How to Make Homemade Tote Bags

Making tote bags is very simple and requires only about one hour of sewing. Making tote bags is a great project to teach kids how to sew and can help use up your leftover fabrics. Tote bags are very versatile and can make useful as well as stylish gifts. By making your own tote bags, you can adjust the size to fit your needs and can coordinate the tote bag fabric with some of your favorite outfits. Choose a lightweight fabric, such as cotton quilting fabric, for easy sewing and durability.

Things You'll Need

• 1 yard of fabric for the outside
• 1 yard of fabric for the inside
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Iron
• Pins
• Sewing machine

Instructions

Make the Straps

1. Measure two strips of fabric that are 22 inches long by 4 inches wide. Mark the pieces with the pencil on the wrong side of the fabric. Cut the pieces out with the scissors.

2. Lay the fabric pieces flat. Fold each outside edge to the center of the fabric, then fold the piece in half. Iron the strap flat, then pin in place. Repeat for the other piece of fabric.

3. Sew down the long sides of each piece of fabric, leaving a 1/8-inch margin. Set the straps aside.

Make the Bag

1. Measure two pieces of fabric that are 15½ inches long by 14 inches wide from the fabric for the outside. Mark the pieces with the pencil and cut them out. Repeat for the fabric you are using for the lining.

2. Lay the lining fabric pieces on top of each other with right sides together. Pin the pieces together and sew along three sides, leaving a 1/4-inch margin. Do the same for the fabric pieces you are using for the exterior of the bag.

3. Lay the bag made from the exterior fabric flat with the wrong sides facing out. Pin the straps to either side of this bag, about 3 inches in from the side edges.

4. Turn the bag made from the lining fabric so the right side is facing out. Place this bag inside the exterior bag so the right sides of each bag are touching and the straps are sandwiched between the two bags.

5. Pin the top edge of the bag and stitch around the top of the bag about 1/2 inch from the edge. Leave a 4-inch wide opening for turning the bag right sides out.

6. Turn the bag inside out by pulling the lining fabric through the hole. Tuck the lining inside the bag and iron flat. Sew all the way around the top of the bag, leaving a 1/8-inch margin.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust the length of the straps and the size of the bag to your liking. Use ribbons or rope for a different style strap. Old T-shirts, pillowcases and sheets make great fabrics for tote bags as well.

References

• Tote bag instructions
• Make an oilcloth tote bag