Lil Twister Ruler
 

I loves the panel that someone at Sewing Day was constructing. So I ordered the ruler from Amazon and made one. I had cut way, way too many 5" squares for the faux diamond project, so I was inspired to use them. I want to make a tote with a panel on each side, but haven't found the best method. I want to fuse stablizer to make it sturdy. It needs to be lined and have a zipper. Please point me in the direction if you have made one.
Here is the original test panel. Now I can tell how to mix and match the patterns and colors to help them pop. (And what does not work well next to each other.)
I will use this panel as something, but not invest a lot of time.

I hesitate to recommend something because your skills are way beyond mine!! An easy tote bag pattern using 5" squares is free from Quilter's World "Market Bag", though it doesn't use a zipper. Being the scrap quilter that I am, I've made dozens of these and am always surprised at how good they look! They've frequently sold out a church sales.

This is one of my favorite patterns. Have made it in several different sizes.

15 FREE Zippered Tote Bag Patterns

I'm not sure exactly what sort of tote you're looking for - but here are some free patterns for ideas?

Thanks for the"call to action" for my tote bag predicament! I found an easy pattern for totes with handles. I cut the panel of the Lil' Twister project into 2 pieces for a front and back. Then added a strip to each piece to form the bottom section. BTW, now I know why that foam sat around so long! Difficult to enjoy working with it. The insides are bound, and are the same for the other tote, which I failed to include there.
This was a sample piece for the use of the ruler. I can see more clearly what goes next to each other, and, more importantly, what does not.
Aaaaand, when I googled spacing for the handles---It sent me right back here in 2016!

Your post reminded me of the Twister quilt I made. I can't find it! I think I know I didn't give it away. I have all my finished not being used quilts folded on three low tables in my foyer. I have refolded them all and no Twister quilt. This will be a mystery for me to rack my brain over.

Your tote looks good but I don’t see the zipper you wanted!

My sister got a screen print (cheap looking) canvas tote bag from Italy from an exchange student her daughter hosted last year

She brought it to me and ask if I could make another tote that didn’t look so cheap but use the screen print- I did and she is coming today to pick it up. Hers doesn’t have a zipper either nor do the other 23 I made-lol

I guess a zipper makes it a bag or purse? I wanted zipper because that's what my aunties request, and I am always making things to give away to family. I mean, how many tote bags can one person use, right?