Summer of Sewing: Walkabout Tote

During our Summer of Sewing series, we'll be featuring weekly tutorials using our new fabric collections (and giveaways, too!). Join us each week, sit back, relax, and then start sewing! 

This week's tutorial is for a fun summer tote bag. We'll be using improv sewing and quilt-as-you-go techniques, so it sews up quickly! We chose the purple colorway of the mouth-watering Walkabout 2 fabric collection, paired with a few Painter's Palette Solids accents. 

Let's get started!
You'll Need:
Fat quarter each of 4 prints (one for tote back
1/2 yard of print #2 (includes handles)
1/2 yard of purple circles for lining
1/8 yard each of four solids: Clementine, Pale Aqua, Apple Green and Violet
Batting

Cutting:
Note: We'll provide you with the actual width strips needed for our tote, but feel free to experiment on your own with different widths and color combos.
From print #1:
(1) 6" x 21" strip
(1) 5" x 21" strip

From print #2:
(2) 6" x 42" strips
(1) 4" x 21" strip

From print #3:
(1) 3-1/2" x 21" strip
(1) 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" piece for pocket

From print #4:
(1) 4" x 21" strip

From each of the solids:
(1) 2" x 21" strip

From the purple circle print: 
(2) 18" x 21" pieces for lining

From the floral print:
(1) 18" x 21" piece

From the batting:
(2) 18" x 21" pieces
(2) 1-1/2" x 30" strips

Making the Tote
Step 1: Lay out strip #1 and the Clemtine solid strip as shown on the batting. Note that the solid strip is angled slightly (you choose the amount of angle). 

Step 2: Stitch along the edge of the two strips using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press the solid strip up. Machine quilt straight lines through both strips. (Note: We used a neutral thread for the prints and coordinating color thread for each solid strip).

Step 3: In the same manner, add strip #2, again angling slightly. 

Step 4: Machine quilt straight lines through the new strip. 

Step 5: Add the Pale Aqua strip in the same manner.

Step 6: Continue adding strips as shown until your batting is completely covered and all strips have been quilted in place. 

Step 7: Lay the 18" x 21" backing piece on a second piece of batting and quilt as desired. 

Step 8: Trim both quilted pieces to measure 17" x 19".

Step 9: Layer the two quilted pieces right sides together and stitch around the sides and bottom. Cut 3" squares out from the bottom corners. 

Step 10: Fold the 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" pocket piece in half, wrong sides together. Sew around three sides, leaving an opening for turning along the bottom. Clip corners and turn right side out. Press. Topstitch along the stop (folded) edge.

Step 11: Pin pocket in place on a lining piece, positioning bottom edge approximately 9-1/2" from top and centering from left to right. Stitch along sides and bottom, securing pocket in place and closing the opening at the same time. 

Step 12: Sew the two lining pieces right sides together in the same manner, leaving a 5" opening for turning along the bottom. Cut corners as with the outer tote. 

Step 13: Box the corners of both the inner tote and the lining, matching side and bottom seams and sewing across as shown. 

Step 14: Fold a 6" x 30" handle strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press. Unfold and fold long edges in to center fold. Position a 1-1/2" x 30" piece of batting inside and refold. 

Step 15: Pin and machine quilt the handle (we did 5 rows of stitching). 

Step 16: Make 2 handles. 

Step 17: Position one handle on the outer bag, approximately 3-1/2" from each side seam. Pin to secure. Repeat on the opposite side with the second handle.

Step 18: Tuck outer bag (right side out) inside lining (wrong side out) and pin along top edge, matching seams. Stitch around the top edge. 

Step 19: Turn bag right side out, tuck lining inside, and topstitch to secure top edge. 

Step 20: Pull the lining back out slightly and sew the opening in the lining closed. Enjoy!

Would you like to win a bundle of Walkabout 2 fabrics? Leave a comment below (or on IG) telling us whether you like the purple Walkabout 2 colorway (shown in the tutorial) or the blue Walkabout 2 colorway better. Giveaway is open through Sunday, July 30th at 11:59 PM CDT. 

Follow along with our Summer of Sewing Series! 
Click here to see all the tutorials.

Lost World bundle winner:

Mom C

Art on Fabric: Walkabout 2

We think this post will have you not walking but running to your local quilt shop! Walkabout 2 is a collection of aboriginal inspired designs infused with so much movement, so much color, that it's sure to become your new favorite. The line comes in a blue and a purple colorway, and we're showing plenty of images of both so you can appreciate all of the detail each print contains. Stay tuned for our Thursday post when we'll share a Summer of Sewing tutorial featuring Walkabout 2 as well! 

Blue colorway: 

 Purple colorway:

Kangaroos

Spirals and circles

Wiggles and wheels

Flowers and vines

Zigzags

Circles and dots

Use these fun prints in our free quilt pattern, Walkabout 2, designed by Terry Albers

Find the free quilt pattern here.

See the entire Walkabout 2 collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop. 
Find the free quilt pattern here.

Summer of Sewing: Dino Balls Quilt

During our Summer of Sewing series, we'll be featuring weekly tutorials using our new fabric collections (and giveaways, too!). Join us each week, sit back, relax, and then start sewing! 

This week's tutorial features our new Lost World dinosaur collection. If you haven't seen this collection yet, check out our blog post here (and be sure to download the free twin-size quilt pattern--it's adorable!). Our tutorial today is a smaller quilt--just 47" square--that can be assembled quickly and easily. It's perfect for a new baby or toddler gift!

Let's get started!
You'll Need:
1/4 yard (or fat quarter) of each of 8 Lost World prints
3/4 yard blue egg print (includes binding)
1/4 yard each 4 coordinating Painter's Palette Solids (121-003 Pencil Yellow, 121-067 Christmas Red, 121-151 Grape, and 121-164 Jolly)
1 yard allover dino print
3 yards backing fabric
54" piece of batting

Cutting: 
From each of the 1/4 yard cuts:
(4) 6-1/2" squares

From the blue egg print:
(4) 6-1/2" squares
(5) 2-1/4" x 42" strips for binding
(4) 2" x 42" strips

From each of the 4 solids:
(36) 2-1/2" squares

From the allover dino print:
(3) 4-1/2" x 36" lengthwise strips
(4) 4-1/2" x 28" widthwise strips
Note: Be sure to cut in this order--this allows the directional print to be oriented correctly in the border as shown in our quilt.

Your cut squares will look like this...time to get started! 

Make the Quilt:
Step 1: Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of a green 2-1/2" square. Position it on the upper left corner of a 6-1/2" dino square as shown. 

Step 2: Stitch on the drawn line, trim seam allowance to 1/4", and press open. 

Timesaver tip: If you don't want to draw lines on all of the 2-1/2" squares, you can position a piece of masking or painter's tape that aligns with your sewing machine needle. Then simply align the smaller square on the larger one, and position so the needle is touching the small square corner on one end, and so the opposite small square corner aligns with the tape edge. Stitch, keeping the small square corner aligned with the tape edge. No line drawing needed! 

Step 3: Repeat on remaining 3 corners, using a different color in each corner as shown.

Note: When you press the corners open, press opposite corner seams in opposite directions (below, the yellow and red corners are pressed in toward the center, while the green and purple corners are pressed out toward the corner. This allows the seams to nest neatly when it's time to join the blocks. 

Step 4: Repeat to make a total of 36 blocks (4 of each dinosaur print). Make sure you sew on the solid corners in the same order for each block. Blocks should measure 6-1/2" square. 
Step 5: Lay out the blocks into 6 rows of 6 blocks each, noting orientation so the corner colors are in the same position for each block. 

Step 6: Sew the blocks into rows and join the rows to complete the quilt center.

Step 7: Measure the length of the quilt center. Trim (2) 2" x 42" blue egg strips to that length and sew to the sides of the quilt. Measure the width of the quilt center, including the strips just added. Trim (2) 2" x 42" blue egg strips to that length and sew to the top and bottom of the quilt. 

Step 8: Join the 4-1/2" x 36" dino strips (with dinos running vertically up the strip) short ends together into one long strip. Measure the length of the quilt and cut (2) strips to that length. Sew to the sides of the quilt, making sure dinosaurs are right sides up. Sew the remaining 4-1/2" x 28"strips (with dinos running horizontally) together in pairs. Measure the width of the quilt, including the strips just added, and trim strips to that length. Sew to the top and bottom of the quilt, making sure dinosaurs are right sides up.

Step 9: Layer the quilt back right side down, batting, and quilt top right side up. Quilt as desired. Trim layers even with the quilt top and use the (5) 2-1/4" x 42" blue dino egg strips to bind the quilt. 

We love the little diamond pops of color created by the solid corners on the snowball blocks! 

Find the entire Lost World collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.

Would you like to win a bundle of Lost World fabrics? Leave a comment below (or on IG) telling us your favorite dinosaur (if you can't come up with one, take a peek at the fabrics--they even include dino names!). Giveaway is open through Sunday, July 23rd at 11:59 PM CDT. 

Follow along with our Summer of Sewing Series! 
Click here to see all the tutorials.

Love is a Four Legged Word bundle winner:

tac73

pssst....tac73, we don't have your email address to contact you, so please email us at fabriquiltblog (at) gmail.com. If we don't hear from you by Monday, July 24th, we'll choose a new winner.

Discovering a Lost World

What kid doesn't love dinosaurs? 

Our new Lost World collection features bright and bold dinos in multiple sizes! There's also a cool hexagon print, a mini dino egg print, and dino text--perfect for little ones obsessed with learning the different kinds.

Bright, friendly dino prints:

Fun coordinates: 

Download the "Lost World" free quilt pattern designed by Pine Tree Country Quilts. This cheerful kids' quilt uses a Log Cabin technique with pieced strips to make a dino-licious design!

Find the free quilt pattern here.

Find the entire Lost World collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.