x WOF Green Mini Daisies strip in half lengthwise and press. Open the folded fabric and fold each long edge to the creased center line and press.

Fold the pressed fabric in half again and press to make one 1″ x WOF strip.

Step 10

Topstitch down both long sides of the folded strip using the Edgestitch Foot #10D.

Cut (2) 16” strips from the sewn strip to make the (2) tote handles.

Step 11

Using Wonder Clips to clip one handle to the outer bag front, positioning each end of the handle 1” from the side seams. Repeat to clip the second handle to the outer bag back.

Step 12

Slide the Lining over the Outer Bag/Handle, right sides together. Make sure the handles are tucked in between the two layers. Align the raw edges and pin them together. Sew around the top edge to sew the pieces together to make the caddy bag.

Step 13

Turn the bag right sides out through the opening in the lining. Topstitch the opening closed. Slide the Lining into the Outer Bag and press.

Step 14

To make the Notions Catch-all Tote boxy and stand up when in use, you will need to topstitch down each side and around the bottom.

Make sure to use a cotton thread that compliments your fabric since this stitching will show on the outside of the bag.

To do this, fold each corner flat and press, this should put adjacent sides, lining sides together. Repeat with each corner seam and the bottom seams. Refolded each corner and topstitch down each corner along the sewn seam. I recommend doing each corner of the bag first and then stitch around the bottom seam. When topstitching, the stitch will go through both adjacent sides.