Now that the individual parts of the quilted tote are ready, it's time
to put them together. I'm loving how everything looks so far and I'm
excited to get the bag done. How about you? Are you ready for finishing
up the quilted retreat tote?
Finishing up the quilted retreat bag
1
Laying out the pockets on the lining
•• Fold the 38½" x 25½" rectangle of teal
fabric in half.
•• Press along this fold to mark the
center (bottom) of the bag. Lay all of
the pockets on top of the lining until
you like their placement and pin in
place. Keep in mind that the top of
the pockets should all be pointed
towards the far ends of the lining.
2
3
Sewing in the lining and making the
binding
•• Place the front of the bag right side
up on the table.
•• Place the lining on top, right side
down and pin along the two short
edges.
•• Sew in 1/2" from the ends, securing the
strap tabs.
•• Turn right side out and press.
Topstitch along both of the pressed
seams. Pin the unsewn edges of the
bag.
•• Measure the length of the edge of
the bag, add 2" to this measurement
and cut the two 3" strips of black
fabric this exact length. Press the
binding strips in half lengthwise and
press in 1" on the ends of the binding.
•• Topstitch along all four edges of the
zippered vinyl pocket.
•• Topstitch along the folded bottom
edge of the large fabric pocket
through all of the layers (folded fabric,
vinyl pocket and lining).
•• Topstitch the sides and bottoms of
the small folded fabric pockets.
4
Making the strap tabs
Step 1 Cut four pieces of strapping that
are each 4" long.
Step 2 Slide one rectangular ring onto
each piece of strapping and fold the
strapping in half.
Step 3 Topstitch through the strapping 1/4"
away from the ring.
Step 4 Repeat to make four strap tabs
•• Pin the binding strips to the two long
••
••
••
Pin the strap tabs
Measure in 7" from the side of the bag
along the two top edges and pin the
strap tabs in place.
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edges of the tote bag, aligning all of
the raw edges.
Sew them together using a scant 1/2"
seam.
Fold the binding to the front of the
bag and topstitch along it along the
length.
Decide how long you want your
straps to be and then add about 3" to
this length.
Slide the ends of the strap into the
rectangular rings and then fold the
end over twice and topstitch.