Summer Tote Bag Tutorial

I am so excited to share my Summer Tote Bag Tutorial with you, it features a flat bottom, inside pockets, and is fully lined, it really is a great little bag – if I do say so myself!

You may remember me showing you how to make a simple Tote Bag, which has become my favorite bag that I use every day, but it really is getting trashed so I wanted to make a sturdier bag with a few more features.

A PDF pattern with full printable instructions is available to purchase on my Etsy Store at a nominal fee which helps support my free tutorials.

This Summer Tote Bag is lined, so we don’t have any raw edges showing which is one of the reasons I love it so much, because the end result is so professional and tidy.

Like most things with sewing you can adjust to your liking, make the bag bigger or smaller, the straps shorter or longer, add more pockets or leave them out altogether, it’s entirely up to you.

I recommend using canvas fabric for the outer bag and 100% quilting cotton for the lining for this project. You may like to use Fusible Interfacing (Pellon Shape Flex SF101) to give the bag more structure for the Outer, Lining, or both.

For directional fabric make sure the longer 21″ side is facing in the correct direction. I do not recommend using directional fabric for the lining.

Sew with either a ½” OR ⅝” seam allowance, whichever you are most comfortable with, just make sure you stick to the same seam allowance for the whole bag unless stated otherwise in the tutorial.

Approximate finished size: 20″ wide x 14″ tall x 6″ bottom flat

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE A SUMMER TOTE BAG

• Co-ordinating Thread
• Rotary Cutter, Ruler & Mat
• Chalk or washable marker
• Pins
• Point turner (optional)
• Sewing machine
• Iron – I have this one and this one – I love both
• Ironing Board

TO MAKE A SUMMER TOTE BAG YOU WILL NEED

• ½ Yard Canvas for Outer Bag
• ⅚ Yard 100% Cotton for Lining
• ½ or 1 Yard Fusible Interfacing Pellon Shape Flex SF101 – Optional
• 2 Yards Cotton Webbing 1½” Wide (Medium/Heavy Weight) for Straps
• Co-ordinating Thread

SUMMER TOTE BAG CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Outer fabric cut: (2) x 21″ x 18”

Lining fabric cut: (2) x 21″ x 18” AND (1) x 21″ x 10″

Fusible Interfacing cut: (2 or 4) x 21″ x 18”

Cotton Webbing cut: (2) x 32″ Straps

Please watch my video for full instructions on how to make a Summer Tote Bag:

This project is part of my Small Sewing Projects, you might also be interested in making my Vinyl Zipper Pouch.

Thanks so much for joining me! Please leave a comment and let me know how you go, or if you have any questions.

Stacey x