Here is a simple tote bag pattern to walk you step by step through how to make a super cute tote. The best part is that it’s reversible! Make one for yourself — or make a dozen as gifts!
With a little practice, you can turn out these simple bags on a sewing machine in no time. Lined totes are super easy, and they can be made in so many cute variations. Plus, don’t miss our pattern for a matching zippered pouch!
Tote Bag Pattern
For this reversible tote bag sewing project, you will need the following fabric pieces:
- 2 pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches (outside)
- 2 pieces fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches (lining)
- 1 piece 4” X about 44″ long
How to make a tote bag
First, let’s start by making the straps.
1. Cut a piece of fabric 4″ X 44″ long. Press fabric in half lengthwise.
2. Open the fabric up and press each outside edge to the center.
3. Fold fabric in half and press.
4. Top-stitch down each side of the strap close to the edge. Cut the fabric in half so you have two straps about 22 inches long each.
Now let’s make the tote bag.
1. Cut four pieces of fabric 13 1/2 inches X 14 inches.
2. Lay lining fabric right sides together and sew on three sides. Leave one side open for the top! Next, sew your outer fabric pieces right sides together on three sides.
For this project, the bottom of the bag is 13 1/2 inches wide and the sides 14 inches long. But the bag can be made any size.
3. Now we need to “box” the bottom of the bag. Pinch the bottom corner together and stitch across 1 1/2 inches from the corner. Do this for the lining and also the outer fabric.
4. Repeat until all four corners have been sewn.
5. Place lining fabric inside the outside fabric right sides together. I slipped the lining fabric up a bit so you can see how it slips in.
6. Place straps in between right sides of the fabric on each side about two to three inches from the side edge.
7. Pins straps and the top edge of the bag well. Stitch around the top of the bag 1/2 inch from the edge. Leave a 2-3 inch opening for turning the bag (I usually leave this on the side).
8. Turn bag inside out.
9. Push lining inside the bag and topstitch all the way around to hem the top of the bag. This will close up the opening used for turning.
Topstitching also makes the seams more durable, so they won’t strain and pull apart if you use the tote to carry heavy stuff.
Finished! How exciting! You did it. I hope you make tons of totes with this tote bag pattern! They make great gifts.
Tips for the perfect reversible tote bag
Here are some other optional tips that might help:
- Maybe you need longer or shorter handles than the size in this pattern. To modify, just drape a measuring tape over your shoulder and see what feels right to you.
- You can use a heavy canvas or Duck cloth — in which case you’ll need to adjust your sewing machine needle accordingly.
- If you use a lightweight fabric, you may want to line it with a fusible fleece — just follow directions on the fleece packaging to fuse it to the wrong sides of one set of your fabric pieces.
- Are you feeling ambitious? You might experiment with adding pockets or dividers!
- Tote bags are perfect for taking your lunch to work, transporting groceries, or packing gym clothes. Cut down on plastic bags with washable, handy-dandy, eye-catching totes!
Now that you know how to make a tote bag you might also like to make a matching pleated zippered pouch to go with your new tote! A zippered pouch is really the perfect use for extra fabric leftover from making a tote bag. You will be surprised at how easy it is to put in a zipper with this zippered pouch tutorial.
The fabrics used in these projects are created by Heather Bailey. I used Pineapple Brocade in green and Zag Stripe in gold (I think).
There are so many fabric choices out there, the possibilities are endless. Did you give this pattern a whirl? I’d love to see the tote bags you made!
Want to make your tote bag more personal? Try these easy applique monograms with free printable letters.
Tote bags remind me of things like baskets, and other containers that you store things in. Check out these great DIY Fabric Storage Containers. They bring function and decoration to any room.
I would love to keep you fully stocked with creative ideas, yummy recipes, fun crafts, and loads of free printables. Subscribe to Skip to my Lou to get new ideas delivered to your inbox. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for all my latest updates.
I just made this and boy was I impressed at the finished result! I just received my 1st sewing machine for Christmas and this was only my 2nd sewing project I’ve completed. (The first was a simple pillow.) My bag is not perfect by any means, but both my husband and I were impressed that 1. I completed the bag in around 2 hrs, and 2. the bag turned out pretty good! Thank you for offering a project that has given me the confidence to keep on sewing!
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and
now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment.
Is tnere any way you can remove people from that service?
Thans a lot!
hi and thanks
I love you websit ?
I just made this in a mini version for my little girl (19 months). She loves to carry anything around her arm like a bag and I couldn’t resist giving her one of her very own as a little Christmas gift. This tutorial was very easy to follow and the pictures made a great reference, start to finish was about 35 minutes. My finished mini tote bag is about 7″ x 7″ with an 8″ strap length to make it easy for her to carry her goodies. Thanks for sharing!
Howdy! This blog post could not be written any better!
Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept talking about this. I most certainly will send this information to him.
Fairly certain he’ll have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Ingredients: Skinless and boneless chicken breast, Zucchini cut
in slices, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoon chopped
parsley, 1 onion, salt and pepper to taste. If you
are a guy, the absolute maximum number of calories you can take
in per day is 1,500 calories. This is when skateboarding competitions were first being held.
There’s definately a lot to find out about this subject.
I love all of the points you’ve made.
I seriously love your blog.. Very nice colors & theme.
Did you make this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my very own website and
want to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme
is called. Cheers!
Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with
hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended
up losing several weeks of hard work due to no backup.
Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?
What’s,I log on to your blog named “How to make a tote bag | Skip To My Lou” like every week.Your it up! And you can look our website aboot Gucci Black Friday Sale,Black Friday Gucci,Gucci Cyber Monday,Gucci Black Friday 2013
Thank you for posting this! Just whipped one up for part of my nephew’s Christmas gift. This pattern is exactly what I had been looking and looking for. I never tried a pattern like this before, so I wanted something easy and was a little nervous about how it would come out. It is sooo cute, and worked up really quickly! Thanks again for such a great tutorial. I will definitely be checking out the rest of your blog 🙂
I have been surfing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as
you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.
I saw all these types of bags on a comedy show (Mike & Molly) hanging in her kitchen nd thought, I wonder if there is a simple pattern for those- and here yours is! Thanks so much for the inspiration. I will send some pictures when I have some sewn!
Terrific article! That is the type of information that should be shared around the net.
Shame on the seek engines for no longer positioning this publish higher!
Come on over and consult with my site . Thank you =)