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Couched Patchwork Tote Bag – Tutorial

Alanda November 15, 2015 17 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

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couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

To make this couched patchwork tote bag I have used a Moda Charm Pack. I love using 5″ squares to make bags. Everything is precut and you don’t have to think to hard about matching fabrics as it’s all done for you. That is of course, if you are using Moda Charm Squares or another brand of precut squares. However, for this tutorial you could cut also your own. I have used Suzani by  Michelle Marvig for George Parsons. I just love the colours. And there are so many lovely charm packs available so we are really spoilt for choice. You can find a range of Moda Charm Packs at Fabric.com and Amazon also have a wide range.

Note: You can scroll down to the bottom of the post to see the video tutorial for this project.

What you need:

  • 16 x  5″ squares
  • 1 piece  of fabric for the backing – ours is 18½” by 18½”
  • 2 pieces of batting or fusible fleece – depending on the look you want – our two pieces each measure 18½” by 18½”
  • 2 pieces of fabric measuring 18½” by 18½” for the lining
  • 2 pieces of fabric measuring 5″ x  22″ or the length you want for your handles.
  • 2 pieces of batting 2½” wide by the length of your handle
  • 1 ball of thick wool (you don’t need much so you may have some in your wool stash)

TOOLS WE USED

Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 8-1/2in x 24-1/2in
Creative Grids Quilt Ruler 8-1/2in x 24-1/2in
View on Amazon
OLFA 24" x 36" Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat
OLFA 24" x 36" Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary M...
View on Amazon
OLFA RTY-3/G 60mm Rotary Cutter
OLFA RTY-3/G 60mm Rotary Cutter
View on Amazon
Oliso TG1600 Smart Iron with iTouch Technology, 1800 Watts, Butterscotch
Oliso TG1600 Smart Iron with iTouch Technology, 1800 Watts, ...
View on Amazon
Quilter's Slidelock 24" Lighted Edge Ruler Guide
Quilter's Slidelock 24" Lighted Edge Ruler Guide
View on Amazon

Step 1:

  • Lay out your squares

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Step 2:

  • Sew the squares together in rows

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Press the seams in opposite directions for each row, as pictured above.

Step 3: 

  • Sew rows together

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Step 4: 

  • Add batting to back of main piece and wrong side of back piece. Put backing piece aside.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Step 5: Couching

  • On a piece of scrap material test the size of your zig-zag stitch. You want it to go right across the yarn and not split it.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • When you are happy with the width of your zig-zag then you are ready to attach the thread to the seam lines of your squares.  We sew the thread across all three rows then turn the bag and couch down the other three rows, just running the thread over top of the thread you have laid down previously.couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing
  • Trim off the threads

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Step 6: Sew Main Piece to Backing Piece

  • Place the main piece and the backing right sides together and sew around 3 sides with a ¼” seam.
  • Leave the top end open.
  • Pivot at the corners.
  • Backstitch at the start and the end.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Turn bag to right side. Put aside for now.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Step 7: Lining

  • Take your two lining pieces and join them on 3 sides using a ¼” seam allowance.
  • Leave the top end open.
  • Pivot at the corners.
  • Backstitch at the start and the end.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Step 8: Box the Corner

  • I wanted a four inch base on this bag so I measured down 2″ from the base of the ‘V ‘at the corner  where the bottom and the side seam meet.  Make sure the bottom and side seams line up perfectly as you want to have a continuous look to your seam line when you finish.
  • We have a tutorial on “How to Box Bag Corners” where you can see this process in detail.
  • You need to box all four corners – 2 on the lining and 2 on the main piece of the bag.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Trim the excess fabric  from the boxed corner when you are happy that the seams line up. Leave about a ¼” seam.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Put all the pieces aside and make your handles.

Step 9: Handles

  • Fold your handle pieces right sides together and press down the length of the fabric

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Open out and fold each edge to the middle – the fold line that you have just made down the middle – and press

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Open out and lay your batting down the middle.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Fold the edges back into the middle over the batting.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Topstitch down both sides of handle ⅛”  from the edge.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Measure in 4″ from each side seam and draw a small line with a water erasable or Frixion pen.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Pin the handles in place, with one side on the mark you have just drawn. Make sure they are not twisted and pin with the bulk of the handle out towards the side seam.
  • I like to stitch them in place before adding the lining so that they don’t move and I know that they are sitting correctly.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Step 10: Putting the Bag Together

  • Turn the lining inside out and place the bag inside the lining so that the right sides are facing. Make sure the handles are pushed down towards the bottom of the bag.  We don’t want to catch them up in the seam we are going to sew around the top.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Line up the sides seams from the lining piece and the main bag piece and pin

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  •  Give the bag a bit of a shake (hold on to the top edge), you want the whole thing to lay relatively flat.
  • Pin the two pieces together and join with a ¼” seam. Make sure you leave about a 4″ to 5″  opening on the back side of the bag so that you can turn the bag through once you have sewn it together.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

  • Turn bag through. Push lining to the inside of the bag. Make sure it’s nice and neat by giving it a bit of a press.
  • Topstitch around the top of the bag about ⅛” from the edge.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

And here we have it – our couched patchwork tote bag is finished.  Don’t forget to check out the video for the full instructions.

couched patchwork tote bag, bag tutorial, charm square tote bag, quilting, sewing

Filed Under: Bag Tutorials, Christmas Projects Tagged With: charm square tote bag, couched tote bag, patchwork tote bag, tote bag, tote bag tutorial

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet Peckens says

    November 22, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    You are so helpful and I love all that you share. May you have a Blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday.
    Thank you for all your ideas and help.

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      November 22, 2015 at 8:43 pm

      Thank you so much for your lovely comment Janet; and a happy Thanksgiving and Christmas to you and your family.

      Reply
  2. Linda Malyan Rickard says

    August 29, 2016 at 3:00 am

    Thank you so very much for your time and effort in explaining how to do these lovely totes! These will make lovely Christmas gifts for sure. You are such a wonderful teacher, I am new to quilting but am excited to see more of your videos. Once again, thank you!

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      September 1, 2016 at 8:00 am

      Thank you so much for your lovely comment Linda. These totes are so quick and easy and will make really lovely gifts.

      Reply
  3. Mindi says

    September 6, 2016 at 6:59 am

    This was so much fun that I’ve made three totes this weekend! Thank you ever so much….

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      September 6, 2016 at 11:33 am

      That’s great to hear Mindi. It’s amazing how creative you can get using different threads to couch with.

      Reply
  4. Annie says

    September 19, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    Awesome tutorial. Cute,Cute,Cute. The couching realoly makes this bag. Is there something else you can use for the couching besides yarn? I am not a knitter so I don’t have scraps of yarn.

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      September 20, 2016 at 11:30 am

      You could try using ribbon but to get the right effect you really do need the yarn. We pick it up from charity shops or a couple of balls when they are on sale at our local craft store. One of those balls of yarn that have variegated colours works well. If you do buy some yarn it won’t go to waste as you could make one of our no knit scarves to use it up. http://www.alandacraft.com/easy-no-knit-scarf-tutorial-soft-and-cuddly/

      Reply
  5. Shirley says

    October 27, 2016 at 8:55 pm

    Is this wool yarn? I’ve never use daily this. Do I buy it where they sell yarn?

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      October 29, 2016 at 8:04 am

      Yes we have used wool. You can use any fibre medium as long as it is quite thick otherwise it will meld into the background and you want something that stands out. You could even use rope as long as its not too thick. Yarn is available in most haberdashery stores or online – eBay, Amazon. The only thing with buying online is that you won’t be able to gauge how thick it is. Depending on where you live, you will find wool at Joann’s, Walmart etc.

      Reply
  6. Ruth Van Hoose says

    January 2, 2017 at 7:02 am

    Excellent tutorial. You made it look very easy. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Nancy Mills says

    January 11, 2017 at 12:01 pm

    What happened to step 7? I do not see it.

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      January 11, 2017 at 2:31 pm

      The steps were mis-numbered, I have fixed it now. Thanks for letting me know.

      Reply
  8. Joe says

    February 2, 2017 at 10:45 am

    Nice tutorial, thank you. We made this tote bag using Crazy Quilt Block squares. It turned very nice

    Reply
    • Alanda says

      February 2, 2017 at 12:29 pm

      Thank you Joe. We would love to see some photos of your finished bag. Here is a link to our ‘Submit Your Project’ http://www.alandacraft.com/submit-your-project/ if you would like to share some photos on our Readers Project page. It’s always interesting to see how different each project turns out.

      Reply
      • betty johnson says

        October 22, 2018 at 8:55 pm

        when do you add the wood to the bag

        Reply
        • Alanda says

          October 23, 2018 at 7:55 am

          After you have sewn the squares together, Betty. Just check Step 5 “Couching” in the written tutorial.

          Reply

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