Stand Tall Tote

December 22, 2023 Crafts & Projects, Fabric & Sewing

Featuring: Henry Glass Fabrics Stand Tall by Janet Rae Nesbitt

Pattern Design by: Heidi Pridemore

Sewn by: Heidi Pridemore

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

I love large and roomy tote bags for those long shopping trips or to take on your next adventure. This tote bag is designed for people on the go and perfect for beginners who have not tackled a tote bag project before.

Skills Learned: How to make a simple tote bag with box bottom corners. How to add pockets to the interior of the tote bag.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Finished Size:18" x 14" x 4” (45.72cm x 35.56cm x 10.16cm)

Equipment needed:

Stand Tall Sunflower Mini-Red | 3030-88 1/4 yard (.23m)

Stand Tall Sunflower Allover-White Wash | 3029-44 2/3 yard (.62m)

Stand Tall Bird Stamp-Black | 3025-77 1/3 yard (.30m)

Stand Tall Triangle Texture-Red | 3024-83 1/3 yard (.30m)

Stand Tall Texture Tile-White Wash | 3026-44 3/4 yard (.69)

Stand Tall Sunflower Allover-Gray | 3029-13 1/3 yard (.30m)

You will also need:

Basic Sewing Supplies

Matching Threads

Wonder Clips

Optional-Top Stitch Foot

Quarter Inch Foot

1 yard of Fusible Bag Foam or Fusible Fleece

Cutting Instructions

From Sunflower Mini-Red (A), cut:

(2) 2 ½” x Width of Fabric (WOF) strips. Sub-cut (2) 2 1/2" x 22 ½” strips.

From Sunflower Allover-White Wash (B), cut:

(2) 10 ½” x WOF strips. Sub-cut (2) 10 ½” x 22 ½” strips.

From Bird Stamp-Black (C), cut:

(2) 4 ½” x WOF strips. Sub-cut (2) 4 ½” x 22 ½” strips.

From Triangle Texture-Red (D), cut:

(2) 4” x WOF strips. Sub-cut (2) 4” x 30” strips.

From Texture Tile-White Wash (E), cut:

(1) 22 ½” x WOF strip. Sub-cut (2) 16 ½” x 22 ½” strips.

From Sunflower Allover-Gray (F), cut:

(1) 8 ½” x WOF strip. Sub-cut (2) 8 ½” x 12 ½” strips.

From the Fusible Stabilizer, cut:

(2) 16 ½” x 22 ½” pieces

Tote Assembly

Sew (1) 2 ½” x 22 ½” Fabric A strip to the top of (1) 10 ½” x 22 ½” Fabric B strip. Sew (1) 4 ½” x 22 ½” Fabric C strip to the bottom of the 10 ½” Fabric B strip to make the Front Bag Panel. Repeat to make the Back Bag Panel.
Following the manufacturer’s instructions to press (1) 16 ½” x 22 ½” piece of fusible fleece or Bag Foam to the wrong side of Front and Back Bag Panels. Quilt as desired to make (2) Outer Bag units.
Place the (2) Outer Bag Units, right sides together and clip together. Sew down each short side and across the bottom to make the Outer Bag.
Measure in from the left side and up from the bottom 2 ½” and draw a box. Repeat with the other bottom corner.
Cut out each corner on the drawn line.
Open the cut bottom on the outer bag and align the bottom seam with the side seam to align and pin the two cut edges. Sew the two edges together to make a box corner. Repeat with the other bottom corner on the outer bag.
Turn the Outer Bag ride side out and set aside.
Fold (1) 8 ½” x 12 ½” Fabric F strip in half, right sides together to measure 6 ½” x 8 ½” and press to make one pocket unit. Sew down each side and across the bottom leaving a 3” opening for turning. Turn the pocket unit right side out and press. NOTE: The folded edge is the top of the pocket. Repeat to make a second pocket unit.
To position (1) Pocket Unit on top of one 16 ½” x 22 ½” Fabric E piece. Measure down from the top edge 5” and in from one side 7 ½”. Make sure the folded edge of the pocket is towards the top of the fabric. Top stitch the pocket to the Fabric E piece to make one Lining Unit. Repeat to make a second Lining unit.
Place the two lining units, right sides together. Make sure the pocket openings are towards the top and clip the layers together. Sew down each side and across the bottom, leaving a 3” - 4” opening at the bottom.
Repeat Steps 4-6 with the Lining to make a Box Bottom on the lining.

Fold one 4” x WOF strip in half lengthwise and press. Open the folded fabric and fold each long edge to the creased centerline and press. Fold the pressed fabric in half again and press to make one 1 ¼” x WOF strip. Top stitch down both long sides 1/8" in from the edge to make the strap. Trim the strap to the desired length.
Align one short end of the strap with the raw edge of the Outer Bag Front top edge, 5” from the side seam and pin in place. Repeat with the other end of the strap and the other side of the Outer Bag Front. Repeat with the second strap and the Outer Bag Back.
Slide Outer Bag into the Lining, right sides together. Make sure the straps are between the lining and outer bag. Align the raw edges on the lining with the raw edges on the Outer Bag and pin the layers together.
Sew the layers together around the top edge to make the bag.
Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the lining.
Turn in the raw edges at the opening a ¼” and press. Topstitch the opening closed.
Push the lining into the bag and press to complete the bag.