1. Cut the fabrics the size required [Rotary Cutting~ #F].

2. Lay out the small squares for the tote bag into a pleasing arrangement.
You will need to make two panels with 5 squares across and 5 squares down, for the front & back of the bag.
Plus make three panels with 2 squares across and 5 squares down, for the sides and bottom.

3. When you are happy with the arrangement, collect the patches for the front & back panels into rows of 5, taking them from the left to the right & top to bottom and stacking them with the most left patch on top.

Tip: To keep track, I used my printable row markers for the first patch in each row.

4. Sew [Machine Piecing] the patches into rows of 5 patches by sewing the patches into pairs first.

Tip: Before placing two squares right sides together, place a pin in the top left corner of left patch of the pair. Keep these pins in until the corner is joined to the next patch. This helps you keep track of which is the 'top left' of the pairs/sets of pairs, keeping things straight while you chain piece your patches.

5. Press [Pressing #1] the seams open.

6. Sew the pairs & single patch together into rows.

7. Press the seams open.

8. Sew the rows together, matching the seams. (*See the pinning tip below)

*Perpendicular Pinning Tip: Place a pin in each seam of both the rows you are joining. Don't anchor them. Hold the pin perpendicular (90*) with your first two fingers (underneath) and your thumb on top. Now place an anchor pin (going in at an angle) beside it. Remove the perpendicular pin after you've anchored it. Do the same for the other seams along the row, aligning the raw edges at the top.
This pinning method keeps the seams from shifting out of place.

When joining 4 Patch blocks, adding an extra pin through the center of both blocks, before you add the anchor pin, is also helpful.

9. When you are happy with the arrangement, of the three skinny panels, collect the patches into 4 Patch sets, taking them from the left to the right & top to bottom and stacking them with the most left patch on top.

10. Sew [Machine Piecing] the patches into 4 Patch units by sewing the patches into pairs first.

Tip: Before placing two squares right sides together, place a pin in the top left corner of left patch of the pair. Keep these pins in until the corner is joined to the next patch. This helps you keep track of which is the 'top left' of the pairs/sets of pairs, keeping things straight while you chain piece your patches.

11. Press [Pressing #1] the seams open.

12. Sew the top four pairs together into two 4 Patches, matching the seams, for each panel (*See the pinning tip above).

13. Press the seams open.

14. Sew the 4 Patch & 2 Patch units together into columns, matching the seams.

15. Press [Pressing #3] all of the the patchwork panels.

16. Layer the patchwork panels on top of a batting piece and the corresponding backing fabric.
Baste together with safety pins or thread [Stitches·#3c].

17. Quilt them as you like.
I quilted mine by machine, using straight lines, along both sides of each seam - using my presser-foot as a guide.

Trim the extra batting & backing, when the quilting is complete.

18. Prepare the handle & raw seam cover fabrics.
Cut the handle & seam fabrics required [Rotary Cutting~ #F], as follows:

Handle: 4" x 100" (sew pieces together to get the length total)
Raw Seam Covers: 2~5½" x 1¼"; 2~13" x 1¼"; 4~13½" x 1¼"; 1~37" x 1¼"

Press the raw seam covers in half, and then the long raw edges towards the pressed center line.
Start by pressing the both short ends in a ¼" on these sizes: 2~5½" x 1¼"; 2~13" x 1¼"
Start by pressing only one short end in a ¼" on these sizes: 4~13½" x 1¼"; 1~37" x 1¼"

19. Lay out the quilted panels for the tote bag into a pleasing arrangement.

20. Sew the side and bottom panels together along the short ends (#1 & #2), matching the seams.
Align the seams and pin in place.

21. After each seam is sewn, baste a raw edge seam cover over the stitched seams, and then top stitch them in place.

22. Sew the front and back panels together to the bottom panel (#3 & #4), matching the seams.
Align the seams and pin in place.
Add the seam covers, as before.

23. Prepare the handle fabric by stitching the short ends together, to make a loop.
Then press it in half, and then the long raw edges towards the pressed center line, as you did with the raw edge seam covers.

24. Pin the folded handle fabric to the front of the bag, as illustrated below.

25. Top stitch the handle in place on along both edges.
Start with the loose handles first.
Then top stitch the rest of the handle fabric to the front of the bag, beginning and ending ½" from the raw top edge.
Tip: Carefully stitch over the seams along the bottom edges of the bag.

To finish it off, top stitch across the handles ½" from the raw top edge.

26. Sew the four sides together, matching the seams.
Align the seams and pin in place.
Add the seam covers, as before, using the folded short end on the bottom of the bag.
Trim the seam cover even with the top raw edge of the bag.

27. Baste the longest raw edge seam cover over the top raw edge of the bag.
Place the folded short end over the raw short end, and then top stitch it in place.