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    Home » Sewing » Bag Patterns

    Learn How to Make a Bag; A Simple Tote Bag Pattern

    Updated: Apr 27, 2022 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 4 Comments

    How to make a bag - a simple tote bag pattern

    This simple tote bag pattern will teach you how to make a bag with a canvas bottom. It’s a great project for someone who is new to sewing or bag making! The canvas bottom on this tote bag pattern makes it extra sturdy and perfect for toting all your stuff!

    How to make a bag - a simple tote bag pattern

    Please welcome, Amy from Ameroonie Designs. Today she’s teaching you how to make a bag!

    Tote bags are always handy to have around. This free pattern for a simple canvas bottom tote bag will help you make sure there are always a few on hand. To use for library trips, music lessons or as gifts.

    sewn tote bag on white table

    I think these would be especially lovely as a teacher appreciation gift! The canvas on the bottom of the tote bag helps reinforce the bottom and keeps dirt from showing so easily. I recommend choosing a dark color of canvas fabric for this reason. Adding fusible fleece and medium weight interfacing allows the bag to have structure and body giving your tote bag a wonderfully finished feel.

    Canvas Bottom Tote Bag Pattern:

    Tote Bag Supplies:

    ⅔ yard exterior fabric
    ½ yard lining fabric
    ⅙ yard canvas or duck fabric
    fusible fleece
    medium weight interfacing

    fabric pieces for tote bag

    Cutting directions:

    16 ½″ X 15″ from lining fabric, cut 2

    16 ½ X 15″ from exterior fabric, cut 2

    4″ X 28″ from exterior fabric, cut 2

    6″ X 15″ from canvas, cut 2

    16″ X 14 ½″ from fusible fleece, cut 2

    ¾″ X 27 ½″ from fusible fleece (cut a generous ¾″ wide strip), cut 2

    16″ X 14 ½″ from medium weight interfacing, cut 2

    How to Make a Bag, Construction Steps:

    Step One: Fuse Interfacing and fleece.

    how to make tote bag handles

    First, take your exterior fabric and fusible fleece to your ironing board. Follow the package instructions to fuse the fleece to the wrong side of the exterior fabric

    Fuse the medium weight interfacing to the wrong side of the lining fabric- again follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

    Press your 4″ strips in half on the long side. Open up this crease and bring the two outer edges into the creased line. Press.

    Open up one side and place your strip of fusible fleece inside the fold. Re-fold the crease and then fold along the original center crease as well.

    Fuse the fleece inside the folded straps.

    tote bag pieces with canvas sewn

    Step Two Bag Assembly:

    Take two exterior fabric pieces. Measure up 5 ½″ from the bottom and line up the canvas with your ruler. Pin in place.

    Sew along the bottom of canvas piece using a ¼″ seam allowance.

    Press the canvas down over the seam allowance. Square up to exterior fabric.

    Top stitch along the top seam of the canvas.

    tote bag lining

    Step Three: Add Corners

    For both Exterior and lining pieces of fabric, mark a 1 ½″ square on both bottom corners of each piece.

    Cut out the 1 ½″ squares.

    Place the two matching pieces (lining together, exterior together) right sides together lining up all sides.

    Sew both side seams and bottom seam using a ½″ seam allowance- on LINING ONLY leave an opening for turning on the bottom seam.

    tote bag pieces sewn on cutting mat

    Step Four Boxing Bottom Corners:

    box corner pinned on tote bag

    Pull the corners of the cut-out square away from each other to make a line.

    Line up the bottom seam with the side seam, push them in opposite directions to help the seams nest well. Pin in place.

    corner of tote bag sewn

    Sew along this edge using a ½″ seam allowance. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitching. Repeat for both bottom corners of the lining and exterior. Press your seam allowances on the sides.

    outside of tote bag on cutting mat

    Add Straps to your tote bag:

    Use an edge stitch to sew down both sides of both straps, and turn your bag exterior right side out.

    Pull the two side seams out to create a flat line to top.

    Measure in 3 ¼″ from each side and line up the edge of your strip with this mark.

    Pin strap in place- *I use two pins to keep the strap from shifting as I sew around the bag so they stay straight. Also, make sure your straps aren’t twisted as you pin them in place.

    Repeat for the second strap on the other side of the tote exterior.

    tote bag outside and lining

    Bag Finishing Steps:

    Slide your bag exterior inside of your bag lining. Make sure the side seams are going in opposite directions.

    top of tote bag pinned

    Match up the side seams and line up the tops of the two bag pieces. Pin around the entire top of the bag. Sew around this seam using a ½″ seam allowance. *TIP: When I sew over the straps, I like to back stitch at the beginning and ending of the strap to reinforce this seam since it will get a lot of stress, especially if the tote is loaded up with something heavy.

    tote bag turned right side out

    Pull the exterior of the bag out through the opening left in the bottom of the lining. Turn the lining right side out as well.

    Sew the opening in the lining shut using an edge stitch. *you can always sew this opening shut by hand to hide the seam, but I find it’s not really necessary.

    Push the lining of the tote bag inside the exterior of the tote bag.

    Press the top seam well.

    Top stitch around the top of the tote bag.

    Give your tote bag one final press and Enjoy!

    tote bag on table

    Useful and beautiful- you may find yourself making these tote bags often! They would be a great way to use up orphan quilt blocks- just add borders to get them to the proper size for your tote!

    More Great Bag Patterns from Amy:

    And if you’d like to sew up a zipper pouch to go along with your tote.

    Any of these pouches from my Travel Zip Pouch set would go nicely!
     Or a Pleated Ruffle Mini Pouch would be perfect as a small compliment to a gifted tote bag!
    Happy Sewing friends!

    About the Maker:

    Amy Chappell Bio Photo

    Hi! My name is Amy Chappell and I blog over at Ameroonie Designs. I currently live in Wyoming with my husband and 6 kids. I love being a mom but needed an outlet that would give me something to do that stayed done, enter sewing and creating. Love the satisfaction of taking fabric and ideas and making something new. I also love that blogging has given me a way to meet new people and find a community of amazing people who love fabric and sewing as much as I do.
    xoxo,
    Amy
    Ameroonie Designs
    www.amerooniedesigns.com

    More Fun Bag Making Tutorials & Tips:

    15 Must Know Bag Making Tips & Tricks

    How to Make a Quilt Block Tote Bag

    Oversized Beach Bag Sewing Pattern

    How to make a bag - a simple tote bag pattern

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    • 15 Must Know Bag Making Tips and Tricks
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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Martha Iris Stump says

      April 29, 2019 at 11:59 am

      thank you for the tutorial.

      Reply
    2. Mardie says

      April 29, 2019 at 4:00 pm

      Amy what a wonderful tutorial for a cute tote. I could even see this as a scrap buster if you make the big panels out of some scraps. The bottom looks really sturdy from the duck cloth!

      Reply
    3. Anna says

      March 09, 2020 at 9:58 am

      This is such a cute tote bag. Thank you for sharing the information with us.

      Reply
    4. Alice says

      August 30, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      Great tutorial for a tote. I’m planning on trying it this Fall. Is there way to have you consider making this into a video tutorial. For me and, I’m sure, many others it’s best to see the actual making of an item in progress.
      I’ll try to send you a picture once I complete my project.
      Again, great tutorial.

      Reply

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    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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