Moda Fabrics Our Favorite Tote Quilt - Downloadable PDF

Moda Fabrics Our Favorite Tote – Quilted Bag Pattern Summary

The Moda Fabrics Our Favorite Tote is a downloadable PDF pattern from Moda Fabrics that guides quilters through constructing a sturdy, stylish fabric tote bag. Rated as an intermediate difficulty project, this pattern is an excellent choice for quilters who are comfortable with basic sewing and pressing techniques and are ready to apply those skills to a functional, everyday accessory. Best of all, this pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF, making it an accessible project for anyone looking to expand their quilting repertoire into bag making.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a quilted tote bag with reinforced fabric straps, structured side seams, and neatly finished boxed corners at the base. The finished tote is designed to be both practical and attractive, suitable for use as a market bag, project bag, or everyday carry-all. The construction results in a bag with clean interior seams, a folded and topstitched top hem, and flat-bottomed boxed corners that give the tote a three-dimensional, self-supporting shape.

Techniques Used

• Pressing and folding: Precise pressing is central to this pattern. Both the straps and the top hem of the bag rely on careful multi-step folding and pressing to achieve clean, professional edges before any stitching takes place.
• Boxed corners: A 3-inch square is cut from the bottom corners of both bag body pieces, a classic technique for creating a flat, structured base that allows the tote to stand upright and hold its shape when filled.
• Topstitching: The fabric straps are secured and finished with topstitching 1/8 inch from each edge, adding both durability and a polished, professional appearance. Topstitching is a key quilting and garment-making technique that reinforces seams and adds decorative detail.
• Seam finishing: All side and bottom seams are finished with a zigzag stitch or serger to prevent fraying and ensure the bag holds up to regular use over time.
• Hem construction: The top edge of each bag piece is folded twice — first 1/2 inch and then an additional 1 inch — and pressed before being stitched down, creating a clean, reinforced opening at the top of the tote.
• Strap construction: The straps are built from fabric strips folded lengthwise in multiple stages, pressed flat, and then topstitched, resulting in a finished strap approximately 1 inch wide that is both sturdy and neatly finished.
• Right sides together assembly: The two main bag body pieces are placed right sides together and stitched along the sides and bottom, a fundamental quilting and sewing construction method.

Stitches Used

• Straight stitch: Used throughout for assembling the bag body seams and constructing the folded hem at the top edge.
• Topstitch: Applied along both edges of the finished straps, 1/8 inch from the edge, to secure all layers and add a refined finish.
• Zigzag stitch: Used to finish raw seam allowances on the side and bottom seams, preventing fraying and extending the life of the finished bag. A serger may be used as an alternative for the same purpose.

Cutting Instructions Overview

The pattern provides clear cutting guidance for efficient use of yardage. Key cuts include:

• Two strips cut at 3 3/4 inches wide across the width of fabric (WOF), each trimmed to 28 inches long — these become the bag's straps.
• One strip cut at 19 inches wide across the width of fabric, from which two rectangles each 18 inches wide are cut — these form the main body of the tote.
• A 3-inch square is removed from both bottom corners of each body rectangle to create the boxed corner shaping.
• Small marks are made 5 3/4 inches in from each side edge along the top of each bag piece to indicate strap