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Free Tote Bag Pattern:
An Easy Christmas Gift to Make
 Here's a tote bag pattern that's bound to be perfect for someone on your holiday list!
Measuring roughly 13" high, 19" wide at the top and tapering to 12" wide at the bottom, this bag features two generously sized pockets and an inner lining.
From the first cut to the final stitch, this bag took me one evening to make. If one were to have all the materials on hand, I believe that this bag could count as a last-minute Christmas gift.
If your budget is tight, make your tote from vintage bed sheets found at your local thrift store. Fabric from an XXL shirt could work as well.
Are you ready? Let's get started!
Tote Bag Pattern: The Materials
You'll Need:
- 1/2 yd(m)of main fabric
- 1 yd (m) of contrasting fabric
- 1/2 yd (m) heavy weight interfacing
- coordinating thread
- sewing machine
- iron and ironing board
- scissors
- darning needle
Before we start: Always remember to back stitch at the beginning and end of your seams to secure your stitches in place!
Read through all of the instructions first as doing so will make your life a whole lot easier!
Tote Bag Pattern: Cutting
For Outer Panels, Lining and Heavy Weight Interfacing:
Note: Your outer panel, lining and heavy weight interfacing will all be cut to the same shape. The outer panels are cut from your main fabric, the lining is cut from your contrasting fabric, and the heavy weight interfacing is, of course, cut from heavy weight interfacing!
With right sides together, fold your main fabric in half lengthwise, so that the fold sits on the left hand side. Along the fold, draw a rectangle that is 14" high by 10" wide. At the bottom of your rectangle, mark the spot that is 6 1/2" from the fold. Using a ruler, draw a line that connects the upper, right hand corner of your rectangle to 6 1/2" mark. 
Cut out the outer panel by starting at the fold and cutting 10" along the top of your rectangle. Then cut down along your diagonal line; finally heading back towards your fold and cutting 6 1/2" along the bottom. When you unfold your piece, it should be wider at the top than it is at the bottom.
Following the above steps, cut one more outer panel from your main fabric, then cut two panels from your contrasting fabric and two from your heavy weight interfacing.
For Straps and Pockets:
- cut 2 pieces 5" wide and 42" long from contrasting fabric for your straps.
- cut 2 pieces 8" wide and 9" high from contrasting fabric for outer pocket.
- cut 2 pieces 8" wide and 9" high from main fabric for inner pocket.
Tote Bag Pattern: Sewing the Pockets
1. With right sides facing, stitch a pocket piece cut from contrasting fabric to a pocket piece cut from main fabric, leaving a 2" opening.
2. Trim corners on a diagonal.
3. Reach into the opening of the pocket and pull pocket right-side out. Press with an iron.
4. Stitch a 1/4" seam around the outside of the pocket. Repeat steps 1-4 for second pocket.
In the end, you should have two pocket pieces sewn from the main fabric on one side and the contrasting fabric on the other. Each pocket has a 1/4" seam around its four sides. 
Tote Bag Pattern: Sewing the Straps
5. Fold a strap piece in half lengthwise so that the right-sides are together. Press in place. Stitch a 1/2" seam along the raw edge of the strap.
6. Turn strap right-side out and stitch a seam 1/4" from the edge along both of the long sides of the strap.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for second strap.
Tote Bag Pattern: Working on the Outer Panels
8. Pin your interfacing onto the wrong side of the outer panel of your bag.
9. Stitch a 1/2" seam around all four sides to secure the interfacing to the outer panel.
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 for second outer panel.
11. With main-fabric sides together, center the pocket onto your outer panel and pin it in place. (The side of the pocket with the contrasting fabric will be facing up and the main fabric side of your pocket will be face down on top of your outer panel).
12. Stitching directly on top of the the 1/4" seam that runs around your pocket, stitch down along one side, across the bottom and then up the other side of your pocket to secure it to your outer panel. (Don't stitch along the top!)
13. Repeat steps 11 and 12 for your other outer panel and pocket.
14. Pin a strap down to your outer panel so that the 1/4" seams of the strap line up with the 1/4" seams of your pocket. Fold under the ends of the strap 1/2", so that they are flush with the bottom of your pocket.
Be careful and make sure that your straps are not twisted!
15. With a pencil, lightly mark on your strap the spot that is 1 1/2" above the pocket. This is where you will begin sewing down your strap.
16. Starting 1 1/2" above the pocket and following your 1/4" seam, stitch down your strap until you are 1/4" from the fold at the bottom of your strap. Stitch across the strap and then back up, following your 1/4" seam until you are 1 1/2" above the pocket again. Stitch across strap, pivot, and stitch diagonally across strap until you are in line with the top of the pocket, pivot and stitch back across the strap until you meet the seam. Pivot and stitch on a diagonal back to the top of your strap that is 1 1/2" above the pocket. This is all done to make the reinforcing 'X' shape on the strap.
(And that was just a really long way of saying, "stitch an X on your strap that is 1 1/2" tall and whose bottom is flush with the top of your pocket.")
17. Repeat step 16 for the other side of your strap.
18. Repeat steps 14 - 17 for the other strap and other outer panel.
Tote Bag Pattern: Putting it all Together
19. With right sides of outer panels together, stitch a 1/2" seam around the sides and bottom, making sure that the straps are clear and that you don't sew them into your seam.
20. With right sides together, sew along the sides and bottom of the two lining pieces, leaving a 9" hole at the bottom. Make sure you don't sew along the top of your lining!
21. With right sides together, place the outer panels that you sewed together into the lining of your tote bag. Match up seams and pin in place.
22. Sew a 1/2" seam around the top of your bag.
23. Reach into the hole at the bottom of your lining and pull your tote bag right-side out. Press along the top of your bag, making a tidy edge.
24. Stitch a 1/4" seam along the top edge of your bag.
25. With matching thread sew the hole in your lining closed by hand.
You have now completed homemade-holiday-gifts tote bag pattern...I'd love to hear your feedback! Click here to drop me a line about the free tote bag pattern!
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