How to Sew a Casserole Tote

The next time you take your favorite casserole to a neighborhood potluck carry it in a casserole tote that you made yourself. It's an easy craft project that you can sew in minutes. The example makes a tote for a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. You can quickly adjust the pattern to fit any casserole dish.

Things You'll Need

• 64 inches pre-quilted fabric
• 32 inchs fleece or padding material
• Straight pins
• Hook and loop tape
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

1. Cut two pieces of quilted fabric the length of the casserole dish plus 4 inches. The width of both pieces of fabric should equal the width of the dish plus 2 inches. The extra length allows for the closure. For a 9 x 13 inch dish, cut two rectangles 11 inches by 17 inches.

2. Make an identically sized rectangle from the fleece material. If you have an old blanket, you can use this for the lining. Or an extra thick towel can also work.

3. Use the sewing machine to baste the lining to the wrong side of one of the quilted fabric pieces. Pin the two pieces of quilted fabric right sides together.

4. Start at one long side and sew a 1/2-inch seam. When you get to the corner, leave the sewing machine needle in the fabric, raise the presser foot, turn the corner and resume sewing to the next corner. Repeat the pivot at the next corner and continue to the end of the second long side.

5. Turn the casserole cover right side out. Push the corners out so that they make a point. If they don't, you may have to trim some fabric off the corner on the inside seam. Be careful not to clip the stitching.

6. Fold 1 inch of fabric to the inside of the opening. Sew that hem with the sewing machine.

7. Place the hooked part of the hook and loop tape on the side of the casserole cover that has the extra padding. This is now the bottom of the tote. Sew the tape in place with the machine or by hand. Put the looped part of the tape so that it matches the hooked part. Sew it in place to complete the casserole cover.