How to Make a Cute Mini Tote Bag for Everyday Use

Hey guys! I love showing you how to make unique and stylish tote bags for everyday use.

This time, I want you to check out this new, cute pouch idea. It’s unbelievably easy to make, and perfect for storing change and other small items in your everyday tote bag. 

Tools and materials: 

• Cotton
• Zipper (13 ⅜ inches)
• Plate (11 ¾ inches in diameter)
• Marker
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Pins/clips

1. Getting started

Cut a piece of cotton at 12 ½ by 12 ½ inches. Cut another piece at 5 ½ by 2 inches. You will also need a 13 3/8 inch zipper.

Take a bowl with a diameter of 11 ¾ inches. Place it on the square fabric and trace the circumference.

Cut out the circle.

Fold it in half and press the folded edge with your fingers to mark it. 

Then open it and cut the circle in half along the fold.

2. Make a strap

Take the small piece of fabric and place it with the wrong side facing up.

Fold it in half lengthwise and iron it. Then open it, and fold in the edges ¼ in lengthwise and iron again.

Fold it in half lengthwise and iron it again. 

Then topstitch lengthwise along the edges.

3. Attaching a zipper

Place the half-circle fabric pieces with the wrong side facing up. Open the zipper and place 1 side of it along the bottom of the top half circle. 

Place it with the teeth facing in. Place the bottom half circle over it with the right side facing in. 

Stitch everything together.

Open it and fold the half circles together so the right sides are facing out and the teeth of the zipper are out at the top edge.

Top stitch along the edge of the fabric at the zipper.

Take the ends of the zipper and place them together. Cut off any excess to make them even. 

Then attach the zip and close it.

Fold it so the zipper is on one side, and cut a small notch in the fabric at the opposite side to mark it.

Then open it and fold it again with the zipper in the center. Line the notch up with the zipper. Pin or clip it together.

Measure 1 ½ inches up from either side of the bottom corner. 

Draw a line between those 2 points and cut off that bottom corner. Remove the zip.

Open the fabric and turn it so the wrong side is facing out. 

Fold the edges together with the zipper in the center. 

When you’ve made sure the zipper is lined up in the center, clip or pin the sides of the pouch.

4. Attach the strap

Take the small strip you made from the smaller piece of fabric and fold it so it’s looped on 1 side and the ends are next to each other on the other side.

Slip it into the pouch with the ends coming to the edge of the smaller side. Clip or pin in place along either side of the zipper. 

Then stitch along the top.

5. Bringing it all together

Turn the pouch right side out and reattach the zip.

Turn it inside out again and clip the opposite side of the pouch to the zipper.

Measure and mark 2 3/8 inches from both edges of the top of the pouch. 

Then stitch at both of those marks.

Open the sides and press the center in towards the stitch on that side. 

Fold the edges and clip or pin them together. 

Do the same on the other side.  

Stitch along the entire opening.

Cut off the excess zipper.

6. Finishing touches

Cut another piece of fabric at 5 ½ by 1 ¾ inches.

Place it right side down along the top edge of the pouch and stitch it at the top edge.

Turn it up and fold it. 

Turn the pouch over and fold in the side edges, pinning or clipping them in place.

Fold the top edge in half and then fold it down over the top edge of the pouch. Clip or pin in place. 

Stitch along that top edge.

Open the zipper and turn the pouch right side out. 

DIY mini everyday tote bag

This is the perfect pouch if you just need to carry a few small things. It’s also great if you want to use it to store small things in your everyday tote. Give this project a try and leave me a comment to let me know how it goes. 

Next, learn How to Make a Pretty Storage Bag for Your Crafts.