DIY Tote Bag Tutorial: How to Sew a Simple, Everyday Shopping Bag

Hey guys! I’m going to show you how to make a simple daily tote bag. This everyday tote bag is functional and fabulous. 

Tools and materials: 

• Canvas
• Muslin
• Iron
• Marker
• Scissors
• Pins/clips
• Sewing machine
• Snaps with applicator

1. Getting started

You’ll need some canvas fabric. Cut 1 piece at 32 ¼ inches by 20 ½ inches. Cut 2 pieces at 23 5/8 inches by 4 inches.

Cut 2 pieces of cotton muslin at 20 ½ by 16 ½ inches and 1 piece at 12 5/8 by 12 5/8 inches.

2. Making and attaching straps

Take the 2 pieces of canvas fabric, with the wrong side facing up. Take 1 and fold it in half lengthwise. 

Then open it and fold it in quarters lengthwise and iron it down. 

Then fold it in half lengthwise and iron it. Do the same with the 2nd piece. 

Then stitch along the length of both sides for both pieces.

Take the large piece of canvas fabric and lay it with the longer sides on top and bottom. 

Fold the top down in half. Press the fold to mark the fabric at the halfway mark on both sides, then open it.

Take the straps and pin 1 to each side with the ends spread halfway between the halfway mark on the canvas and its edges. Sew them on facing in.

3. Making and attaching the pockets

Take 1 square of muslin with the right side facing up. Fold it in half. 

Sew around the edges, leaving a 2-3 inch opening.

Cut off the corners. 

Then turn it right side out. 

Iron it.

Top stitch along the folded edge.

Take 1 of the 2 larger pieces of muslin and fold it in half at the longer side. Press the fold with your fingers to mark it. Open it.

Take the muslin pocket you made and fold it in half. Open it and place it on the larger piece of muslin, lining up the halfway marks. 

Slide it down 4 inches from the top edge. Stitch it down along the sides and the bottom, and stitch along the center to make it into 2 pockets.

4. Putting it all together

Place the piece over ½ of the canvas with the right side facing down. 

Take the other piece of muslin and place it over the other ½ of the canvas.

Stitch along the edges 3/8 of an inch inwards.

Take the inner edges of the muslin and hold them together with the right sides facing in. Line up the seams of the canvas and clip them in place.

Measure 4 inches up and in from the corners of the muslin. 

Then cut out those corners.

Measure and mark 4 inches up from the bottom edge of the canvas. Do this on both sides.

Pinch along those 2 lines to fold them, and then bring them together. 

Clip or pin in place.

Stitch along the top edge of the muslin, leaving a 3-4 inch opening. Leave the cutout corners open. Stitch along both sides of the bag.

Open the cutout corners and pin or clip the edges together. 

Then sew.

5. Finishing touches

Turn the bag right side out from the 3-4 inch opening. 

Then sew the opening closed.

Push the lining into the bag. Then topstitch around the opening of the bag.

Take the outer edge of the bag from next to the straps and fold it in. 

Pin or clip in place. Then stitch a square to reinforce them in place.

Attach snaps to the center of the bag opening.

DIY tote bag

This bag is so convenient for everyday use. You must give this sewing project a try. Leave me a comment to let me know how yours turned out.

 Next, learn How to Sew a Cute Change Purse With a Zipper.