Featured Fabric: The Blank Quilting Corp. Ocean Oasis by Patricia Pinto

Pattern Design by: Lindsay Conner (Sunglasses case adapted from Gluesticksblog)

Sewn by: Lindsay Conner

Get ready for a day at the beach! This roomy and sturdy tote bag, complete with large rope handles, is a modern take on nautical accessories. Just grab and go with this perfect carryall you can fill with snacks, sunscreen, and beach towels for a relaxing getaway with family or friends. Beginning sewists need not be intimidated by the grommets or lining; this tote is an easy project for beginners.

Skills Learned: Machine sewing, grommets, lining

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Finished Size: 21” wide x 17” tall x 6” deep (53.34cm x 43.18cm x 15.24cm)

Fabric & Cutting Directions:

Main Fabric for Tote Bag): 2/3 yard (.61m). I used:

• 3032-41 Ivory - Sailboats

Lining Fabric for Tote Bag + Main Fabric for Sunglasses Case: 2/3 yard (.61m). I used:

• 3039-75 Med. Blue - Starfish

Fusible fleece: 2/3 yard (.61m)

Two 3-foot sections of 5/8”-wide jute rope for handles

Four 1” silver snap-on curtain grommets

Sewing machine, iron, and thread

Binding clips

Scissors, rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat

Marking pen

Drinking glass

Note: You can use scraps from the tote bag to make the bonus eyeglasses case project.

Cutting Instructions:

From main fabric, lining, and fusible fleece: Cut 2 pieces 21” tall x 23” wide

Make the Tote Bag

1) With a hot iron, adhere 1 piece of fusible fleece to the wrong side of 1 piece of main fabric. Repeat with the other fusible fleece and main fabric. With right sides of the main fabric facing, stack the 2 fabric/fleece pieces.

2) With a ruler and pen, draw a square 2.75” x 2.75” on the two bottom corners. Cut away this square through both layers of fabric. Repeat with the stacked lining pieces, cutting a 2.75” x 2.75” square from the two bottom corners.

3) With the main fabric pieces still stacked, right sides facing, pin or clip the front and back panels together. Stitch along the pinned left and right sides and bottom ONLY, avoiding the cut-away squares.

Repeat with the lining fabric, but leave a 4” gap in the center of the bottom edge for turning.

4) Now it’s time to join the corners. With the sewn main fabric panels in hand, pinch together the sewn side seam with the folded bottom edge of the bag. It will go from resembling an “L”-shaped cutout to forming the bottom and corner of your tote bag. Pin or clip the edges together.

5) Stitch ¼” from the clipped edge, repeating with the other corner of your bag and both corners of the lining. Add a zigzag stitch along the seam to secure. You can also add a zigzag stitch to the side and bottom seams of your bag to strengthen them. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the lining.

6) Turn the main fabric bag right side out, leaving the lining fabric wrong side out. Lining up the side seams, slip the bag lining around the main bag, with the right sides of fabric facing each other.

7) Use binder clips to hold the tote bag’s main and lining top raw edges together around the opening. Stitch together 3/8” around the clipped opening of the bag.

8) Gently pull the bag’s main fabric from the hole in the lining until it is all the way out. Push the lining inside the main bag and press.

9) Add clips around the top edge of the lined bag. Topstitch ¼” from the edge all the way around the top of the tote bag. Use a hand-sewing needle and thread or your sewing machine to sew the hole in the lining closed.

10) Next, it’s time to add the grommets. On one side of the top of the bag, measure and mark a spot 2” from the top of the bag and 5 1/2” from either side seam of your bag. Once they are in place, use a pen to trace the center circle of your grommet onto the fabric. Poke a hole with your seam ripper or snip with sharp scissors, and carefully cut out a circle through both the main and lining fabric, just 1/8 wider than your drawn circle. (Your grommet kit may also have a template to trace.) Repeat these steps with the two grommets on the other side.

11) Snap together the back and front of the grommets through the center of your cut holes, stretching the fabric around the grommets to fit.

12) Slide a 3-foot piece of rope through the grommets so the raw edges go toward the inside of your tote bag. Tie a knot on each end of the rope. Repeat with the other handle. If using rope that can unravel, use clear packing tape to wrap the cut edge. (If using nylon rope, melt the tip on a candle flame.)

Make the Sunglasses Case

1) Cut 2 7.5” squares of fabric and 1 6.5” square of fusible fleece. Center the fleece on the wrong side of 1 piece of fabric and press.

2) Stack the 2 fabric squares so the right sides are facing. Use a drinking glass to trace a curve around the bottom to corners and trim with a rotary cutter.

3) Stitch around the fabric pieces with a ¼” seam, leaving a 3” gap in the bottom (between the curved corners) for turning.

4) Turn the fabric right side out through the turning gap and press. You can use a blunt pencil to gently poke out the corners.

5) Fold the fabric in half so the curved edges are stacked and the opened gap is pressed closed. Stitch all around the right edge and bottom curve, using a 1/8” seam. If desired, use a blanket stitch or other decorative stitch on top of the seam.

And there you have it. You’re beach-ready!

Fabric Details:

To view the complete The Blank Quilting Corp. Ocean Oasis by Patricia Pinto click here.

To find a retailer near you click here.

Learn more about Lindsay here.