Cute and Easy Homemade Tote Bag Tutorial

Tools and materials:

• 3 similar weight cotton fabrics
• Lining fabric
• Scrap fabric for pockets
• Cotton batting
• Fusible interfacing
• Lace trim (optional)
• Pins and clips
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Fabric marker
• Sewing machine
• Iron

1. Patchwork pieces

Cut a strip of one fabric 3 inches by 9 inches and a strip of 3 inches by 10 inches from another fabric.

Join the short edges with the right sides together and press the seam open. Repeat twice more.

Cut four strips from the third fabric, each 3 inches by 18 inches.

Arrange the strips as shown and join the long edges, with the right sides together.

Press all the seams open.

2. Quilting

Cut a piece of cotton batting to fit the patchwork fabric. Place the rough side against the wrong side of the patchwork.

Topstitch through the batting around the outer edges of each strip.

Repeat both steps for the other side of the bag.

3. Handle

Cut a strip of fabric 32 inches by 4 inches. Join two shorter pieces, if necessary.

Iron fusible interfacing to the wrong side.

Fold the handle in half lengthways with the wrong sides together, and press.

Open the handle out and press the long edges towards the center fold. 

Fold the handle in half again lengthways and sew both the long edges.

Make a second handle in the same way.

4. Attach the handle

Find the center top edge of the bag.

Pin the ends of the handle 3 inches either side of the center and 5 inches from the top edge.

Draw a line across each handle 1.5 inches from the top edge of the bag.

Sew the handle to the bag down the long edges, starting from the line.

Cut a strip of fabric 17 inches by 3 inches.

Fold it in half lengthways with the wrong sides together and press the long edges towards the center.

Attach it to the bag to cover the lower half inch of the handle, sewing the long edges in place.

Optionally, add a lace or other trim.

5. Outside pocket

Cut three strips of fabric 18 inches by 3 inches.

Join the long edges as you did for the bag.

Press the seams and fold in half widthways with the right sides together.

Sew along the short and one long side.

Turn the pocket right side out. Topstitch the folded edge.

Optionally, attach a lace or other trim.

Sew to the bag 1.5 inches below the horizontal strip, with the raw edges aligning with the side edge of the bag.

Cut a 1.5 inch square from the lower corners of the bag.

Complete the other side of the bag in the same way.

6. Inside pocket

Cut two pieces of lining fabric, 17 inches by 18 inches.

Find the center of the short edge on the right side.

Make a pocket 6.5 inches by 7 inches from scrap fabric or reuse from another garment.

Attach centrally on the lining, 4.5 inches from the top edge.

Make cut-outs on the lining to match the bag.

7. Assemble

Fold the bag handles down.

Place the lining on the bag with the right sides facing and sew the top edges together.

Repeat on the second bag piece.

Pin the two bags and linings together, right sides facing.

Leaving a 7 inch opening on one side of the lining, join the side and bottom seams between the cut-outs.

Sew the edges of the cut-outs together, matching both seams, to make the gusset.

Join the bag and lining gussets together on each side.

Pull the bag through the opening in the lining.

Push out the corners and sew the opening closed.

8. Finishing

Turn the bag right side out and press the top seam.

Topstitch around the upper edge, sewing the handle to the bag.

Homemade tote bag

This bag is a great way to use up scraps of fabric. I used three colors, but you could easily use more or less. You may prefer an alternative to the lace trim, for example fringing or ribbon.

The outside pockets are large enough to hold a phone. You could add a closure to the inner or outer pockets as well.

I’d love to know what you think of this homemade tote bag! Please leave me a comment below.