Bag Ladies: Chubby Charmer Large Tote

We love this 14″ x 18″ x 10″ tote bag! It has a ton of space, large pockets, and we alter the pattern for more sturdy handles. It’s a good project for a confident beginner sewist. Because we are working with foam & interfacing, lightweight machines may struggle with the thick layers while sewing.

Supplies:

• Pattern: Chubby Charmer Bag by Penny Sturges
• lining fabric: 27″x18″ (wait to cut this until the exterior panels are complete)
• lining fabric: 27″x18″ of lightweight interfacing (wait to cut this until the exterior panels are complete)
• interior pocket lining: two pieces 14″x18″each
• interior pockets: two pieces of lightweight interfacing 14″x18″ each
• Two pieces of 30″x20″ of 1-sided fusible foam interfacing (such as bosal, pellon, or soft and stable)
• 48 5″ squares or 1 1/4 yds of fabric for exterior
• handles: One 10’x6.5″ strip with fabric of your choice with lightweight to medium weight interfacing (use fusible fleece for a more sturdy feel). To get this length, you may sew multiple pieces together (does NOT have to be cut on the bias). Some people choose to use 1.5″-2″ webbing instead.

Suggestions:

• Needles for denim fabric
• Walking foot for your sewing machine
• If the bag is made from 5″ squares, the front an back panels are 6×4 each. If the bag is made without squares, the front and back panels are 28″x19″ each (after quilting).
• Thought not required, you can spend more time in class assembling the tote, by sewing and quilting the two exterior panels at home and bringing them to class. You may quilt them to the lining fabric or to a piece of muslin or scrap material instead of the lining fabric.

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