Pickle Dish: DIY Sunshine Day Tote Bag

Hi all! Terri here from Lizard Creek Quilting. 

I am looking forward to sharing this happy sunshine tote bag with you. Lately, it seems as I have been sewing Y-seams in every project (here is a great tutorial for sewing Y-seams). So, I was excited to sew the gentle curves using the GO! Pickle Dish 10" finished block die (55539).

Come along with me and let's get started sewing up some sunshine!

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DIY Sunshine Day Tote Bag

 

Dies Used

 

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Materials Needed

  • Blue Print--1/2 yard
  • Yellow--1/4 yard of 3 different shades
  • Light Blue (sides and back)--3/4 yard
  • Dark Blue (binding)--1/4 yard
  • Lining--1-1/2 yard
  • Fabric backed Cork--5-1/2" x 22"-23"
  • Batting--2 pieces 23" x 23" and 1 piece 14" x 23"

 

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Cutting

Blue Print:

  • Shape C--cut 8, Shape DR and D--cut 8 each,  and Shape F--cut 48
  • 4 strips 1-1/2" x width of fabric (WOF)

Assorted Yellow:

  • Shape A--cut 4, Shape B--cut 8, and Shape E--cut 56

Light Blue:

  • 1 sqaure 24" x 24" and 1 rectangle 13" x 24"

Dark Blue:

  • 2 strips 2-1/2" x WOF

Lining fabric:

  • 2 sqaures 25" x 25" and 1 rectangle 15" x 25"

Fabric backed Cork:

  • 2 strips 2-1/2" x 22" - 23"

Pro Tip: The 2-1/2" strip die easily cut through one layer of the fabric-backed cork. When using fabric (other than quilting cotton) always start with one layer of fabric to make sure the cuts are clean.

 

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Pickle Dish Blocks

Use directions on the die packaging or HERE to piece four blocks (10" finished). Chain piecing units will speed up the process.

 

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Curved piecing is easily accomplished when the units are cut accurately and precisely. Pins are optional.

 

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Match the notches, use a stiletto to guide the fabric along, and go slow--it's not a race!! 

 

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Tote Bag Units

  • Sew together the four Pickle Dish blocks rotating blocks to form a ring. Press seams open. Pin and sew 1-1/2" strips to all four sides to form a 22-1/2" square tote bag front.

 

  • Layer tote bag front, batting, and 25" x 25" lining fabric. Quilt as desired. Trim into 1--22-1/2" x 22-1/2" tote bag front.

 

  • Layer 24" x 24" light blue sqaure, batting, and 25" x 25" lining fabric. Quilt as desired. Trim into 1-- 22-1/2" x 22-1/2" tote bag back.

 

  • Layer 13" x 24" light blue rectangle, batting and 15" x 25" lining fabric, Quilt as desired. Trim into 3--4" x 22-1/2" side/bottom rectangles.

 

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Tote Bag Assembly

The bag will be constructed using Y-seams, and it's going to be simple. The basic idea is just to sew up to the dot, backstitch a couple of stitches to secure, and move on to the next seam.

 

Mark Dots 1/4" as Follows:

  • Bottom Unit--all four corners front and back
  • Two side units--bottom two corners front and back
  • tote bag front and tote bag back--bottom two corners front and back

 

Assembly

  • Pin and sew tote bag front, two side units, and tote back together. Stop sewing at dot. Backstitch a couple of stitches and cut thread. Make 1 tote bag tube.

 

  • Pin a bottom unit to tote bag tube matching dots. Sew between dots. Backstitching at the beginning and end of each seam.

 

  • Turn tote bag right side out. Press edges to firm up the seam.

 

  • Bind top raw edge with dark blue strips.

 

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Handles

  • Use a fabric marking pen to draw a centerline 1-1/4" in on the wrong side of each cork piece.

 

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  • Fold the raw edge up to the drawn centerline. Stitch next to the raw edge using matching thread and bobbin thread.

 

  • Repeat step for other raw edges.

 

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  • Adjust handle length as needed to be comfortable. Mark placement on the tote bag. Stitch handles in place.

 

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Pro Tip: Convert any table topper pattern into a tote bag using these instructions. Fill the tote with goodies for a great gift or donation item. 

 

And you're done!

 

Share Your Projects!

I would love to see your finished project so be sure to share your creations with us on social media. Tag me @lizardcreekquilting and @AccuQuilt on Instagram and always use the #AccuQuiltBuilt hashtag so we can see them!

 

If you're not on Instagram, share with us on Facebook, too! Give us a follow while you're there and you'll be the first to know what we're making.

 

Peacefully Quilting,

Terri