How to Make Your Own Simple Six-Pocket Tote Bag

Roomy and stylish, this slouchy lug is precisely waiting to be filled with your everyday essentials. With a deep independent compartment and six outside pockets, you wo n’t be short on storage. The pockets of the dim-witted sewed bag are cleverly formed when the straps are stitched on—no extra sewing necessary. Choose your favorite patterned fabric and this easily sew plan becomes adenine statement-making as it is practical. We ‘ll show you how to sew a bag in just five steps—this is a great sew plan for beginners. Check out our free lug bag sewing radiation pattern and get started immediately !

Reading: How to Make Your Own Simple Six-Pocket Tote Bag

How to Sew a bare Bag

Supplies Needed

¼-yard cotton fabric (straps)
Fabric shears or scissors
Tape measure
Pencil or pen
⅔-yard cotton fabric (pockets)
2 10¼×14¼-inch rectangles thin, firm batting
1-yard cotton fabric (lining)
Iron
Ironing board
Quilter’s pins
Sewing machine
Thread
6-inch sewing gauge

Finished Tote Bag Tips

Bag size: 8×10×4 inches
Quantities are for 44/45-inch-wide, 100 percent cotton fabrics.
Measurements include ¼-inch seam allowances.
Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

bit-by-bit Directions

With a few elementary sewing skills and these how-to instructions, you can create your own six-pocket carryall bag. You should be able to complete this handmade lug bag in about an hour .

tone 1 : Cut Your Fabrics

BHG / Sanja Kostic
The first thing you ‘ll need to do is decide which fabrics you want to use. You can make this cup of tea from all the like framework, or choose for three coordinating fabrics for the straps, pocket, and lining. once you ‘ve chosen your fabrics and washed and dried them, cut your pieces in the succeed regulate using fabric scissors ( $ 12, Walmart ) .

For the straps : Cut two 4×34 ½-inch strips

For the pocket : cut two 14½×16½-inch rectangles

For the line : geld two 14½×20½-inch rectangles

step 2 : meet Straps

BHG /Sanja Kostic
To assemble the straps, take one of your 4×34 ½-inch strips and fold it in half lengthways with the wrong side inside, and press. open and fold long edges into the plaza, then press again. Refold the deprive in half and weight-lift. Topstitch ⅛-inch from the out edges to make a finish strap. Repeat this tone with your other 4×34 ½-inch denude to make a second strap .

mistreat 3 : meet Bag Pieces

Fold one of the 14½×16½-inch rectangles in half lengthways with the wrong side facing in to make an 8¼×14½-inch pocket rectangle, then crusade. repeat with the other rectangle to make a second gear air pocket rectangle. Referring to Diagram 2, with right sides together, layer a 14½×20½-inch rectangle line rectangle and a pocket rectangle .

Place a 10¼×14½-inch batting rectangle under the layered pieces, then pin all layers together with sewing pins ( $ 6, Walmart ). Referring to Diagram 2, trap ends of a strap to the bottom edge of layer pieces, leaving 4 inches between strap edges .

place a trap on each side of the strap 10¼ inches from the bottom edge. Beginning at the bottom border of layer pieces, topstitch one side of the strap up to the pin marking 10¼ inches ; remove the peg, sew across the strap, and topstitch back down to the penetrate border. recur with the remaining side of the strap to complete one side of the handmade bag. duplicate to make the second base side .

mistreat 4 : Layer Bag Pieces

Layer both bag pieces with right sides together and pin, making certain to pin the at large share of straps in identify to prevent catching them in stitching. Join the bag around all edges, leaving a 5-inch open at the crown center for turning. ( Refer to Diagram 3 for this footfall. ) Press the seam open.

step 5 : Finish Bag

BHG / Sanja Kostic
To shape a flatcar bottom for the bag, at one corner match the bottomland seam line to side seam agate line, creating a flattened triangulum ( as seen in Diagram 4 ). Use a sew gauge ( $ 5, Walmart ) to measure 2 inches from the point of the triangulum ; draw a argumentation across the triangle. Sew on the drawn wrinkle, then trim the excess fabric. reprise with the remaining bottom corner of the bag, then turn the bag right side out through the open and finger-press the seam. If desired, slip-stitch the liner possibility so it ‘s wholly closed, then insert lining into the finished handmade bag .