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This pattern is copyrighted 2021 to Rebecca Page by app.youmakehq.com
Please feel free to make garments from this pattern to sell. If you do, we would love you to include a credit to app.youmakehq.com as the pattern designer, but it is up to you.
The finished product may only be sold by crafters. It may not be mass produced. You can only sell the finished product; you cannot sell the pattern or these instructions.
Best of luck and happy sewing!
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Tote Bag
Member Rating
Difficulty Level
Beginner
Equipment Needed
Description
This tote bag sewing pattern is practical and easy to make. It is fully-lined and features an internal zip pocket, external pocket, and key hook. It measures approximately 9.5 x 13.5 x 3 inches.
Instant download digital sewing pattern.
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- +Preparation
- Interfacing – Recommend mid weight interfacing. Approximately 1.25 yards will be sufficient.
- OPTIONAL – 8-inch Zipper
- OPTIONAL – Key ring hardware
- Thread to match
- Outer Bag – Fabric cut 2, Interfacing cut 2
- Bag Lining – Fabric cut 2, Interfacing cut 2
- Straps – Fabric cut 4 short OR 4 long, Interfacing cut 4 short OR 4 long
- OPTIONAL – It can be helpful to cut the interfacing for the straps 1 inch narrower than the fabric. This reduces bulk in seam allowance and makes it easier to turn and topstitch.
- OPTIONAL – Another option is to use webbing for your straps, or if there is a preference for no center seam, align the short edge of the strap pattern piece ½ inch over the folded edge of the fabric or webbing and cut. For fabric, be sure to do the same with the interfacing.
- OPTIONAL Zipper Pocket – Fabric cut 1, Interfacing cut 1
- If using directional fabric, one side of the pocket will be upside down. Cut with the grainline arrow pointing up with the direction of the fabric, and the back of the pocket, the side seen when the zip is open, will be right side up.
- OPTIONAL Key Ring Tab – Fabric cut 1
- OPTIONAL Outer Pocket – Fabric cut 1, Interfacing cut 1 or quantity 2 of each if you prefer two outer pockets
- OPTIONAL Outer Pocket Lining – Fabric cut 1 or cut 2 for two outer pockets.
Project OverviewTote Bag
Difficulty Level = Beginner
Sew up a handy tote bag to carry and store all your bits and bobs. Perfect as a handbag, carry all, or even storing your sewing supplies. It is the perfect scrap buster project.
Our Facebook group is a great place to get help, share your tips and creations! We are a friendly bunch, and we love to help and see what you have made.
Please read the full instructions before getting started.
Wash, dry, and press your fabric before starting your project. A bit of prep now prevents shrinking and means your garment will stay the same size you made it.
Never leave a child or baby unattended or allow to sleep in a garment made from one of our patterns with ties, snaps, buttons, or anything they could remove, choke on, or get caught on. Always use caution if you are unsure. We love our patterns, but we love your bundles of joy more!
SizingSize Range
Bag, Craft
Finished Measurements (Inches)
Width
Height
Depth
Tote Bag
9.5
13.5
3.0
Materials and ToolsFabric – You will need a woven or non-stretch fabric. Cotton, quilting cotton, denim, cotton lawn, canvas, even upholstery fabric would work.
Fabric Requirements 45 inches/115 cm wide (in YARDS)
Outer Bag
Straps
Lining
One size
0.50
0.25
0.50
You will also need:
Tools needed are a sewing machine, iron, pins/clips, tailors chalk/fabric pen, scissors, tape measure, and a ruler. A serger/overlocker is optional but not required.
Printing Your PatternSettings
The pattern is a separate download. Choose either the US letter paper, A4 paper, or A0 paper size based on the printer you wish to use. If you are in the US or Canada then your printer will likely use US letter paper. Other regions normally use A4 paper. Some people prefer to print their patterns at a print shop: A0 is best in this case.
Print at 100%.
On the second page, you will find a 1-inch and a 3-inch square test box. Print this page first, on its own, and measure these squares.
Once you are happy that the test box is accurate, print the rest of the pattern pages.
Please follow this video for information and assistance on assembling this pattern.
Also, please note that some Rebecca Page patterns and projects also come with cut files and a printable design page which you can use to plan your project if you wish. These are provided in a separate section below to avoid any confusion!
+US Print Charts
Here are which pages to print for the US Files
Pattern OPTIONAL Zipper Pocket
OPTIONAL Key Ring Tab
OPTIONAL Outer Pocket
One size 3–6, 8-12 2-3, 8-9 8 7 +A4 Print Charts
Here are which pages to print for the A4 Files
Pattern OPTIONAL Zipper Pocket
OPTIONAL Key Ring Tab
OPTIONAL Outer Pocket
One size 3-13 2-3, 8-9 8 7 Cutting InstructionsCut each of the pieces according to the directions on the pattern piece. Seam allowances are all included so just cut them as is.
Cutting Charts – All pattern pieces are included, however if you prefer to cut using a cutting chart, the dimensions for the rectangular pieces (in INCHES) are below:
Outer Bag
Bag Lining
Straps
Short
Long
Width
Length
Width
Length
Width
Length
Width
Length
One size
14.5
16.0
14.5
16.0
3.5
25.0
3.5
30.0
Zipper Pocket
Key Ring Tab
Outer Pocket
Width
Length
Width
Length
Width
Length
One size
9.0
13.0
4.0
3.0
5.5
8.0
Cutting Checklist:
NOTE – To cut fabric on the fold, fold your fabric over parallel to the selvage edges. Align the pattern piece so it is on the fold of the fabric. Cut around the edges, leaving the fold. If you have folded your fabric correctly the fold will be parallel to the two edges of the fabric that are finished. The raw edges (e.g. the ones you could pick at and threads would come off) will be at a right angle to your fold.
- + Instructions
- PATTERN MARKINGS – Transfer all pattern markings.
- INTERFACING – Add the interfacing onto the Straps, Bag Lining, OPTIONAL Outer Pocket, and OPTIONAL Zipper Pocket.
- OPTIONAL ZIPPER POCKET: Stitch the Zipper Pocket to the Bag Lining at the markings. Cut down the middle of the marking and into each corner. Push the Zipper Pocket through the cut, flatten the Zipper Pocket out and press. Place the zipper behind the opening and topstitch in place. With right sides together, fold down the top of the Zipper Pocket. Pin and stitch the Zipper Pocket along all three raw edges.
- OPTIONAL KEY RING TAB: Fold the Key Ring Tab in half, wrong sides together and press. Open the Key Ring Tab out and then fold the raw edges to the middle and press. Fold in half and topstitch. Feed the Key Ring Tab through the ring, fold to match short edges to form a loop. Baste the two layers together. Baste the Key Ring Tab to the Lining.
- OPTIONAL OUTER POCKETS: Stitch the Outer Pocket Main and Lining together at the top and bottom. Turn right side out and press. Topstitch along the top edge of the Outer Pocket. Stitch the Pocket to the Outer Bag along the side, across the bottom, and up the other side. Repeat for the other Pocket.
- STRAPS: Sew the short ends of two Strap pieces together. Repeat for second Strap. Fold the Strap in half lengthwise, right sides together and stitch. Turn right side out and press. Topstitch both long edges. Place the Strap on the marking of the Outer Bag. Measure and mark 2 ½ inches down from the top edge of the Outer Bag. Topstitch the Strap from the bottom of the bag up to the mark and down the other side. Topstitch the Strap on the other side of the Pocket. Repeat for the Strap on the other side of the bag.
- BAG CONSTRUCTION: With the right sides together, stitch Outer Bag pieces along the sides and bottom. Press the seam allowance. Pinch the bottom corner of the Tote, measure 1 ½ inches from the corner and mark. Stitch. Repeat on the opposite corner. Repeat for the Bag Lining. Turn the Outer Bag right side out, insert it into the Bag Lining and pin. Stitch, leaving a 4 to 6 inch gap open. Turn right sides out and press. Topstitch the top edge of the Tote.
Quick Glance Cheat Sheet½ inch seam allowance included – Top stitching ⅛ inch – Basting ¼ inch
Preparation –
Sewing –
0 . PreparationSeam Allowance
½ inch seam allowance included – Top stitching ⅛ inch – Basting ¼ inch
0.1Pattern Markings
Transfer all pattern markings to the fabric using a disappearing ink pen or tailors chalk.
For those that didn’t print the pieces, but used the cutting chart, please see below for marking placement.
0.2For the optional zip pocket, the rectangle is ½ inch tall and 7 inches wide.
There should be 1 inch on either side, represented by the blue line.
The lower edge of the rectangle is 5.75 inches from the bottom of the pocket, represented by the yellow line.
0.3For the Lining, the rectangle is the same size as above.
The box is 3.75 inches from the side edge, represented by the blue line.
The top edge of the rectangle is 3 inches from the top edge of the lining.
The first Key Ring marking is 2 inches down from the top edge of the lining, represented by the green line. The second marking is 1 inch below that.
0.4For the Outer, the inside edge of the strap is 4.9 inches from the outer edge, represented by the blue line. The outside edge is 1 inch closer to the outer edge.
NOTE – The inside edge is the most important placement, as it needs to overlap the OPTIONAL pocket, if included.
The bottom pocket marking is 3.5 inches from the bottom edge, represented by the yellow line, and 4.6 inches from the side edge, represented by the green line.
The top pocket marking is 7 inches above the bottom pocket marking, represented by the orange line.
0.5Interfacing
Using the manufacturer’s instructions, apply iron-on interfacing to the Straps, Bag Lining and OPTIONAL Outer Pockets and Zipper Pocket.
1 . OPTIONAL Zipper Pocket1.0If you are not adding the Zipper Pocket to your Tote Bag, skip to step 2.
1.1Place the Zipper Pocket on the Bag Lining right side together, matching up the markings for the zipper placement and pin together.
TIP – Cut out the zipper placement box for the pocket and the lining paper pattern pieces so you can easily and accurately mark the fabric.
1.2Stitch all the way around the rectangle.
1.3Using tailors chalk or a disappearing ink pen, draw a straight line down the center of the rectangle, starting and stopping ½ inch from either end. Draw diagonal lines from where you stopped, into each corner.
1.4Cut along the lines, through both layers. Cut as close as you can to the corners without cutting into the stitches.
1.5Push the Zipper Pocket through the cut to the wrong side of the Bag Lining. Flatten the Zipper Pocket out and press.
1.6Place the zipper behind the opening and pin in place.
Alternatively, you can use wash away tape to hold the zipper in place.
1.7Topstitch around the edge of the zipper using a ⅛ inch seam allowance.
1.8Trim the ends of the zipper.
1.9With the right side of the Zipper Pocket facing up, grab the top of the Zipper Pocket and fold it down. Pin the Zipper Pocket together along all three raw edges.
NOTE – You are pinning the two layers of the Zipper Pocket together, do not pin through the Bag Lining.
1.10Stitch the Zipper Pocket together using a ½ inch seam allowance. Make sure to move the Lining out of the way as you are sewing around the Zipper Pocket.
2 . OPTIONAL Key Ring Tab2.0If you are not adding the Key Ring Tab to your Tote Bag, skip to step 3.
2.1Fold the Key Ring Tab in half, wrong sides together and press.
2.2Open the Key Ring Tab and fold the raw edges of each long side to meet in the middle and press.
2.3Fold the piece in half, so that the raw edges are now enclosed in the middle and press.
2.4Topstitch down each of the long edges using a ⅛ inch seam allowance.
2.5Feed the Key Ring Tab through the ring. Fold the Tab over, matching up the short ends to form a loop. Pin the ends together.
NOTE – There are many different types of hardware that can be used for the Key Ring, such as a plain ring or one with a lobster claw closure like the one shown in the pictures. Choose the hardware that will work best for you.
2.6With the ring at the end of the loop, stitch the two layers of the Key Ring Tab together.
TIP – Stitch as close to the ring as you can. This will help prevent it from sliding around on the Key Ring Tab.
TIP – I recommend using a zipper foot here, so that you will be able to get closer to the ring.
2.7Baste the two layers of the Key Ring Tab together at the raw edges using a ¼ inch seam allowance.
TIP – If you haven’t done basting before, it is just like normal stitching except the stitches need to be long and loose so that you can remove them later, if needed. The idea is that you stitch within the seam allowance, so you don’t see the basting stitch in the final bag, but you want them to be loose enough to pull out just in case they are visible. The purpose is to hold a piece of fabric in place until you get to the point of stitching that section properly. Set your machine to a long loose stitch. Test it on a piece of fabric first to make sure you can easily remove it later. Do not back stitch at either end. Leave the ends loose and leave approximately 1 inch of thread tails at either end of your stitching.
2.8Place the Key Ring Tab on the marking on the side of the Bag Lining and pin.
2.9Baste the Key Ring Tab to the Lining using a ¼ inch seam allowance.
3 . OPTIONAL Outer Pockets3.0If you are not adding the Outer Pockets to your Tote, skip to step 4.
You can either make one Outer Pocket to add to one side of your Tote Bag, or you can make two Outer Pockets and add one to each side.
3.1With the right sides together, lay the Outer Pocket on the Outer Pocket Lining. Pin along the top and bottom.
3.2Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance along the two shorter edges.
3.3Turn the Outer Pocket right side out and press.
3.4Topstitch along the top edge of the Outer Pocket using a ⅛ inch seam allowance.
3.5Lay the Outer Bag right side up on your ironing board.
Place the pattern piece on top, lining it up accurately with your fabric. Place a pin directly through each of the four corner points of the Outer Pocket marking, making sure it goes firmly into the ironing board.
3.6Lift the pattern piece slightly, being careful to keep your pins in place. Holding the pattern up out of the way, place a pin under the pattern piece into the fabric where each of the four pins are. As you place the new pin in, remove the old pin. You should now be able to lift the pattern piece out of the way and still have four pins marking each of the corner point markings of the Outer Pocket.
3.7Place your Outer Pocket in between the corner points.
3.8Pin the Outer Pocket to the Outer Bag. Remove the four pins.
3.9Topstitch down the side, across the bottom, and up the other side of the Outer Pocket using a ⅛ inch seam allowance.
3.10Repeat steps 3.1 to 3.9 if you want to add an Outer Pocket to the other side of your Tote.
4 . Straps4.0The Straps are attached the same, for both long and short Strap, with or without the OPTIONAL Outer Pocket(s).
This is just one method of creating straps. For straps with thicker fabric or interfacing, it can be easier to follow the similar construction steps as the Key Ring Tab, steps 2.1 – 2.4. Pressing the outside edges in just the ½ inch seam allowance, rather than all the way to the center. This will achieve the same look but eliminate the need to turn the straps right side out.
For straps cut on the fold, skip to step 4.4.
For OPTIONAL webbing straps, skip to step 4.9.
4.1Pin two of the Strap pieces together at the short end, right sides together.
4.2Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance.
4.3Press the seam allowance open.
4.4Fold the Strap in half lengthwise, right sides together. Pin along the long edge.
4.5Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance.
4.6Turn right side out.
TIPS FOR TURNING:
Method A – Leave a long tail of threads after backstitching at the end of the Strap. Tie the threads with a double knot to secure in the eye of a blunt large needle (you can use a bodkin or a large darning needle).Push the needle inside the Strap all the way until it emerges at the other end. Very delicately, pull on the thread and roll the fabric on itself inside the tube so it is wrong sides together. Continue to roll until you’ve turned the tube right side out completely.
Method B – Use a loop turner. Insert the loop turner inside the Strap until it reaches the other end.
Perforate the fabric with the little clasp and push it to close the hook. Pull the loop turner back inside very delicately. While pulling the loop turner inside, smooth the fabric upwards towards the top of the hook and roll the fabric on itself inside the Strap so it is wrong sides together. Continue to roll until you have turned the entire Strap right side out.
4.7Press the Strap along both long edges.
4.8Topstitch along both of the long edges using a ⅛ inch seam allowance.
4.9Place one end of the Strap on the Outer Bag piece. Line up the short raw edges with the markings on the bottom edge of the bag. Make sure that your Strap is not twisted, and then pin the Strap to the Outer Bag.
NOTE – If you have added the optional Outer Pocket, the Strap should overlap the Pocket on each side.
TIP – Use wash away tape to keep your Straps in place on each side of the Pocket.
4.10Measure 2 ½ inches down from the top edge of the Outer Bag and mark on the Strap using tailors chalk or a disappearing ink pen.
4.11Starting at the bottom edge, topstitch going up the Strap until the marking you made in the previous step. Continue topstitching across the marking and then down the other side of the Strap.
Repeat to topstitch the other side of the Strap.
NOTE – This topstitching will be over the topstitching done in step 4.8, at ⅛ inch seam allowance.
TIP – For added strength, add additional lines of stitching or an X near the marking from step 4.10.
4.12Repeat steps 4.1 to 4.11 to attach the other Strap to the second Outer Bag piece.
5 . Bag Construction5.1With the right sides together, pin the Outer Bag pieces along the sides and bottom edge.
NOTE – Check that the Straps are lined up on the bottom of the Tote. Make sure that the handles (loose part) of the Straps are coming up through the top of the Tote, so that they don’t get caught in the seam.
5.2Stitch down the side, along the bottom and up the other side, using a ½ inch seam allowance.
5.3Press the seam allowance open.
5.4Pinch the bottom corner of the Tote, so that the bottom seam is against the side seam.
5.5Measure 1 ½ inches in from the corner and mark using tailors chalk or a disappearing ink pen and then pin together.
5.6Stitch along the marking you made in the previous step.
Trim the corners.
5.7Repeat steps 5.4 to 5.6 for the opposite corner of the Outer Bag.
Repeat steps 5.1 to 5.7 for the Bag Lining.
5.8Turn the Outer Bag so that it is right side out. Insert it into the Bag Lining so that the right sides are together.
Pin around the top edge of the Tote leaving a 4 inch gap for turning.
NOTE – Make sure the lining pocket, if added, is opposite the outer pocket, if added.
NOTE – Make sure that the handles (loose ends) of the Straps are down inside the Tote, so that they do not get caught in the seam.
TIP – If the fabric is thicker, it can be tight to pull though the 4 inch gap. A larger gap of 6 inches will be easier to manipulate the fabric through.
5.9Stitch using a ½ inch seam allowance, leaving the 4 inch gap open.
5.10Turn right side out and press.
5.11Topstitch the top edge of the Tote using a ⅛ inch seam allowance.
NOTE – This topstitching will close up the gap you left in step 5.9.
- + Finishing Notes and Congratulations
Finishing Notes and Congratulations
Congratulations, your Tote Bag is done. Enjoy!
We would love to hear how you got on and see photos of your finished project!
Join us at our Facebook Group, tag us on Instagram, or use the hashtag #rptotebag.
Thank you for using a Rebecca Page pattern.
© Copyright 2021
All Rights Reserved
Sales + Licencing InformationProject OverviewTote Bag
Difficulty Level = Beginner
Sew up a handy tote bag to carry and store all your bits and bobs. Perfect as a handbag, carry all, or even storing your sewing supplies. It is the perfect scrap buster project.
SizingSize Range
Bag, Craft
Finished Measurements (Inches)
Width
Height
Depth
Tote Bag
9.5
13.5
3.0
Materials and ToolsFabric – You will need a woven or non-stretch fabric. Cotton, quilting cotton, denim, cotton lawn, canvas, even upholstery fabric would work.
Fabric Requirements 45 inches/115 cm wide (in YARDS)
Outer Bag
Straps
Lining
One size
0.50
0.25
0.50
You will also need:
- Interfacing – Recommend mid weight interfacing. Approximately 1.25 yards will be sufficient.
- OPTIONAL – 8-inch Zipper
- OPTIONAL – Key ring hardware
- Thread to match
Tools needed are a sewing machine, iron, pins/clips, tailors chalk/fabric pen, scissors, tape measure, and a ruler. A serger/overlocker is optional but not required.
