PRIMA APPLE TOTE BAGS

Instructions

Preparation & Cutting

From the red prima solid:

• Cut 6, 2" squares for the apple body
• Cut 1, 2 1/2" square for apple corners

From the red prima spot fabric:

• Cut 6, 2" squares for the apple body
• Cut 1, 2 1/2" square for the apple corners

From the green prima solid:

Cut 1, 2 1/2" square for apple leaves

From the scrap of black & white stripe fabric:

Cut 1, 1 1/4" x 2" for apple stem

From the white prima solid:

• Cut 3, 2 1/2" squares for the leaves and corners of the apple
• Cut 1, 2" square for top corner next to the stem
• Cut 1, 1 1/4" x 2" for stem
• Cut 2, 1 1/4" x 8" for side borders around apple
• Cut 2, 1 1 1/4" x 9 1/2" for top and bottom borders around apple

From the check prima fabric:

• Cut 2, 3" x 9 1/2" for side borders
• Cut 2, 3" x 14" for top and bottom borders
• Cut 1, 14" x 15 1/2" for the back of the bag
• Cut 2, 22" x 2" for bag handles

Apple Block

1. Take the 2 1/2" squares of white you have cut for the apple corners and leaves and draw a line diagonally down the centre of the block. Now pair it up with the solid red, spot and solid green 2 1/2" squares and stitch 1/4" either side of drawn line. Cut on drawn line and press seams open.
   Tip: You may like to snip of the little ears and trim your block so that it is 2" square.
2. Lay out the 2" red and spot squares into an apple shape using the half square triangle blocks in the corners to create the shape of an apple.
3. Stitch all the blocks together.
4. Stitch the stem pieces together and join to the leave blocks and the white 2" square in the corner.
5. Stitch this row to the top of your apple block.
6. Using the white 1 1/4" x 8" strips, stitch them to either side of the apple block, then stitch the 1 1/4" x 9 1/2" strips to the top and bottom of apple block.
7. Take the 3" x 9 1/2" strip of the check fabric and stitch to either side of the apple block and then the 3" x 14" strips to the top and bottom of apple block.
8. Give your finished apple block a good iron. Press seams towards borders.

Putting it all together

1. Taking the bag front and back, place them right sides together, then pin all around, and stitch around leaving the top of the bag open.
2. To create a box-like base to the bottom of the bag, open the bag seams at the corners and align the side seam with the base seam, creating a point. Stitch across the corner about 1" from point. Trim off the point and turn the bag back to right side. Repeat this process for the lining fabric, stitch the lining together and then square of the base.
3. To make the bag handle, place the check strip with the lining strip, right sides together and stitch down the length of the handle on both sides and then turn through the handle back to the right side, using a safety pin and press firmly. Top stitch the edges of the bag handle to finish. Trim the handle to your desired length.
4. To put the bag together, firstly find the centre front and centre back of the top of the bag and place a pin. Next taking the bag handle, pin it in place at the side seams, running the handle under the bag to keep it out of the way.
5. With the lining bag, find the centre front and back and place a pin, turn the bag lining inside out and slip it up over the bag, from the bottom of the bag to the top and matching seams and centre pins, pin it in place around the top edge, tucking the bag handle in out of the way as you go. Stitch around the top edge of the bag, leaving an opening of about 3", so that you can turn through your bag once stitched.
6. Turn through your bag through the opening, then push the lining into the bag and press neatly around the top of the bag edge. Slip stitch the opening closed and then top stitch around the top of the bag to finish.
7. Give your bag one last press then it's ready to use.