Sewing Essentials: Simple Tote Bags

Sewing an easy tote bag for beginners 

Images captured by Julia Magsombol

While many might think tote bags are only for groceries, we at The Issue Magazine would be lying if we said that’s the only usage for them. Today they’re cute, easy go-to bags for many of us, as we can fit a lot of our personal belongings inside them while still matching well with different outfits. They're essentials for anyone and everyone— and when we say they’re essentials, it’s because you can just throw your stuff inside without thinking when you're late for school or work! 

Tote bags are one of the easiest pieces for anyone new to sewing. They can be sewn with just a few easy steps and are easily customizable to your personal taste. It's one of the easiest pieces our writer Julia Magsombol has learned to do.

In this tutorial, she'll show how to make the bag and the strap, as well as how to attach them together to make your very own tote bag. 

Let's begin. 

Materials Needed:

• Sewing Machine 

• Fabrics 

• Sewing threads

• Iron

• Pins 

• Scissors 

• Measuring tape 

I decided to use cotton fabric for this tote bag as I don't plan to put anything heavy in it. For strong durability, I suggest you use canvas fabric, which can be found in Walmart or Fabricland, or other fabric thrift stores. I also used denim for the strap of the bag for the same reason, but you can use the same or similar fabric you used for the bag for the straps if you’d like them to match. 

While it’s always better to match the colours of your threads to the fabrics, they can be changed depending on the colour of your fabrics. Remember: Whenever you sew, the inside part of your piece is supposed to be the side that is showing. 

SEWING THE BAG

STEP 1: 

Cut out two square pieces of your fabric with measurements of 20.5 by 17.5 in. (While I chose to have different fabrics for style, you’re welcome to use the same fabric pieces).

STEP 2: 

Put the two pieces of fabric together, wrong sides facing each other, and using your fabric pins, pin the two sides and the bottom part of your cut pieces. *Don't pin the top of the sides as it will be the top or opening part of your tote bag.*

Set up your sewing machine, and sewing an inch from the sides, sew all the pinned sides together on a basic running stitch (these commonly look like the seared lines painted in the middle of the street). I sewed the fabric twice for its strong durability. 

Now you’ve sewn two of your cut-out fabrics. 

STEP 3: 

While this step is optional, it can make your next step easier. Turn the sewn piece inside out. (Now you should have a partial bag!) Grab your iron and press the sides as it will make the sides flattened. Be sure to check the right setting for your fabric - for reference, the iron setting for cotton is 204 C/400 F. 

STEP 4: 

Sew all the sides together again, sewing two inches from the side. You’ll need to sew the sides with a larger margin than from step two, or the sewn sides will show.  

At this step, I sewed mine twice for strong durability as well.  But it's your choice whether you want to sew it once or twice! 

STEP 5:

Remember not to flip over your bag at this point. Grab your scissors and cut off the bottom corner of the bag. Do it on the other side as well. Do NOT CUT the crisscrossed sewn thread, or else there will be a hole in your bag!

This step is also optional, but it can remove the small amount of bulk at the bottom of your tote bag. Flip your bag over to see how you’ve sewn everything together. 

STEP 6: 

Grab the top or opening part of your bag. Fold the top inward. Fold it twice by an inch. Pin it. 

STEP 7: 

Iron the pinned top so you can sew it easily. 

STEP 8: 

Now, flip over your bag again. Set the fabric right on your sewing machine. Remember to flatten your fabric on the sewing machine. Sew the folded side with a basic running stitch. 

Note: The colour of the thread is important in this one because this will show in the finished product! It's nice to have similar colours of thread from the fabric, so the sewn lines aren't visible outside. 

Flip the bag. Now your bag is made! All you have to sew is the strap. 

THE STRAPS

STEP 1: 

Grab the other fabric of your choice. Cut the fabric with measurements of 24 x 6 inches. 

STEP 2:

Do a roll fold in the cut piece. Fold the sides in the middle and pin them. 

STEP 3: 

Iron the pinned strap so you can sew it easily for the next step. 

Step 4:

Sew the strap at both edges.

Now you have a strap! 

ATTACH THEM

Flip your bag over again. Attach each strap at the edge of the bag with your pins and sew them together. 

Congratulations, you're done! Flip over your bag again and check your finished tote bag and trim any threads. Now that you’ve learned this handy skill, you can make more in whatever fabrics you’d like and decorate them to your heart’s content. 

Let us know what you thought about this tutorial and what others you’d like to see in the comments below!

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