NEW! Cooler Grocery Tote Sewing Tutorial

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NEW! Cooler Grocery Tote Sewing Tutorial

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NEW! Watch Stitch it! Sisters Program 107: Cooler Grocery Tote 

New! Watch the NEW! Stitch it! Sisters Program 107: Cooler Grocery Tote with hosts Deanna Springer and Dana Casey. In this video, the Stitch it! Sisters share step-by-step fabric cutting and sewing techniques for making NZP’s NEW! Cooler Grocery Tote from our NZP’s NEW! Cooler Grocery Tote and Insulated Lunch Tote Pattern.


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Watch the NEW! Stitch it! Sisters Program 107: Cooler Grocery Tote 20-min video and learn step-by-step how to sew ourNEW! Cooler Grocery Tote. Pick up a few groceries or picnic in style with our cooler grocery tote.

Stitch it! Sisters with Deanna Springer and Dana Casey   Then, head over to the shopnzp.com and purchase the exclusive NEW! Cooler Grocery Tote Bundle Boxdesigned by the Stitch it! Sisters! The NEW! Cooler Grocery Tote Bundle Box includes fabrics and supplies and the Cooler Grocery Tote & Insulated Lunch Tote Pattern – with Classic Timesaving Zipper Sewing Techniques by Nancy Zieman. The NEW! Grocery Tote Bundle Box includes everything you’ll need to make one Cooler Grocery Toteyou’ll supply the thread.

Cooler Grocery Tote Bundle Box with SS Logo

SHOP our NEW! Patterns and Bundle Boxes at shopnzp.com

Watch the NEW! Stitch it! Sisters Program 107: Cooler Grocery Tote video and learn how easy it is to sew our Cooler Grocery Tote.

Cooler Grocery Tote Sewing Tutorial

Sew our new! Cooler Grocery Tote with our easiest ever zipper sewing techniques, and Classic Timesaving Tips by Nancy Zieman, and see how using the right tools makes the sewing process enjoyable, even for beginners!

To make our New! Cooler Grocery Tote, start by making the cooler grocery tote pattern with our easy instructions – included with our NEW! Cooler Grocery Tote and Insulated Lunch Tote Pattern.

1. Make the outer tote pattern:

• Cut a 20″ x 43″ rectangle from Pattern Making Paper.

Pattern Making Paper available at shopnzp.com• Fold rectangle in half, meeting short edges.

2• On the lower edge fold, using a 6-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ rotary cutting ruler, mark and cut out a rectangle measuring 3″ wide and 2-3/4″ tall.

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• Repeat on both lower corners. The cutouts will later form gussets at tote bottom.

4• Open pattern flat and cut away 2″ across one short edge—this will be the tote front. Mark “Front” on paper pattern at upper center front.

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2. Prepare Fabrics:

• Preshrink fabrics by steaming and pressing and steaming and pressing a second time.

• Stabilize fabrics for sewing by pressing and starching fabrics with June Tailor’s® Quilter’s Starch Savvy—press and starch, press and starch.

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Timesaving Sewing Tips from Nancy Zieman     Cutting easy rectangles is faster and more efficient than laying the pattern tissue on each of the individual fabrics and inner layers.

3. Cut fabric, interfacing, and batting:

• Cut one 20″ x 41″ rectangle from outer tote fabric.6

• Cut three 3-3/4″ crosswise fabric strips from outer tote fabric for straps.

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• Cut one 18″ x 20″ rectangle from contrasting pocket fabric.

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• Cut one 20″ x 41″ rectangle and one 18″ x 20″ rectangle from Pellon Sof-Shape Interfacing.

• Cut one 20″ x 41″ rectangle from Pellon Insul-Fleece Batting.

• Cut one 20″ x 41″ rectangle from Pellon Silver Lining Insul-Film.

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• Cut one 6″ x 13″ rectangle from Pellon Decovil One-Sided Fusible Stabilizer.

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4. Assemble:

• Following manufacturer’s instructions, press 20″ x 41″ interfacing rectangle and 18″ x 20″ interfacing rectangle to back of 20″ x 41″ outer tote fabric rectangle and 18″ x 20″ contrasting pocket fabric rectangle.

11• Using paper pattern, cut one each from: outer tote fabric, Pellon Sof-Shape Interfacing, Pellon Insul-Fleece Batting, and Pellon Silver Lining Insul-Film.

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• Layer outer tote fabric, right side up, onto Pellon Insul-Fleece Batting, and set other layer to the side. Use Wonder Clips t0 clip layers together around all outside edges.

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• At the sewing machine insert a Schmetz Size 90 Denim Needle, and attach a roller presser foot or Teflon presser foot. Baste around all outer tote edges with a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. Set aside.

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Stitch it! Sisters with Deanna Springer and Dana Casey      A scant 1/4″ seam is slightly smaller than a 1/4″ seam. Use scant 1/4″ seams for basting the layers together. When the Cooler Grocery Tote is later seamed together, use actual 1/4″ seams—and basting stitches will be hidden within seam allowances.

 

• Fold pocket, meeting 20″ long edges, right sides together. Pin or Wonder Clip.

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• Stitch, joining 20″ long edges and leaving short ends open.

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• Press seam open on a Seam Stick … because of its smaller radius, using a Seam Stick avoids seam imprints when pressing seams open or to one side.

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• Turn pocket right side out. Parallel to tote top, place and align pocket on tote front, with folded edge of pocket 5″ down from top edge. Pin or Wonder Clip.

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• Stitch pocket to tote at sides, and across lower pocket edge using a 2.5mm stitch length.

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• Using a 6″ x 24″ rotary cutting ruler, and Chaco Liner, mark vertical center of the tote.

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• Mark handle placement lines 3″ on each side of marked center.

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• Position Double-Sided Basting Tape, 1/8″ inside marked lines, at 6″ below back tote top – to pocket top edge.

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Finger press Double-Sided Basting Tape in place. Set aside.

• Create 1″ straps:

– Stitch short ends of the three 3-3/4″ crosswise fabric strips, right sides together.

23– Press seams open.

24– Use a 2″ Bias Tape Maker, Straight Tailor’s Awl, and iron to create tote straps:

◦ Insert seamed fabric strip into the 2″ Bias Tape Maker using Straight Tailor’s Awl to advance strip.

◦ Pin fabric strip end to ironing board, and press the folded fabric strip as you pull the bias tape maker.

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– Trim strap to approximately 120″.

– Seam short ends to form a continuous loop. Press seam open. Repress folded edges.

– Fold strap, wrong sides together, meeting long edges to form 1″ strap. Press.

– Edgestitch along both long strap edges.

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• Fold strap in half and place pins at half markings.

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• Remove paper backing from Double-Sided Basting Tape.
• Align pins on strap – to tote bottom center and finger-press straps in place on Double-Sided Basting Tape.

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Stitch it! Sisters with Deanna Springer and Dana Casey      Place pins on straps — at 6″ down from top edge of tote back, and at top pocket edge — as a reminder not to stitch past this point!

 

• Stitch strap to tote along previously stitched lines, pivoting at pocket top and 6″ below upper back tote (where you placed the pins as a reminder).

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• Place and center 6″ x 13″ Pellon Decovil One-Sided Fusible Stabilizer rectangle to wrong side of tote bottom. Using an EZ View Press Cloth, press and fuse 6″ x 13″ Pellon Decovil One-Sided Fusible Stabilizer rectangle into place following manufacturer’s instructions.

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• Carefully layer Pellon Silver Lining Insul-Film to back of tote layers. Use Wonder Clips t0 clip layers together around all outside edges. Baste stitch around all outside edges using a scant 1/4″ seam.

Stitch it! Sisters with Deanna Springer and Dana Casey    Be sure to NOT catch tote handles within the basting stitches, when attaching the Pellon Silver Lining Insul-Film to the back of the tote layers! 

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Timesaving Sewing Tips from Nancy Zieman     The secret to the Easiest-ever Zipper Technique is to start with a zipper length longer than needed! The longer zipper length provides “handles” to hold while stitching. Plus, the zipper is stitched to the tote using flat construction methods.

• Start with a 22″ or longer handbag, tote, or jacket zipper.

32• On wrong side of zipper, mark a 20″ section in center of zipper.

33• With right sides together, place zipper tape edge to top tote front. Clip with Wonder Clips.

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• Straight-stitch zipper in place, using a zipper foot.

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• With right sides together, place remaining zipper tape to top tote back. Clip with Wonder Clips. Stitch.

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• With right sides together, meet tote sides, aligning bottom edges. Note: In step one, above, 2″ was trimmed away from the tote front, now zipper will naturally fall into position on the upper tote front.

Stitch it! Sisters with Deanna Springer and Dana Casey      Open zipper before stitching side seams!

• Stitch side seams, using caution when stitching over zipper teeth.

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• Bar tack zipper ends, 1/4″ inside tote edges.

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Stitch it! Sisters with Deanna Springer and Dana Casey      A bar tack is a wide zigzag stitch, with little or no stitch length. Set sewing machine for a wide zigzag stitch, set length at zero (or the minimum number) and zigzag over zipper teeth, joining the two zipper tapes into one closed-end zipper.

 

• Trim away excess zipper tape with a craft scissors.

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• Meet lower tote gusset seams. Stitch.

• Repeat for opposite gusset seam.

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• Turn Cooler Grocery Tote right side out and enjoy!

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Sew our No-Hassle Napkins to coordinate with the Cooler Grocery/Picnic Tote. Watch Stitch it! Sisters Program 103: No-Hassle Napkins!

Join Stitch It! Sisters; Deanna Springer and Dana Casey (from Team NZP) for fun sewing adventures as they share sewing and quilting project tutorials – featuring Nancy Zieman's easiest-ever sewing techniques and timesaving tools. Stitch It! Sisters is a production of Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC.

Follow the Stitch it! Sisters on Facebook by clicking the “Like” button at facebook.com/stitchitsisters

The Nancy Zieman Productions Team is pleased to announce our NEW! video series, Stitch it! Sisters

Watch Stitch it! Sisters right here on the NZP Blog, with hosts Deanna Springer and Dana Casey – real life sisters from Team NZP. This NEW! Video Series features our latest sewing projects and fun sewing adventures! Join Deanna and Dana as they share sewing and quilting project tutorials – featuring their easiest-ever sewing techniques, timesaving tools, and Classic Timesaving Tips by Nancy Zieman.

Stitch it! Sisters is a production of NZ Productions LLC. We’ll be releasing a new video – every few weeks – right here on the NZP Blog. Make sure you are subscribed to Nancy Zieman Productions E-news mailing list so you won’t miss a thing. Sign up and receive email updates from Nancy Zieman Productions.

Visit the NEW! NZP Online Shop for the latest tools, patterns, fabrics and more at shopnzp.com!

 

Visit the NZP Store at shopnzp.com

Visit shopnzp.com, or click the “shop” tab

at the top of the NZP blog, anytime!

Cooler Grocery Tote Bundle Box with SS Logo

NEW! Patterns and Bundle Boxes at shopnzp.com

 

NEW! FREE! Insulated Lunch Tote Sewing Tutorial at the Nancy Zieman Productions Blog

FREE! Insulated Lunch Tote Sewing Tutorial

NEW! FREE! Fun Fabric Caddy Sewing Tutorial at the Nancy Zieman Productions Blog

FREE! Fun Fabric Caddy Sewing Tutorial

NEW! FREE! No-Hassle Table Topper Sewing Tutorial at the Nancy Zieman Productions Blog

FREE! Insulated Lunch Tote Sewing Tutorial


NEW! FREE! No-Hassle Kitchen Towel Topper Sewing Tutorial at the Nancy Zieman Productions Blog

FREE! No-Hassle Kitchen Towel Topper Sewing Tutorial

 

Nancy Zieman Productions The Blog GiveawayAfternoon Picnic 5-inch Fabric Short Stack with Stitch it! Sisters Button & Sticker Giveaway at nancyzieman.com/blog

For a chance to be the random winner of a Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack with S!S button & sticker, please leave a comment below sharing how you’ll use your Cooler Grocery Tote.

Nancy Zieman Productions will give away one Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack to one US resident in the 48 contiguous states. Winner must reply within 30 days to the official giveaway announcement email message – sent from Nancy Zieman Productions.

Nancy Zieman Productions Giveaway Winner Announcement

The randomly selected winner of a Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack with S!S button & sticker, from the January 14 Blog Post, 2020 NZP Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Still Time to Gather Your Supplies, is Virginia.

Red Elegance Shortstack low res 1 7 20 e1578426669243Her comment is: This BOM is just what I needed to get me focused again after the “holiday hullabaloo:, the gorgeous reds and the expectation of that continuous monthly experience. Thanks for the opportunity.

Happy Sewing!

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.

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Stitch it! Sisters is a production of NZ Productions LLC. Content in this feed is © copyright 2020 by Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC and may not be republished without written permission. You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as content on a blog or other website. The FTC requires us to tell you that Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC has provided products by other companies in the course of doing business. The FTC requires us to advise you to take this information into consideration when reading this posting.

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18 Comments

  • Linda Carr
    January 21, 2020

    This tote is so cute and sturdy! I love that the handles go all the way around. I am going to carry my singer featherweight in it to classes.
    Thanks for the tutorial.

  • Bev Bolduc Aldridge
    January 21, 2020

    You can never have to many totes when you only shop 1x a month. Food likes to be kept at near the correct temperature while being transported home. I have made 5 in different sizes to add to those I already had that are not insulated.

  • BevM
    January 21, 2020

    Thanks for the detailed instructions for the grocery tote.

  • Dixie
    January 21, 2020

    I love the tote bag . Will be making several to carry to the grocery store.

  • Tami
    January 21, 2020

    Our county is going totally plastic bag-less. So when we shop we will need to bring our own bags. This will be perfect for those grocery trips. I already use the reusable bags, but none of mine are as sturdy or as pretty as this bag. I can’t wait to get the materials and give this bag a go.

  • Janet
    January 21, 2020

    Thank you for this pattern in such great detail. I have quite a few bags already but this insulated bag is a terrific idea. It will be great to use for days when you do your grocery shopping and then think of an errand to do on your way home.

  • Lorraine Alves
    January 21, 2020

    So many uses for the tote starting with bringing home groceries. I’d also use the tote for picnics and overnight travel when various goodies are needed to keep hungry travelers fed.

  • Clovis
    January 21, 2020

    Would be great to take to the grocery store.

  • L Watson
    January 21, 2020

    This tote would be very nice for the grocery store, and snacks for a day trip. We like to bring our own food for a longer trip/vacation, and it would be great for a picnic. Thanks for the pattern and design!

  • Barbara Bettencourt
    January 21, 2020

    I would keep the cooler tote in my car at all times because I have been looking for a great bag to use grocery shopping and this is it!! Thank you!

  • Susan Wiggins
    January 21, 2020

    The pattern & instructions look easy to follow. I need a new insulated tote and love that I can pick out my fabrics.

  • Bonnye
    January 21, 2020

    g would keep it in the car for grocery shopping.

  • Teri
    January 21, 2020

    This looks like a wonderfully sturdy alternative to the temporary bags I carry in the car. Could use a couple for shopping.

  • Mary Schultz
    January 22, 2020

    Wonderful bag, Just when the plastic store bags are being outlawed in NYS. Looks Sturdier than most. Thanks for the inspiration.

  • Nancy
    January 22, 2020

    This is a great size tote for grocery shopping. Wonderful tutorial. Thanks

  • Susan
    January 22, 2020

    The cooler grocery tote is a must have since many stores are phasing out plastic bags. It makes sense to keep it handy in your vehicle at all times.

  • Cynthia
    January 30, 2020

    I would give it to my husband for grocery shopping.

  • Karen
    January 30, 2020

    I will use for grocery shopping.

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