Ready to create a beautiful and incredibly functional bag that can carry you through your day, whether it's for work, school, or travel? This detailed sewing pattern will guide you in making a large, multi-pocketed tote bag that is a true workhorse. With a spacious interior, a large zippered pocket, and multiple exterior and interior slip pockets, this bag is designed for maximum organization.
This project is a fantastic undertaking for any intermediate to advanced sewer looking to level up their skills. You’ll learn how to install zippers, create different pocket styles, and work with hardware to create a bag that is both sturdy and stylish. Let's get started on creating your perfect everyday tote!
Essential Materials and Tools Checklist
Having the right supplies on hand makes all the difference. Here’s a comprehensive list of what you’ll need to get started.
Fabric: You will need a few different fabrics to create this bag.
Exterior Fabric: About 1 yard of a heavy-weight, durable fabric like canvas, denim, or duck cloth.
Lining Fabric: About 1 yard of a medium-weight woven fabric like quilting cotton.
Interfacing: About 2 yards of fusible fleece or a heavy-weight fusible interfacing to give the bag a firm, structured shape.
Zippers: You will need two nylon coil zippers.
Main Zipper: One 16-inch zipper for the main compartment.
Interior Zippered Pocket: One 9-inch zipper.
Hardware:
D-Rings: Two 1-inch D-rings for the shoulder strap.
Swivel Clasps: Two 1-inch swivel clasps.
Strap Adjuster: One 1-inch strap adjuster slider.
Webbing:
Handles: 1.5 yards of 1.5-inch wide cotton or nylon webbing for the short handles.
Shoulder Strap: 1.5 yards of 1-inch wide cotton or nylon webbing for the shoulder strap.
Sewing Machine: This project requires a sewing machine. A walking foot is highly recommended for sewing through the thick layers of fabric and interfacing. A zipper foot is essential.
Cutting Tools: Sharp fabric scissors or a rotary cutter and cutting mat.
Fasteners: Sewing pins or wonder clips to hold your fabric pieces together.
Iron: An iron and ironing board are crucial for pressing seams and fusing the interfacing.
Thread: A spool of all-purpose polyester thread that matches or coordinates with your fabric.
The Pattern and Cutting Instructions
This bag is constructed from several simple rectangular pieces. The key is to cut each piece with precision.
Exterior & Interfacing:
Front/Back Main Panels (2 total): Cut 2 rectangles each measuring 18" wide x 15" high.
Side Panels (2 total): Cut 2 rectangles each measuring 5" wide x 15" high.
Bottom Panel (1 total): Cut 1 rectangle measuring 18" x 5".
Exterior Slip Pockets (2 total): Cut 2 rectangles each measuring 9" x 9".
Lining:
Front/Back Main Panels (2 total): Cut 2 rectangles each measuring 18" wide x 15" high.
Side Panels (2 total): Cut 2 rectangles each measuring 5" wide x 15" high.
Bottom Panel (1 total): Cut 1 rectangle measuring 18" x 5".
Interior Zippered Pocket: Cut 2 rectangles each measuring 9" x 12".
Interior Slip Pockets: Cut 1 rectangle measuring 8" x 12".
Webbing:
Short Handles (2 total): Cut 2 pieces of 1.5-inch webbing, each 24 inches long.
Shoulder Strap: Cut 1 piece of 1-inch webbing, 55 inches long.
Step-by-Step Assembly
This section will walk you through the entire sewing process. All seams should be sewn with a 1/2-inch seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
Part 1: Creating and Attaching the Pockets
Step 1: Fuse the Interfacing. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of all your exterior fabric pieces.
Step 2: Exterior Pockets. Take the two 9" x 9" rectangles for the exterior slip pockets. Fold the top edge of each pocket piece down by 1/2 inch and press. Fold it down again by 1/2 inch to enclose the raw edge and press. Topstitch this hem. Pin the finished pockets to the front exterior panel and stitch the sides and bottom to attach, adding a vertical seam down the middle of each pocket to create two smaller pockets.
Step 3: Interior Zippered Pocket. On one of the 9" x 12" pieces, mark a rectangle 1 inch wide and 7 inches long, centered horizontally and 2 inches from the top. Cut out the marked rectangle. Place the other 9" x 12" piece underneath the cut-out one and pin your 9-inch zipper behind the opening. Sew all the way around the opening to secure the zipper.
Part 2: Assembling the Exterior and Lining
Step 4: Sew the Exterior Body. Take your main front and back panels and sew the side and bottom panels to them, right sides together. This will create the boxy, structured shape. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam.
Step 5: Prepare the Lining. Repeat Step 4 to create the lining body, but leave a 6-inch gap in the middle of the bottom seam for turning. Before you sew the lining, sew the interior zippered pocket and the slip pockets onto their respective lining panels.
Part 3: Handles, Straps, and Final Assembly
Step 6: Attach the Handles. Take your 24-inch webbing pieces. Pin the ends of each handle to the top edge of the bag, about 4 inches in from the side seams. Baste in place.
Step 7: Attach the D-Rings. Take two small, 3-inch long pieces of webbing and loop them through the D-rings. Pin these to the top side seams of the bag, so they stick up and are basted in place.
Step 8: Join the Bag and Lining. Insert the exterior bag into the lining bag, so the right sides are facing each other. Align the top raw edges and pin all the way around, making sure the handles and D-rings are tucked in between the layers. Sew all the way around the top edge.
Step 9: Turn and Finish. Reach into the opening you left in the lining and pull the entire bag through. Gently push out the corners. Press the top edge of the bag. Hand-stitch or machine-stitch the opening in the lining closed. Push the lining inside the bag.
Step 10: Topstitch. Topstitch all the way around the top opening of the bag, about 1/4 inch from the edge. This will give it a professional finish and help it hold its shape.
Step 11: The Shoulder Strap. Take the long webbing piece. Thread one end through a swivel clasp. Fold the end over and sew it down. Thread the other end through the strap adjuster, then through the second swivel clasp, and back through the strap adjuster. Sew the end down to create your adjustable strap. Attach it to the D-rings.
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