13x9 Casserole Tote

Materials Needed:
1 yd 100% cotton woven/quilter outer fabric
1 yd 100% cotton woven/quilter coordinate fabric or muslin
1 yd cotton quilt batting
2 - ½” dowel rods cut to 12” long
4” sew on Aplix/Velcro/or 3-4 snaps (you need hook side AND loop side or Male and Female parts of snaps)
and the obvious things you need for sewing - sewing machine, thread, scissors/rotary cutter, ruler, etc.

Dimensions 35.5 x 13.75 when cut on fold (when opened it's 35.5 x 27.5. Deepest part of curve is 3".

CLICK HERE for bigger pics. I can't get my picture open from here (at IL's House).

STEP 1

Cut your 3 fabrics (inside, outside, batting) on the fold as shown.



OPTIONAL STEP (Spoon Pocket):
Cut piece of fabric (outer or coordinate) 4”x13.5” and 1” piece of each hook and loop (or one set of snaps)
Fold under fabric to wrong side ¼ inch on 2 long sides and 1 short side.
Fold remaining short side ½ - ¾ inch and place hook (or male snap) in center.
Center pocket ½ inch below handle curve and mark where your loop (or female snap) should be placed. Attach loop or snap.
Attach pocket to outside of tote sewing close to edge of pocket.

You should have 3 pieces like this when opened


STEP 2

Open Fabrics and place batting on wrong side of inner fabric.

Serge inner layer and batting together at handle

Serge outer fabric at handle

Fold over serging to wrong side using serging as seam allowance. Iron/pin/baste* seam allowance.

*Instead of stitching this, I used liquid stitches to hold it in place because I didn’t want to have to line up my stitching later.




Step 3

Place outer fabric and inner fabric wrong sides together.

Sew ¼ inch around all straight edges of fabrics. Do not sew handle space. You can reinforce this by serging or zigzag stitching or leave it raw.

Clip your corners and snip at the inside corners, so you’ll have crisp lines when you turn.

STEP 4: The Handle

Measure ¾ inch from top seam of handle on each side of curve. Sew from mark to mark leaving a space at the top for your dowel.

Insert 12” Dowel into handle. It should just slide right in. Repeat on opposite side.







STEP 5

Sew 4 inches of hook (or male snap part) to INSIDE of one flap ½ from seam.

Sew 4 of loop (or female snap part) to OUTSIDE of opposite flap ½ inch from seam



Your Casserole Tote is complete.

Consider including a serving spoon tucked inside the (optional) pocket if you give this as a gift.



There's a WORD Document that can be downloaded, as well. I did my best on this, so if there are improvements that you make, PLEASE share them here. Anything that makes this easier/prettier would rock.

I've read over it a few times to make sure I didn't leave anything out. Some of the totes coming in the swap are slightly different from these directions because I was experimenting on different ways to finish them.

Enjoy!