Cork and Canvas Arrowwood Tote

August 22, 2025

This project was a really fun collaboration with The Cork Emporium in Nappanee, Indiana. We met Lynn at the Northeast Ohio Quilt Show in Wooster, OH over the summer and fell in love with the cork (and bags!) in her booth. We made a sample for her shop to carry along with our Arrowwood Tote pattern - add some beautiful Rifle canvas and it was a match made in heaven.

This project took all the hands, and all the machines. And a few sleeping tabbies. Rebecca assembled the pieces and quilted the canvas, Cait and her featherweight put the bag together, and then The Battleship - Cait's industrial walking foot - finished off the binding.

(Friends, we believe strongly in making sewing accessible to everyone but canvas, cork, and webbing was beyond a domestic machine capability. If you have a powerful machine though, we highly recommend this combo!)

The cork was supple and a dream to cut and sew. I had no difficulty at all using cork on the french seams on the side pockets. We sprinkled in as many cork accents as we could because it was so pretty.

It was really fun for Cait and I to see this tote come to life. We love how versatile the Arrowwood Tote is and how using different materials can make the pattern take on a completely different look.

If you give it try, please share with us!

Happy Sewing!

Cait and Rebecca

Fabric Details

Green and Natural cork from The Cork Emporium: https://www.thecorkemporium.com/
Rifle Paper Co canvas - Artichoke in Hunter Metallic from Dahlia

Pattern Details

Designed to be the "gateway bag" for quilters curious about bag making, the Arrowwood packs a lot of features into a thoughtfully constructed and friendly bag pattern.

NEW! The pattern has been expanded to include customizing the panels with a sawtooth star and 2 1/2" square patchwork!