Two Hour Tote Bag Tutorial ~ Free-Tutorial.net

 Sew a Super Simple Tote Bag. Easy Bag Tutorial. How To Make A Tote Bag. This tote took me under two hours to make – and that was with cutting.

Start off by cutting your fabric pieces.

For the body of the tote, you’ll need to cut two pieces of your outside fabric, as well as two pieces of your lining fabric. That equals four pieces total at 18” x 21.5”.

Cut two pocket pieces at 8” x 11”.

Cut four strap pieces at 2.5” x 10”.

Let’s start with the pocket. Put the two pieces together with right sides facing in, and sew along the sides and bottom. 

Clip the corners (watch your seams!) and turn the pocket right side out. Press.

Tuck in the raw edges along the top about 1/4” and press. Sew 1-2 straight lines across the top to secure the fabric.

Take one of your main fabric pieces, and pin the pocket in place where you would like it.

Sew the pocket to the main fabric piece right along the edge. Leave the top open!

 Place the two main fabric pieces together with right sides facing in. Sew again along the sides and bottom, leaving the top open.

I used this tutorial from I Am Momma – Hear Me Roar for boxing the corners before I turned it right side out.

Repeat this process for the two lining pieces, except leave a 3”-4” opening along the bottom.

Set your bag pieces aside. Take two of the strap pieces, place them right sides facing together, and sew them together along the long edges. Leave the short edges open.

Turn the strap right side out, press, and top stitch along each long edge.

Repeat with the other two strap pieces.

Pin the strap in place on the front of the main bag where you would like it.

Repeat with the remaining strap on the back side of the main bag. Make sure the straps are pinned in the same place!

Take the main bag, and place it inside the lining with the right sides facing together. Line up the side seams, and pin around the top.

 Sew all along the top edge, making sure to get those straps sewn in. I used a 1/4” seam allowance.

Pull the bag through the opening you left in the lining. Once the bag is pulled through, tuck in the edges of the opening and sew it up. 

Iron along the top edge of the bag, and press the lining into the main part of the bag, and you are done!

 This tote took me under two hours to make – and that was with cutting and everything. It’s a simple bag, and comes together quickly!

Look at that lovely lining. Perfect bag for trips to the library! Or maybe even for holding my books and sunscreen while I’m at the beach in Hawaii in a couple weeks. (You can be jealous, I won’t hold it against you).

It’s a fun way to mix some different patterns together, too, which is one of my favorite things!