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How to Make a Sailboat Quilt Block Tote Bag

With our free boat tote quilted tote bag sewing pattern, you can learn how to make a charming quilted tote bag using two sailboat quilt blocks.

quilted tote bag on navy chair next to pool

Have you ever had a quilt block left over from a quilt project that was just too cute not to use? Iโ€™ve been brainstorming projects to create with leftover (or orphan) quilt blocks this year. Over the years, Iโ€™ve accumulated several of these quilt blocks.

Personally, I think you can never have too many bags, so I decided to make a quilted tote bag using two leftover 12-inch quilt blocks.

About the Quilt Blocks

two sailboat quilt blocks on white pinboard

The quilt blocks used in this project are from the Summer Block Party.  The block party is a summer quilt along hosted by myself and several other quilters.  

How to Get the Sailboat Block Pattern

You can find the Stripey Sails Quilt block pattern for sale in our shop. You can also use any other 12″ quilt block for this pattern.

About the Fabric

I had a lot of Tulip Cottage fabric scraps left from my Riley Blake 2024 Quilt, so I created two scrappy quilt blocks from the leftover fabrics.

quilted tote bag on white cutting mat

The boat’s sails are made from white and pink scraps, and the background fabric of the block is a variety of blues from the line. 

I really love how this turned out, and honestly, want to make an entire quilt like this now! 

quilted tote bag on navy chair next to pool

If you want to make a similar bag, you can use a Fat Quarter pack of Tulip Cottage fabric.

Bag Details

  • Fabric: The blocks and bag are constructed from Tulip Cottage Fabric by Riley Blake Designs. 
  • The bag’s interfacing is Pellon Flex foam, which I love using for bags since it holds its shape so well.
  • The finished bag is approximately 14โ€ wide by 14โ€ tall by 1โ€ deep.
  • The handles are leather strips commonly called โ€œbelt blanks.โ€ You could also use vegan leather or a prepurchased bag handle. 
  • The front and back of the bag have a finished 12-inch quilt block. If you donโ€™t like the sailboat block, you can use any other pattern for a 12-inch block. 
quilted tote bag on white cutting mat
quilted tote bag on navy chair next to pool

Supplies

quilted tote bag on hook
quilted tote bag on navy chair next to pool

Sailboat Quilted Boat Tote Bag

Melissa Mortenson
Turn two twelve inch quilt blocks into a cute quilted tote bag with our sewing pattern!
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Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour

supplies

  • 2 quilt blocks Completed 12-inch quilt blocks Note: the blocks are 12 1/2โ€ x 12 1/2โ€ before they are sewn into the bag.
  • 4 Pieces Fabric 2 1/2โ€ x 12 1/2โ€ for Block Sashing
  • 4 Pieces Fabric 2 1/2โ€ x 16 1/2โ€ for Block Sashing
  • 1 yard Pellon Flex Foam or Annies Soft & Stable
  • 1/2 yard Fabric for Lining or two Fat Quarters
  • 1/4 yard fabric for Top Binding
  • 4 Screw & Post โ€œChicago Screwsโ€
  • 1 piece 1โ€ wide Leather Strap called a belt blank 50โ€ total
  • 4 pieces Plastic Canvas at least 1" x 1"

Instructions
 

Step One: Add Sashing

  • Sew one of the 2 1/2โ€ x 12 1/2โ€ sashing strips to both sides of one of the completed quilt blocks.
    diagram of block assembly
  • Press the seams away from the block.
  • Sew one of the 2 1/2โ€ x 16 1/2โ€ sashing strips to the top and bottom of the completed quilt blocks.
  • Press the seams away from the block.

Step Two: Quilt

  • Cut two pieces of Flex Foam to 18โ€ x 18โ€
  • Cut two pieces of Lining fabric to 18โ€ x 18โ€
  • Draw (or fold the fabric and press) a line down the center of the quilt block.
  • Make a quilt sandwich with the lining fabric, flex foam, and quilt block. The fabric will be right-side out, with the flex foam between the two pieces.
    quilt block, foam and fabric on white cutting mat
  • Secure in place with a few pins.
  • With a walking foot and guide on your sewing machine, quilt straight lines on the pieces 1โ€ apart until youโ€™ve quilted the entire piece.
    quilt block, foam and fabric on white cutting mat
  • Note: Quilting will reduce the overall size of the completed piece, it may also distort the block a bit. For this reason, trim and square up the completed piece to 15 1/2โ€ x 15 1/2โ€.

Step Three: Side Seams

  • Cut a 1 1/2โ€ x 1 1/2โ€ square from the bottom two corners of the quilted pieces.
    quilt block, foam and fabric on white cutting mat
  • Place the two pieces on each other, right sides facing, and sew with a 3/8โ€ seam allowance.
  • Sew the two sides and the bottom of the bag but wait to sew in the corners.
  • Cut a piece of lining fabric 2โ€ x WOF (width of fabric). This will be your seam binding.
  • Place the 2โ€ wide strip on top of the bag’s sewn side seam, right sides facing. Sew with a 3/8โ€ seam allowance and trim away excess fabric.
    blue fabric on blue cutting mat
  • Fold under the raw edge of the binding 1/4โ€ and press. Keep folding until the binding covers the raw edge of the seam and the fold is even with the seam of the bag.
    blue fabric on blue cutting mat
  • Press in place and sew along the folded line.
    blue fabric on blue cutting mat
  • Repeat for the other side seam and the bottom of the bag.
    blue fabric on blue cutting mat

Step Four: Corners

  • Pinch the bottom corner of the bag so that the side and bottom seams are on top of each other and the raw edges of the bag are flush.
    blue fabric on blue cutting mat
  • Sew in place with a 3/8โ€ seam allowance.
  • Bind this seam the same way you bound the side seams above. This time make sure you turn under the raw edge of the binding 1/4โ€ so you donโ€™t have a raw edge.
  • Repeat with the other bottom corner of the bag.

Step Five: Top

  • Cut a piece of binding for the top of the bag 2โ€ x 32โ€.
  • Bind using the same method that you used to bind the side seams of the bag.
  • TIP: Since this binding shows, you can use fabric-safe glue to secure the folded edge on the inside of the bag. This will keep the binding in place as you sew. You will also want to sew this binding in place with the outside of the bag facing up so you can see the stitching line.

Step Six: Handles

  • Cut two pieces of 1โ€ wide leather 25โ€ each.
  • TIP: Designate an older pair of sewing scissors as your โ€œleatherโ€ scissors. They will be sharp enough to cut the leather. I used a Sharpie to write โ€œleatherโ€ on my scissors, which I use just for leatherwork. You can also buy a set of leather scissors if you prefer.
  • Place a mark 1/2โ€ in and 1/2โ€ up at the ends of the leather straps. Using a crop a dile, punch a hole on the mark.
    image of hand marking location on leather bag strap
  • Note: make sure your hole is the same size as the screw and post you are using. If you donโ€™t have a cropadile you can buy a leather puch inexpensively at a craft store.
    image of hole being punched in leather strap
  • Place a mark 3โ€ in from the edge of the bag and 1 1/2โ€ down from the top on the front of the bag.
    hand marking placement of handles on tote bag
  • Using small sharp scissors, cut a small hole in the bag on the mark. Finish the raw edge of the fabric with fray check.
  • Cut a piece of plastic canvas 1โ€ x 1โ€. Punch a hole in the center of the canvas.
  • Feed the post part of the Chicago screw through the hole in the leather handle, and feed it through the bag. Place the plastic canvas on the post, then screw the screw portion of the Chicago screw to the post.
    hand attaching hardware to tote bag
  • The plastic canvas acts as a washer and keeps the post from popping though the fabric of the bag.
  • Repeat for the other side of the leather strap and the other side of the bag.
    quilted tote bag on navy blue cutting mat
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Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram

Video Instructions

If you need a little bit of help, you can find video instructions for this project on our YouTube channel.

youtube thumbnail image with tote bag and text

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