Summer tote using preprinted batting

Summer tote using "Alexandra" pre-printed batting by June Taylor Co.

by Linda Theil

I made this quick-and-easy summer tote bag using quilt-as-you-go preprinted batting by June Taylor Co. that I got on sale from Missouri Star Quilt Co. The finished bag is 15 x 14 x 4-inches.

https://www.missouriquiltco.com/shop/detail/108145/june-tailor-company/june-tailor/alexandra-tote-bag-quilt-as-you-go-preprinted-batting

As with most purse/tote/wallet patterns, working with a heavy-duty sewing machine is very useful.

To make this tote you will need backing fabric and batting 21 x 32-inches or approximately 5/8-yard of material. You will need the same sized piece of fabric or patchwork for the outer surface of your tote.

For this project I pulled a selection of fabrics from the "Strawberry Fields Revisited" collection by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda Fabrics, also cuts from Three Sisters Favorites: Lemon & Sea Grass collection also for Moda. If you wish to replicate the look of the tote in this blog post you can evaluate fabrics similar to this collection at Fig Tree & Company.

Auditioning fabrics on the pre-printed batting

Begin the project by attaching the preprinted batting with spray adhesive to the wrong side of backing fabric. The backing fabric will be the inside of your quilted tote. I chose a half-yard piece of solid coral from my stash for the backing. After gluing the batting to the backing, sew around outside edges of the pattern to secure backing to batting.

This is a drawing of the printed batting, showing placing of the fabric pieces used in the quilt-as-you-go pattern for this tote.

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NOTE 11/17/20: This drawing has been removed at the request of Jill A. Repp, VP Sales & Marketing, June Tailor, Inc. She said: "We were reading your blog and noticed that you supply a method to copy our design to others along with the exact measurements. . . . We take pride in our product development and our innovative printed batting, not to mention all the time spent in developing unique patterns. Can we kindly ask that you take our design down from your blog? Thanks."

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Using the quilt-as-you-go method sew 2.5-inch strips of varying length to the numbered spaces on the pre-printed batting, beginning with number one in the center of the batting -- the cream-colored floral in the center of the photo below. (For more information on quilt-as-you-go technique, see "Quilt-as-you-go placemats" on Appleton Dance weblog.) Also, the purchased pre-printed batting comes with complete directions for making the tote.

Completed 2.5-inch fabric strips added
quilt-as-you-go method to preprinted batting
and backing fabric.

Add all fabric strips to batting using the quilt-as-you-go method until the batting is completely quilted.

This is what the backing looks like when it is quilted using the quilt-as-you-go method. The white stitching shows the outline of the bag pattern.

Fold completely quilted fabric in half with right-sides-together and stitch up both sides of tote. (I French seamed my side seams, but you can finish your seams by overstitching with zig-zag stitches if you prefer.)

Fold cut-outs on bottom of tote so that you can stitch straight across open section to make flat bottom on tote. Zig-zag stitch to finish.

Turn tote right-side-out.

Pin handles to tote, five-inches from side seams. Repeat on both sides of tote.

Fold one yard of 2.5-inch-wide binding in half.

Pin raw edges of binding to raw edges of tote top on the inside of the tote. If you want to add a swivel clasp for your keys, unpin one handle and slip swivel clasp over the end of the handle. Re-pin handle, and push clasp out of the way. Using one-quarter-inch seam allowance, sew the binding onto the top of the tote all around, triming to length and overlapping ends before finishing.

Fold binding over raw edges and top-stitch in place, enclosing all handle ends in binding. This is different than the directions that come with the pre-printed batting, which simply apply the handles to the top of the tote after the binding has been applied.

Fold tote handles upward, and zig-zag-stitch in place. Catch swivel clasp between fold and line of zig-zag-stitch to secure. See detail on right. Repeat for all four handle ends.

I enjoyed this project, and thought the preprinted batting was very useful and fun to work with.

UPDATE June 29, 2019:

Quilt-as-you-go tote, reversable

I made Alisa a French-seamed reversible "Strawberry Tote" because she liked the "Strawberry Fields Revisited" fabric by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda Fabrics.

I drew the quilt-as-you-go pattern on a piece of leftover batting, based the design in a Missouri Star Quilt Co. video titled "Make a Quilt as You Go 'Sophie Tote' with Misty from Missouri Star Quilt Co."

This June Taylor Co. "Sophie Tote" design on pre-printed batting in a is also available as a kit -- like the "Alexandra Tote" shown above.