It seems like I'm always leaving the house with something...dinner for a friend, toys for my toddler, extra pair of shoes or who knows what. I usually grab a Bath and Body Works bag or a plastic mega-store bag but in the interest of looking less "mom-frump" (my term for how I often feel these days) I thought a nice set of tote bags would help me look a bit more pulled together. Here's the first tutorial in the series on some different tote styles. Later I'll do a second one on a version with a pocket and different handle straps.
You can scale the size up or down for whatever purpose you have in mind. I make two sizes generally. One is a small tote the same size as one of the paper Bath and Body Works bags you get at their stores. It's great for a few toys, extra shoes, or even wrapping up a gift. The larger size is great for grocerices, farmer's markets, extra toddler clothes/toys when going out for the day, as a beach bag, for a change of clothes for the gym or whatever else you can think of. It's about the same size as a paper grocery bag.
For this pattern you'll need an outer fabric and a liner fabric. I like at least one of the fabrics to be a heavier weight to help the bag hold it's shape a little better. All seam allowances are 1/2" unless otherwise noted.
1. Small size: Cut out a 15" square from both of your fabrics. At each of the bottom corners cut a rectangle 2 1/2" tall by 3" wide. If the fabric you're using doesn't allow you to have the fold at the bottom you'll cut a rectangle 15" wide by 15 1/2" tall, and your corners will be 3" square.
Large size: Cut out a 20" square from both of your fabrics. At each of the bottom corners cut a rectangle 3" tall by 3 1/2" wide. If the fabric you're using doesn't allow you to have the fold at the bottom you'll cut a rectangle 20" wide by 20 1/2" tall, and your corners will be 3 1/2" square.
2. Turn your fabrics right sides together then stitch the sides.
3. If you have a raw edge rather than a fold at the bottom, stitch that together.
4. Create the bottom of the bag by stitching the corners. See below for photo detail. You'll stitch all 4 corners (the 2 for the outer fabric and the 2 for the liner).
5. Your outer fabric and liner should now look like this and you can iron the seams flat.
6. Now flip the outer fabric right side out, then nestle the liner inside.
7. Now pin along the bottom of the bag on the front and back, but not the sides. Stitch along the edge with a 1/8" or 3/16" seam allowance.
8. Fold the raw edges of the top of your bag in 1/2" and pin. Also, tuck the straps about 1" down in between the two fabrics and pin in place. I used these cotton straps from JoAnns but you could also make them out of a coordinating fabric. For the small bag each strap is 14". Fot the large bag I wanted something I could carry by hand or over my shoulder so it's 26".
9. Now stitch around the top. Leave a 1/8" seam allowance at the top and then sew a second seam 3/4" down from the top. Then go back and put an X over each strap. Or if you don't want to have to go back and do the Xs later, see the diagram below for the exact steps I followed.
10. Optional: If you want your tote to have a boxy shape, pin the 4 sides going straight up from each corner then stitch 1/8" in from the edge like you did in step 9 around the top.
And now your project is complete!
Turn right side out. Next, use an iron to crease the edges of the opening so that the raw edges are inside. Then fold the top over 1 1/4" and iron that down. Put a drawstring inside the opening then pin down the edge. Stitch along the edge with a 1/8" seam allowance.
