Trick-or-Treat Tote

 

Halloween as an adult is wonderful, but I miss rustling through the leaves in the dark from house to spooky house trick-or-treating. I remember feeling so mischievous, like we were up to no good as we rang doorbells and showed off our costumes. It was always cold, and I remember fighting the parents year after year when they would try to tuck my parka under my costume.
I don't have kids of my own yet, but I can't help but join in with my friends as they get their little ones psyched up for the holiday. This year I made my little friend Logan an awesome trick or treat bag to carry from house to house with his baby brother. He's the sweetest little man and he deserves lots of candy (so Mom can have some too).... so I didn't skimp on the size.

 

Trick or Treat Tote

Supplies you will need:
Fabrics:
     Outer fabric 3/4 yard
     Inner lining fabric 3/4 yard
     Batting 3/4 yard
The Usual Suspects: sewing machine, scissors, thread, iron

1. Start by cutting all of your fabric pieces.

     4 pieces 18”L x 14”W (2 inner, 2 outer)
     4 pieces 15”L x 6”W (2 inner, 2 outer)
     2 pieces batting 18”L x 14”W
     2 pieces batting 15”L x 6”W
     1 strip inner fabric 40”L x 3”W (for handles)
     1 strip inner fabric 42”L x 3”W (for trim)

Put aside your strips. You’re going to start by making the four sides of the bag.

2. For each side, you are going to make a sandwich: inner fabric – batting – outer fabric. Make sure the fabrics are both facing outward. You will have two big sandwiches and two smaller sandwiches (these will be your sides). Press all of your sandwiches with the iron. Forgive me for talking in food terms, I feel like everyone is more comfortable with food terms when they're learning (or maybe that's just me).

3. Quilt your sandwiches any way you like -- I went with assorted horizontal lines. (PS. Cutest fabric ever… was definitely the inspiration for this project!)

4. Sew the bottom edge of your two big panels (sandwiches) together, outsides together.

5. Open up your sandwich on the fold like above. Starting at the top of one of your big panels, pin on your side panel with outsides together. Sew. Repeat with opposite side. Your bag should look like a T so far.

6. Lay your “T” down with outside fabric facing up, take the remaining long side and turn up, pin side panels and long panel sides together outside to outside and sew edges together. Make sure you start at the top corner.
**I know this step sounds confusing, but all you are really doing is sewing the sides to the other big panel, same as with step 5.**

7. Once side edges are together, sew along two bottom edges to complete sides and close up bottom of tote. Turn bag right side out.

    

8. Pinch and sew 1/4 inch seam along all four side edges of bag, enclosing open seam in a spine. This gives the bag structure and allows it to stand on it's own.
The basic bag is done. Now for finishing touches.

Edging:
1. Cut long strip of liner fabric, press in half the long way. Open. Now fold edges into middle crease and press again. Fold long strip in half the long way and press one final time.

 

2. Pin along top edge of bag and sew.
In retrospect I would have like to edge my four pieces first, eliminating this process. But this is how I did it and it still came out great!

Handles:
Repeat step 1 as above in Edging. Sew fold closed length-wise. Pin to inside or outside of bag (per preference), folding raw end under itself. Sew down to secure.

 

Done! Definitely an intermediate level project, but still do-able. I had a ton of fun putting this together and I can’t wait to see little Logan trick-or-treating with it!

   

Happy Trick-Or-Treating!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,

Bridget, XOXO