"Cozy Toter" Casserole Dish Carrier

9/6/14: Hi there! If you enjoyed this pattern that I made several years ago, be sure to check out and share my growing Etsy business, Dapper Southeast, for more patterns and tutorials. Thanks so much and happy sewing!

“Cozy Toter” Casserole Dish Carrier

This casserole dish carrier is something that we use often in our home. We have lunch after church each Sunday, so the machine quilted ‘cozy toter’ really comes in handy for transporting our food and keeping it warm until time to eat. But who says that something as common and useful as a casserole carrier can’t be made from fun and cute fabric?? Hey, maybe this will be the next big “have-to-have accessory” for the discerning casserole toting fashionista! :o)

Materials Needed:
1 yard of really cute fabric
½ yard lining fabric (white is best)
½ yard cotton batting
1 (3 yd) pkg. of wide, single-fold bias tape 7/8”...color to coordinate with your ‘cute’ fabric!
1/2 yard of stiff interfacing
Shoestring (1/4" wide and at least 28" long)

1. To begin, cut a 17 1/2" diameter circle out of tissue paper. Fold pattern in half, and lay on the fold of your main fabric, and pin. Cut, unfold and press. Repeat with more main fabric to make another circle for bottom layer of cozy toter. Follow the same procedure for the lining fabric and batting. You should have six circles in all.

2. To make the handles: Cut out two strips of main fabric 18” long and 3” wide and then cut out two strips of interfacing with the same dimensions. Iron each strip of interfacing to each fabric strip. Baste or quilt around all four edges of each strip. Turn under 1/2 “ on long sides for both. Fold over and press. Sew down and stitch near edge on both long sides. Your handles are ready!

3. At this point, fold each circle of white lining fabric in half and press. Then fold it over again, and press. You now have four sections on the circle with a ‘cross iron line’. Repeat with second circle of lining. Unfold back into a full circle.

4. Now create a ‘sandwich’ with top layer of main fabric, middle layer of batting, and bottom layer of lining fabric. You will do this with the other three circle pieces as well...main fabric on top, batting in middle, and lining fabric on bottom. Pin the three layers of each circle firmly in place for each circle sandwich.

5. Next step: Machine quilting. Remember, you already have your pressed ‘cross’ lines in your white lining fabric to use as a starting measuring guideline, so the next part is easy. Sew along these ‘cross’ lines, remember to backstitch at the end of each row. Using a pencil and yardstick, measure and lightly draw lines to create 1 ½ in. squares on the white lining fabric and machine quilt. Repeat on second circle. See photo below.

If you already have quilted fabric, you’re one step ahead! :o)

6. On one of your circles, cut out a middle circle that is 6 inches in diameter...in essence creating a ‘doughnut’ looking circle. Then cut a straight slit from middle circle all the way down to the end of the ‘main’ circle.

Zigzag both edges of ‘slit’, turn under ½”, press, and stitch at the edge of the sewing machine foot all the way to end.

Center opening on the right side of bias tape to wrong side of opening. Extend bias tape ¼” beyond edge of opening. Stitch them together in the crease of bias tape. Turn under raw edge of bias at the end of the slit. Turn bias tape to the outside and stitch.

7. Place your circles on top of each other (wrong sides together) and pin in place. Again using the edge of the sewing machine foot, baste completely around circle.

8. It’s now time to add the handles. Place ends of handles to outer edge of circle and baste when you have them where desired.

Clip off any excess fabric.

9. We’re almost finished! Stitch bias tape completely around the outside edge of the circle following the same method that we used to add bias to the middle circle.

Hem end of bias, fold over the opposite end, and stitch.

10. Using the "safety pin" method, thread shoestring gently through the bias "tunnel" of the inner circle. Add decorative beads if desired.

Ta-da! This is my first tutorial, so I hope it's easy for you to understand! :OD And thanks to Sis. Kynnette for answering all my questions! You're the best!

*Note: When ready to use, place round or oblong casserole dish inside the carrier. Pull the ends of shoestring together to cinch the inner circle together to close, then tie.