ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Quick and Easy Way To Make A Tote Bag

Updated on July 20, 2017
StephanieBCrosby profile image

Stephanie Bradberry is an educator herbalist, naturopath, and energy healer. In her free time she loves trying out new ideas and crafts.

These directions are great for making any type of tote bag. It can be used for making a cool decorative Halloween inspired tote bag or and alternative to a trick-or-treat bag or a variation on a traveling case. Obviously, with the switch of fabric choices, this pattern would be great for a hand, tote, or shoulder bag by adjusting the number and length of handles.

Completed tote bag
Completed tote bag | Source

The basis for this pattern comes from Diana Rupp’s S.E.W.: Sew Everything Workshop, a beginner’s sewing book. This was the first tote I ever made, and it came out well (Thank goodness because it was a gift for someone whose birthday is around Halloween). Even though the directions were worded nicely in the book, I am simplifying the process even more. No matter how good the directions, we still learn best by doing it and adjusting along the way. The book actually provides different sets of directions based on the size and type (long-handled tote, hand tote, or shoulder tote) of bag you want to follow. But some of the numbers overlap and seem bunched together. It was a bit of information overload for a beginner. The original square tote was 12” x 12” instead of 15” x 15”. So here is my version with some additions not originally in the book, like buttons that were hand sewn on.

You Will Need:

  • ½ yard of fabric (1 yard if making lining)
  • Thread
  • Iron

Optional:

Beginning of pockets
Beginning of pockets | Source
Finished pocket pinned to lining fabric
Finished pocket pinned to lining fabric | Source

Cutting Directions:

  • Cut 2 15” squares (body of tote) (cut 2 more if making lining)
  • Cut 4 3” x 20” rectangles (for handles)

If Making Pockets:

  • Cut square(s) or rectangle(s) ½” inch larger than you would like.
  • Fold all four sides over ¼” and press with iron.
  • Sew all four sides.
  • Sew pockets to right side of material before assembling the whole tote. I placed my pockets on the inside of the tote (on the lining).

All fabrics (tote and handle pieces) pinned together
All fabrics (tote and handle pieces) pinned together | Source
You can see the contrast of lining with the main fabric
You can see the contrast of lining with the main fabric | Source

Sewing Directions for Tote:

  1. Pin the two pieces of main fabric right sides together.
  2. Stitch three sides of the square (sides and bottom).
  3. Press seams open.
  4. Turn tote inside out.
  5. Fold back the top edge 1”, press, and sew the raw edge.
  6. Complete the same steps above, in same or different fabric, if you are adding lining.
  7. Place lining of tote in bag so wrong sides of the outer tote and lining are together.
  8. Pin top edges together well.
  9. Sew top edges together.

How to Make Bias Tape

Sewing Directions for Handles:

  1. Pin two of the two pieces of handle fabric wrong sides together.
  2. Sew all four sides. I used a decorative stitch that closed up the raw edges.
  3. Repeat with remaining two pieces for handle.
  4. Pin handles to outside (or inside if your prefer) of tote.
  5. Choose a short stitch length.
  6. Stitch in place.

You can skip making your own handles by using bought double-fold bias tape. You can also use your fabric to make your own double-fold bias tape by pressing the fabric.

Optional:

  • Hand sew buttons on.
  • Add on any other notions you desire.

Various Thoughts:

  • I always find it easier to cut and pin all the pieces first so I don’t have to keep switching tasks.
  • I made the handles thicker and longer than the original because it was a gift for someone older who needed the extra support. Plus, it looked better than the skinnier handles.
  • The lining fabric was changed because I liked the feel of the silkier lining.
  • Turn you iron on in advance of working on the project so it is waiting for you and not the other way around.
  • The pocket directions given are a short cut to “real” pockets that would also have a turned down hem.

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)