Rag Quilt Tote Bag Tutorial

This patchwork bag is a unique piece that you can easily sew as a weekend project. How to Make Rag Quilt Tote Bag. 

“Rag” is short for “raggity,” “ragtime,” or “raggedy,” and means “shaggy.” Traditionally, seam allowances were hidden on the wrong side of the fabric when sewing. In “rag quilting,” they become the main detail of the project. After washing and drying, the seam allowance frays. The shaggier, the more interesting.

Unlike traditional patchwork, here each individual square is padded, sewn, and quilted separately before the bag is sewn together.

Materials needed for this bag:

- 34 fabric squares 15 x 15 cm in a main color
- 34 fabric squares 15 x 15 cm in a contrasting color (lining)
- 34 batting squares 12 cm (not necessary for heavier fabrics)
- 4 fabric strips 74 x 8 cm in the main color (handles)
- 2 batting strips 74 x 5 cm (handle filling)
- 1 fabric strip 30 x 6 cm in the main color (loop)
- Sewing machine and sewing supplies
- Thread to match the fabric
- Ruler
- Rotary cutter
- Button to match the fabric

Unless otherwise specified, all seams are sewn with a 1 cm seam allowance.

The bag shown requires 34 fabric squares measuring 15 x 15 cm in a main color and 34 fabric squares measuring 15 x 15 cm in a matching contrast color. If you are using thin fabric, you will also need 34 batting squares measuring 12 x 12 cm to stabilize the bag.

To sew the individual squares, take a fabric square in the contrast color (here, orange) and place it right side down. Place a piece of batting in the center of the fabric square. Then place a second fabric square in the main color (here, blue) on top, right side up. This creates a square "sandwich." Stitch the sandwich together by creating an "X" diagonal stitch from corner to corner. This stitching holds the layers together.  

This layout shows you how to sew the individual rows together after the individual blocks have been sewn.

1. The front and back of the bag each consist of 12 blocks. These are sewn together with seam allowances on the outside.

The remaining 10 blocks are sewn together in a row and serve as the sides and bottom.

2. As can be seen in the layout above, the 3 bag segments (front, back and side/bottom) are then sewn together to form one whole piece.

3. The arrows in the layout show how to sew the sides to the front and back of the bag. Sew the fabric exactly as before, with the seam allowances on the outside. Once all four sides are sewn, you can set the bag aside briefly.

4. To sew a loop, take a 30 x 6 cm strip of fabric...

5. ...and fold it over. Sew the open edge together.

6. Now bend this strip so that it looks like the one shown in the picture.

7. Sew the top corner together as follows...

8. ... as can be seen in the picture here.

9. Now, insert the open loop ends into the top and center of the back of the bag. Since the top edge of the bag is not yet sewn together, the loop ends will still fit between the layers of fabric.

10. They are inserted approximately 1-2 cm...

11. ... and fastened.

12. Now sew two handles. For one handle you will need two 74 x 8 cm strips of fabric and one 74 x 5 cm strip of interfacing.

13. Place the fleece in the middle of the left side of one strip, and then place the second strip on top.

14. Stitch the layers together in several rows. The outer long edges are still open. These will be clipped later to create a frayed edge. Then sew the second strap exactly as you did the first.

15. Both handles are then inserted into the top 4 outer squares of the bag, as shown in the picture (arrows).

16. Now sew all the way around the top edge of the bag. The loop and handles will be sewn in at the same time. You can reinforce the handles by sewing over them again if necessary. The button is sewn onto the front.

17. Now, clip all seam allowances 5-7 mm apart, stopping just short of the stitching line. Once all seam allowances are clipped, wash the bag. Ideally, use a gentle cycle at a cold temperature. The more often it is washed, the softer and more frayed the seam allowances will become.

TIP: Precise cutting with regular scissors is almost impossible. Special scissors like these from Fiskars, on the other hand, effortlessly cut through several layers of fabric right to the tip.