This easy 1 hour Tote Bag pattern is perfect for gifting, or carrying quilts or other hobby supplies! In this tutorial I will show you how to box corners and make a drop in lining! All in less than an hour!
Tote Bag Supplies
Here are a few things you need before you get started making your tote bag!
- (1) 20″ x 35″ piece of external nondirectional fabric (preferably a Canvas) or (2) 20″ x 18″ pieces of external directional fabric
- (1) 20″ x 35″ piece of lining nondirectional fabric (preferably a cotton) or (2) 20″ x 18″ pieces of lining nondirectional fabric
- (1) 20″ x 35″ of lightweight fusible lining
- 60″ of 1.5″ wide cotton webbing cut into (2) 30″ lengths.
Note for Directional fabric
If you chose directional fabric, make sure that you cut your 20″ x 18″ pieces so that the 20″ edges are the top and bottom of the print and the 18″ edges are the sides.
Now you’ll need to sew the two external pieces together and the two lining pieces together. To do this, place the two external pieces right sides together (RST) and both facing the same direction. Sew along the two sides and bottom edge, back stitching when you start and stop. Do the same to the lining pieces.
Iron on the fusible lining to the back side of the exterior piece.
NonDirectional fabric
If you are using nondirectional fabrics, you just need to fold the 20″ x 35″ piece in half, RST, so that the two 20″ edges are aligned as the top of the tote. Pin the sides of together and sew them, backstitching at the start and end of your seam. If this is your exterior fabric, iron on the fusible interfacing to the back side.
Boxing the Corners of your Tote bag
Boxing the corners of your tote gives the bottom of your bag a “boxier” look and more of a stable bottom to it! This part is really tricky to explain in words, so I made a little video to go with it to help you understand!
Keeping your fabric wrong side out, put your hand into the bag along one edge and down to the corner. Flatten out your corner perpendicular to your seam line! This will create a triangle starting at the corner and the seam will run up the middle of the triangle.
Now use a ruler and measure up the seam from the point of the seam line about 1.5″. This should give you about 3″ across the triangle (perpendicular to the seam line). Mark along the edge of the ruler and sew on this line and trim corner off, leaving enough for a seam allowance.
Do this to both your external and lining fabrics!
Drop in Lining tote bag
A drop in lining is basically exactly what it sounds like. The reason I like drop in linings best is because it hides all seams and looks really professional! I also made a little video to show you how to do this step, if it helps!
The first step to creating a drop in lining for your tote bag is to flip your external fabric bag right side out! Keep your lining wrong side out. Insert the external fabric into the lining fabric. Make sure that your side seams line up and pin them in place.
Now you will take one of your 30″ lengths of cotton webbing and slide it in between the external and lining fabric layers. Make sure the webbing isn’t tangled or twisted, and curve it in the middle so that both ends are sticking out from between the two layers.
Measure 4-5″ from the seam along the raw edges and pin your webbing ends there. Let the ends stick out some from the fabric.
Continue pinning along the edge, making sure that the raw edges of the fabric line up. Then do the same thing on the other side of the tote bag so that you will have two handles. When you sew around the top edge, be sure to leave a large gap in between the handles on one side!
Birthing and Finishing Touches
Now that you have sewn around the top, reach through the gap and pull both the lining and the external fabrics through the gap. It kind of feels like magic or like you are giving birth to your new tote bag!
Once you have pulled it all through the gap, you should see both fabrics right side out, yay! Now you can stuff the lining down into the tote bag! Iron the top edge so that its nice and crisp all around. When you come to the gap, fold the edges in so they line up with the rest of the top edge (should be about 1/2″ inch) and press.
Now you can top stitch (about 1/8″ inch) all around the top. This will give it a nice finished look and close your gap! Now your tote is all done! Wasn’t that so easy!?
The canvas fabric I used for both of these projects are from my Potted line via Moda! You can see more from my Potted collection here.
