How to make a shoulder tote bag with an inner zippered divider pocket

 

Are you tired of rummaging through your tote bag to find your keys, wallet, or phone? This is the project for you. This detailed sewing tutorial will guide you through creating a structured shoulder tote bag with a game-changing feature: a zippered divider pocket right in the center. This innovative design gives your bag a professional, organized feel, making it the perfect accessory for work, school, or travel. While the process may seem complex, breaking it down into manageable steps makes this a rewarding and achievable project for intermediate sewers.

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Materials You'll Need

This guide is based on a finished bag size of approximately 34 cm wide, 24 cm high, and 12 cm deep. The dimensions below can be adjusted to create a bag of any size you like.

• Main Outer Fabric: A sturdy fabric like cotton canvas or denim.

  • 2 pieces for the main panels (36cm x 28cm each)

  • 2 pieces for the side panels (14cm x 28cm each)

  • 1 piece for the bottom panel (36cm x 14cm)

• Lining Fabric: A lighter-weight fabric like cotton muslin.

  • 2 pieces for the main panels (36cm x 28cm each)

  • 2 pieces for the side panels (14cm x 28cm each)

  • 1 piece for the bottom panel (36cm x 14cm)

• Fusible Interfacing: Medium to heavy-weight, to give the bag structure.

  • 2 pieces for the main panels (36cm x 28cm each)

  • 2 pieces for the side panels (14cm x 28cm each)

  • 1 piece for the bottom panel (36cm x 14cm)

• Zippered Divider Pocket:

  • 2 pieces of lining fabric for the pocket body (36cm x 24cm each)

  • 1 piece for the pocket zipper tabs (10cm x 10cm)

  • 1 zipper (36cm long)

• Handles:

  • 2 pieces of outer fabric for the handles (60cm x 10cm each)

• Tools:

  • Sewing machine with a zipper foot

  • Fabric scissors or a rotary cutter

  • Pins or Clover clips

  • A ruler and fabric marker

  • An iron and ironing board

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Part 1: Preparing the Fabric and Handles

Before you begin sewing, it's crucial to prepare all your fabric pieces for a smooth and accurate project.

1. Cut and Fuse: Cut all your fabric pieces to the specified dimensions. Iron the fusible interfacing onto the wrong side of all your outer fabric pieces. This will give your tote bag its signature sturdy shape.

2. Make the Handles: Take your two handle pieces. Fold the long edges in towards the center and press. Then, fold the entire piece in half lengthwise, enclosing the raw edges. Press again and sew a topstitch along both long edges to create a finished handle.

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Part 2: Assembling the Outer Bag

With the fabric prepared, you can now construct the main body of the tote bag.

1. Attach the Handles: Lay your two outer main panels right-side up. Position the raw ends of the handles onto the panels, ensuring they are evenly spaced and aligned with the top edge. Pin and sew them securely, reinforcing the stitches with a box stitch for durability.

2. Sew the Panels Together: Pin the front and back main panels to the side panels, right sides together. Sew the seams. Then, attach the bottom panel to the rest of the bag body. This will create a three-dimensional box shape for the bag's exterior.

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Part 3: The Zippered Divider Pocket

This is the key feature of this tote bag, and it's simpler than you might think.

1. Prepare the Zipper: Take your 36cm zipper. Create two small fabric tabs from your 10cm x 10cm fabric piece. Fold the tabs and sew them onto the ends of the zipper to give it a clean, finished look.

2. Sew the Pocket: Take your two lining fabric pieces for the divider pocket (36cm x 24cm). Lay one piece right-side up. Place the zipper on top, teeth down, aligning the top edge. Place the second lining piece on top, right-side down, creating a fabric-zipper-fabric sandwich. Sew along the zipper with a zipper foot. Flip the fabrics away from the zipper and press. Topstitch to create a clean seam and prevent fabric from getting caught. Sew the three remaining raw edges of the pocket together.

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Part 4: Final Assembly and Finishing Touches

Now it's time to bring all the pieces together to create the final tote bag.

1. Construct the Lining: Sew your lining fabric pieces together in the same way you did for the outer bag, but leave a large opening (about 5-6 inches) in the bottom seam of the lining. This will be used to turn the bag right-side out.

2. Attach the Divider Pocket: With the lining inside out, center the zippered divider pocket and pin it to the front and back lining panels. Sew the pocket to the lining's top edges, ensuring it is secure and perfectly centered.

3. Insert and Sew: Turn the outer bag right-side out and the lining wrong-side out. Insert the lining into the outer bag, so the right sides of both fabrics are facing each other. The top edges of both bags should be aligned. Pin and sew all the way around the top opening.

4. Turn and Close: Pull the entire bag through the opening you left in the bottom seam of the lining. Use your fingers to push out all the corners. Give the bag one final press. Hand-sew or machine-stitch the opening in the lining closed.

Video tutorial

Your new zippered tote bag is now ready to use! Enjoy the satisfaction of having created a custom, organized, and stylish bag all by yourself.