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I’ve slowly been easing into the world of bag making, thanks to my amazing quilt retreat friends, and I have to say—I’m hooked! I’ve been having so much fun integrating quilted fabric into bag designs. Today, I’m sharing all about the Altoona Tote, a pattern released by my friend Shelly. For this bag, I used my Dotted Crosshatch pantograph and quilted it at a super dense scale. The result? Pure love!
Quilting with the Dotted Crosshatch Pantograph
I’ve always loved a good crosshatch design, but I wanted to give it a twist for this project. After seeing some chicken-wire style pantographs out there, I thought, “Why not create something with a chain-link inspired design?” And that's how Dotted Crosshatch came to life. I kept the stitch path simple but still achieved that gorgeous chain-link look that adds depth and texture.
This pantograph is perfect for intermediate quilters. While there are no points to match exactly, you do need to pay attention to how the over-stitch falls onto the circle. It requires a 50% offset and minimal backtracking, making it a fun yet manageable design to quilt.
Love the Dotted Crosshatch design? Grab it here!
If you're interested in professional longarm quilting services, be sure to check out my longarm quilting page to send your quilt top in for a tailored finish!
Sewing with Oh Lucky Lucky by Ruby Star Society
I’ve been on a new spend challenge, but when I saw the Oh Lucky Lucky fabric in person, I had to break the fast. This fabric is absolutely stunning, and I had a plan for it! The cheater print immediately caught my eye, and I knew it would be perfect for this tote. This is a great example of how I’m sticking to my goal of only purchasing fabric when I have a specific project in mind.
Bold Contrast for a Modern Touch
The Oh Lucky Lucky fabric was going to be the star of this bag, so I wanted to keep the binding and bottom contrast simple and bold. I went with Bella Solids Black to let the print shine. The finishing touch? Asymmetrical straight-line stitching on the contrast bottom—just the perfect amount of modern flair.
Love the Dotted Crosshatch design? Grab it here!
Bear Webbing for the Win
I couldn’t resist these adorable Bear webbing straps from Stitch Supply Co. when I saw them in person! They’re the perfect playful touch for this bag. The Ruby Star Society webbing collection is a must-see, and I’m so glad I added these bears to my bag—it’s fun but not overwhelming.
Professional Quilting Services for Your Custom Quilts
Are you working on a quilted tote or bag and want some fun quilting added? I’d love to help! Most commonly I'll quilt up 1 yard of by Annie's Soft and Stable with 1 yard of exterior and 1 yard of lining fabric, typically the cost is $50 for the quilting services (based on 45" WOF x 1 yard). Head over to my longarm quilting page to learn more about the process and send your fabric and stabilizer for quilting.
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Love the Dotted Crosshatch design? Grab it here!
