Hella Big Tote Tutorial
Your standard tote tutorial, but make it HELLA BIG!
If you’re anything like me, you have a small folder on your desktop full of mini quilt patterns. While they are all so cute and fun to make, there’s only so much wall space for them to hang! I created this tutorial to guide you through making that small project into something that you can use on the go. The Hella Big Tote is perfect for packing up a quilt for a quilty photo shoot, going out to the farmer’s market to grab all the locally grown yummies, day tripping to your favorite spot, or holding all the things that sink into the abyss of giant bags.
Here’s what you need to get started:
FABRICS
Completed mini quilt top, measuring at least 18” x 18” (will be adjusted up to 19 1/2” x 19 1/2”). Pictured in tutorial is the Lands End Quilt in the Wall Hanging size.
5/8 Yard of matching background fabric for the Exterior of the tote.
5/8 Yard of Lining fabric.
1/4 Yard for Straps (Can use a Fat Quarter if you don’t mind joining them to make two 4” x 42” strips).
6” x 2 1/2” scrap for Key Ring.
FUSIBLE INTERFACING
1 1/4 Yard woven fusible interfacing. I recommend Pellon SF101 (WOF is 20”).
FUSIBLE FLEECE
2/3 Yard fusible fleece. I recommend Pellon 987F (WOF is 45”).
HARDWARE
1” D Ring Swivel Clasp
TOOLS
Rotary Cutter and Cutting Mat
Sewing Machine with both Presser Foot and Walking Foot attachment
Scissors and/or Snips
Ruler
Straight Pins or Clips
Iron and Pressing Mat
Fabric Cuts
Tote Assembly Steps
Sew Vertical Borders (1 1/4” x 18”) right sides together to left and right edges of Mini Quilt top. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press seams to the border side. Add Bottom Horizontal Border (2” x 19 1/2”) to the bottom edge of the Mini Quilt top and press seams open.
Place Fusible Fleece with fusible side down (recognized by the small glue bumps) on the wrong side of the Exterior pieces (Mini Quilt top and backing). Iron on. Place Fusible Interfacing on top of the Fusible Fleece (glue bumps down), and iron on.
You may elect to quilt your pieces here, but it is not required. The sample shown here is not quilted.
Create Straps by folding each Strap piece down 1/2” lengthwise on each side of the Strap. Press the entire length of the Strap. Next, fold in half and press. The Strap should now measure approximately 1 1/2” folded.
Insert scant 1 1/2” Fusible Fleece piece into the strap. Fold it over, with the folds going inside. Press with a hot iron to fuse it to the fabric. NOTE: This will only fuse on one side, which is okay. It will be secured in the next step. You can pin or clip the fold together to keep it stabilized.
Top stitch the Strap 1/8” away from the edge. Do this on both sides of the Strap for both straps. Trim any excess Fleece at the ends. The ends do not need to be finished, as they will be inside the bag.
Create Key Ring strap using the 5 1/2” x 3” scrap piece. Fold in half and insert the 5 1/2” x 7/8” Fusible Fleece piece with the edge pressed up to the crease line. Press to fuse to the fabric. Open and fold in the edges of the strap around the fleece. Press to crease and pin or clip to secure.
Topstitch 1/8” away from the edge of the Key Ring strap on both sides. Do not worry about finishing the edges, as they will be inside the bag.
Loop the D Ring Clasp Clip through the Key Ring Strap and clip together.
Lay the Exterior pieces right sides up and pin/clip the raw edges of the Strap approximately 3” from the edges. Place the Key Ring approximately 2” from one of the Straps. Leave 1/2” to 1” of the ends over the top edge of the Exterior piece. Layer on top one of the Lining pieces, right side down. Pin or clip the top edge together.
Do the same for the other Exterior piece.
Sew the Exterior piece to the lining across the top horizontal edge. Be sure to backstitch over the straps to secure them.
Open the front piece and the back piece and roll up the straps. Clip them together to keep them out of the way.
Place the two pieces right sides together - Exterior pieces matching and Lining pieces matching. Clip or pin all the way around, being sure to align the seams as pictured. Double check that no Strap pieces are sticking out of the edges - you want them bundled up in the middle.
Mark a gap on the Lining side, approximately 6-8”. This is where you will start and stop sewing and will provide a space to invert the bag.
Using a generous 1/4” seam allowance, stitch around the perimeter of the piece, backstitching over the start and stop. Don’t forget to leave the large 6-8” gap on the Lining side so you can invert the bag.
Be sure the Straps are in the middle and do not get stitched over.
Before you invert the bag, you will box the corners.
To box the corners of the bag, cut a 2” square on each of the Exterior corners and Lining corners.
Once the corners are cut, squish them together so that the seams touch. Clip or pin together. Sew the corner with a 1/4” seam. Repeat for all corners.
Turn bag right side out, but do not push the Lining inside the Exterior yet.
Fold the opening in the Lining in to itself, mimicking the seam - approximately 1/4”. Pin or clip it closed and sew the opening using a scant 1/4” topstitch, backstitching at the start and end to secure the threads.
Push the Lining into the interior of the bag. Push through all the corners, smoothing out the boxing. Pinch with your fingers around the top of the bag seam to help crease the seam.
TIP: Clip or Pin the Key Ring to the interior of the bag to secure it for the next step.
Topstitch around the entire top of the bag using a scant 1/4”. This will give your tote a polished finish and will also secure the Straps and Key Ring in place.
Congratulations on completing the Hella Big Tote!
Toss all your junk into it and get ready to take on the world!
Share your progress and makes on social media using the #HellaBigTote and #SarahJeanMakes hashtags. Please tag me at @SarahJeanMakes so I can cheer you on!
