When I need a quick project that I can finish in just a few days, I always turn to ByAnnie. The bag patterns instructions are well written and the skills I learn from one project always translate to the next. For my latest project, I picked up the Two Big Totes pattern, and made the large size using bandana scraps. I combined nontraditional fabrics, stuck with my favorite warm colors, and tried new finishing details to create a bag that's quickly becoming my new favorite tote!
This project is in collaboration with ByAnnie as part of the #SewPink initiative to raise awareness, promote screenings, foster community, and support cancer research throughout the year. This is my second time participating int the October cancer awareness campaign - I love the opportunity to celebrate the creativity and community that make handmade projects so special.
A Patchwork Tote with a Bohemian Twist
I wanted this quilted tote bag to feel a little bohemian and a little modern, with lots of pattern and color. Rather than choosing a single fabric for the exterior, I turned bandana scraps into patchwork panels. I ordered the bandana scrap bundle from Handker Bandanas, assuming I’d get a bunch of small scraps. Not so! The scraps I got were quite large. They look like they are 26" square panels that were cut wrong. This made my job a lot easier, as I didn’t need to piece a bunch of small squares. Instead, I pieced the large panels into slightly wonky, oversized four patches.
The different prints gave the bag plenty of visual interest, while a the warm palette of teal, green, mustard, and rust helped bring everything together. I love how the fabrics feel eclectic without looking random. Each bandana has its own personality, but the colors create a cohesive finished bag.
I made sure to throw in a fair amount of blue to keep the colors from feeling overwhelmingly warm. I’m particularly proud of the light blue quilting cotton I used to binding the top. I found this in my stash and it ended up being the perfect finishing touch to the project.
Details That Make It Extra Special
One of my favorite details is the front zipper pocket, which features a Lemoyne quilt block. I almost omitted this exterior zipper pocket, but I’m so glad I kept it. I knew the quilt block wouldn’t fit in its entirety, so I offset the block and added some quilting lines to echo the star shape. Using the quilt block for the front zipper pocket gives the bag a focal point and adds another layer of handmade detail to the patchwork exterior.
I love finding ways to use leftover quilt blocks in unexpected ways. Have you seen my tutorial on how to sew a packing cube using a leftover quilt block?
I also paid attention to the smaller design decisions, like pattern matching the fabric across the top zipper insert to show off a floral motif in the bandanas. I think it’s probably the most impactful construction decision I made and it totally elevates the finished bag.
Three Bag-Making Details I'm Glad I Tried
1. Double-sided basting tape for extra precision
This was my first time using basting tape for the binding, and I was genuinely impressed with the results. Having that extra help keeping everything in place made the construction process so much easier and helped me achieve the neatest finish I’ve ever gotten on a bag binding. I’m stocking up on a lifetime supply of basting tape ASAP.
2. Cutting step-by-step
I took a more step-by-step approach to cutting, rather than cutting all 30+ pieces at the beginning. By cutting only the pieces I needed for each step, I could fussy cut some of the bandanas to highlight my favorite motifs. Doing this helped me to not feel overwhelmed by a huge pile of fabric pieces—instead, I only had three or four units to focus on at a time.
3. Quilt tags for that handmade touch
I also made liberal use of my quilt tags! They're a fun way to add a personalized finishing detail and make a project feel distinctly handmade (handmade IS the new luxury). On a bag with so many prints and colors, the tags are another small detail that brings out the eclectic, boho vibes.
Sewing In Community
What I love most about this bag is how all the details work together: the bandana patchwork, the Lemoyne quilt block, the warm color palette, and the finishing touches might feel like too much in theory, but looking at it all together… it just works!
Taking part in ByAnnie's #Sew made the project even more meaningful. I love being part of a sewing community that uses creativity to bring people together around causes that matter. The #SewPINK Initiative’s mission is to raise awareness, promote screenings, foster community, and support cancer research throughout the year. Efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but the commitment to cancer awareness and support continues year-round. To learn more and see the calendar of events, visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK
Whether you're planning your next quilted tote bag, looking for new ways to use leftover quilt blocks, or looking for handmade details to your next bag-making project, I hope this bag inspires you to experiment with new fabrics and construction methods. Check out my other ByAnnie projects for more patchwork inspiration and creative ways to make each bag your own.
