Hi, I'm new here and I'm trying to make a bag/tote similar to vera bradley bags but I'm having trouble with the pattern instructions. First off this is the first bag I'm making, first quilted bag, and I have no experience in quilting. The instructions state "pin batting to wrong side of (fabric) GUIDE FOR QUILTING, having edges even: baste. This I get. I DON'T get the next one. "With wrong sides together, pin CONTRAST fabric to fabric with batting: baste" I didn't pin any fabric to the batting, I pinned the Quilting guide to the batting. Why are they telling me to pin the contrast fabric to fabric with batting, all I used was the pattern tissue and the batting, that's what they said, pin the guide for quilting to the batting. Maybe someone with more experience can help me out. What am I missing?

could it be the lining fabric??

No it does not have any lining to it. It does have a contrasting fabric on the inside. What am I to pin the contrast fabric to? All I started out with was the batting and the quilting fabric guide, which is a diamond design that is to be sewn on the bag. Nowhere did they say pin the contrasting fabric to the main fabric. Does anyone understand what I am trying to explain? Because I sure don't, but they are telling me to pin the contrast fabric to fabric with batting when I only pinned the batting to the diamond design guide. I really am lost and I sure hope some of you more experienced people can help, because the next step is the garbage can, but I spent $55.00 including postage on the material and zipper so I will try before I pitch it.
thanks in advance

If it was me making the bag, I would put the batting on the table, lay the fabric on top with the right side up and then the tissue quilting guide on top. Then quilt it using the guide as a pattern to do the quilting. I know - clear as mud. The second piece of fabric is probably the lining.

If the other fabric isn't a lining, maybe it's just a contrast piece that gets sewn to the one after it's been quilted but most bags I've made are lined.

OK that makes sense putting the fabric on top of the batting and the sewing guide on top of that. When I am sewing the design am I sewing the lines on the tissue paper and then ripping it (tissue paper) out or should I use masking tape? Wow can anybody tell I never did any quilting before?

No that won't work. I just checked a bag I am using now and it is quilted on the inside as well as the outside. The inside is a contrasting fabric, a little different than the outside, but from the same color group.

Okay... then I'd start with the contrast fabric on the table wrong side up, then put the batting on top and then the fabric that will be the outside of the bag on top of those with the right side up. You can quilt using masking tape if it's just a diamond design. If you haven't quilted before you probably don't have a walking foot so the fabric may bunch a bit as it sews. Can you scan the directions or something so we get a better picture of what they want?

I have to go pick my son up I will do that when I come back. brb

If possible, scan in your instructions and post them here. There is some great experience on this site and I'm sure someone will be able to help you figure it out.