Large Tote Bags For Christmas Presents and Free How To Make A Large Lined Tote Bag E-Book

I am a big fan of tote bags.  The more the merrier.  I use than for all sorts of reasons as I'm sure you all do too.  For the most part they work out great, but once in awhile, they're just not big enough.  As a result, I'm always on the look out for larger ones.

I'm sure all of you have your fabric stash piles like I do.  For years now I've been looking at two lightweight cotton twill fabrics in a pile on top of my sewing basket.  They're there to remind me to do something with them. So, of course, they've sat there for years now.

Well, this year I decided to make a few really big lined tote bags with long straps for Christmas presents.

I had previously bought 5 yards of my Beautiful Victorian Flowers Fabric #1  custom fabric design out of lightweight cotton twill and decided that I'd use it to make three lined tote bags.

My sister had given me several yards of this blue and white check fabric that she had gotten from a friend and had given to me. She was cleaning out her stash of fabrics and knew I wouldn't refuse it.  It would be used at some point in time.  In looking at my Beautiful Victorian Flowers Fabric #1  custom fabric design I decided the blue and white check would be a perfect compliment for a lining not only for these three bags but for the Victorian Pastel Water Lilies Flower Fabric 15  cut and sew tote bag as well.

I decided a  22" wide by 21" long by 6" deep lined tote bag with a square corner would be a perfect size for these three as well.  I figured I would start with the three yards of my Beautiful Victorian Flowers Fabric #1  custom fabric design out of cotton twill first.

Here's how I made my tote bag:

Supplies Needed Per Bag:

1 Yard of 58" wide Lightweight Cotton Twill Fabric - Beautiful Victorian Flowers Fabric  (for bag)
1 1/4 Yards of 42" Wide Cotton Fabric (for lining)
Sewing Thread and Upholstery Thread
1/2" Lace Trim - 1 1/2 Yards
1 Yard of Fusi-boo Batting

Instructions:

RS - Right Sides       RST - Right Sides Together       RSO - Right Sides Out
WS - Wrong Sides    WST - Wrong Sides Together    WSO - Wrong Sides Out

1) Cut two sections of lightweight cotton twill fabric 22" wide by 21" long, two sections of the cotton fabric lining 22" wide by 21" long, and  two sections of the fusi-boo batting 22" wide by 21" long.

2) Cut two sections of the lightweight cotton twill 5" wide by 31" long and two sections of the fusi-boo batting 3" wide by 29" long for the handles.

3) Iron the two lightweight cotton twill sections and two cotton fabric sections for the tote bag.

4) Sandwich one of the fusi-boo pieces in between the WS of one of the lightweight cotton twill fabric pieces and WS of one of the cotton fabric pieces so you have a 3-layer tote bag section.  Do the same with the other lightweight cotton twill piece, fusi-boo piece, and other cotton fabric piece. You should have two 3-layer tote bag sections.

5) Iron the RS of the lightweight cotton twill fabric and then turn the 3-layer tote bag section over and iron the RS of the cotton fabric so the fusi-boo fabric is fused to the WS of both the lightweight cotton twill and cotton fabrics. Do the same for the other 3-layer tote bag sections.

 

6)  The edges of the two 3-layer tote bag section will be labeled as shown in the illustration above.

7)  Baste the top edge of each of the two 3-layer tote bag section pieces.

8) The edges of the handles will be labeled as shown in the illustration above.

9)  Turn one of the handle pieces over and place one of the 29" by 3" Fusi-Boo pieces on the WS of the handle piece so it is evenly centered.  Do the same for the other handle piece.

10) Turn the side edges of the handle fabric over 1" WST so they cover the edges of the fusi-boo as shown in the illustration above and iron the 1" sides.  Do the same for the other handle piece.

11) Fold the bottom side edge over 1 1/2" so it meets the top side edge and iron both sides so the fusi-boo is fused in between the side edges of the handle. The handle piece should now measure 1 1/2" by 31".  Do the same for the other handle piece.

12)  Top-stitch the 31" folded over side edge 1/4" from the edge and then top-stitch the other side edge 1/4" from the fold. Do the same for the other handle piece and then iron both and set them aside.

13) Place the two tote bag sections RS so the lightweight cotton twill fabrics are RST and so the  basted top edge, side edges, and bottom edges are even.

14) With RST stitch the two tote bag sections along the sides edges and bottom edge using a 3/4" seam allowance.  Trim the seams leaving a 3/8" seam allowance.

15) Finish stitch along the side edges and bottom edge using a zig-zag stitch or overlock stitch.

16) You want to square the bottom left and right corners of the tote bag sections to form a square bottom 6" wide with 3" on the left side and 3" on the right side.  Measure 3" up from the bottom left corner edge and mark the four Point A’s on the side edge of the two tote bag sections as shown in the illustration above. You should have two Point A’s on the left hand side edge of the sewn tote bag sections and two Point A’s on the right hand side edge of the sewn tote bag sections. Measure 3" across the bottom edge from the left corner bottom edge and the mark the four Point B’s on the bottom edge of the two tote bag sections as shown in the illustration above. You should have two Point B’s on the left hand side bottom edge of the sewn tote bag sections and two Point B’s on the right hand side bottom edge of the sewn tote bag sections. Mark the four Point C’s on the side edge of the two tote bag sections as shown in the illustration above. You should have two Point C’s on the left hand side edge of the sewn tote bag sections and two Point C’s on the right hand side edge of the sewn tote bag sections. Mark the four Point D’s on the side edge of the two tote bag sections as shown in the illustration above. You should have two Point D’s on the left hand side edge of the sewn tote bag sections and two Point D’s on the right hand side edge of the sewn tote bag sections.

17) With RST bring the Points B on the left hand side bottom edge of the sewn tote bag sections to meet the Points A, on the left hand side edge, as indicated in the illustration above and pin to hold.  Do the same for the right hand side Points A and B.

18) Sew straight across on the left hand side edge from Point C on the front hand side edge to Point C on the back left hand side edge. Your sewn line should measure 6".  Do the same for the two Point C’s on the right hand side edge of the sewn tote bag. This should create a triangle on the sides and a rectangle on the bottom of the sewn tote bag. Fold the triangle down along the bottom edge and hand stitch at the top of the triangle to hold it to the bottom edge seam with upholstery thread.

19) Turn the bag RSO and iron the seams.

20)  Measure 4" from the top front top edge and top front right edge.  Do the same for the top back top edge. 

21) With RST place the bottom edge of one of the straps at the 4" mark on the top front left top edge and the top edge of that same handle RST on the top front right top edge with the handle facing downwards towards the bottom of the tote bag and pin both to hold. Do the same for the remaining handle and top back top edge.

22) Turn the tote bag inside out so the handles are facing downwards on the inside of the bag and the cotton lining fabric showing on the outside.  With RST fold the top edge of the tote bag and handle under twice and pin to hold.

23) Stitch the top edge of the folded under top edge of the tote bag 1/4" from the bottom edge of the folded down section.

24)  Pull the handles up and with RST pin the handles to the top edge of the tote bag. Stitch 1/4" from the top edge of the folded down area and handle.

25)  Turn the tote bag RSO.  Cut a piece of the 1/2" lace trim to fit around the top edge of the tote bag overlapping the edges by 2".  Fold one edge of the lace trim WST and then pin the lace trim to the top edge of the tote bag along the sewn line on the bottom of the folded down section. Continue pining around the top of the tote covering your sewn line until meeting the lace trim again.  Fold the edge of the lace trim under 1" and pin to hold.  Stitch the lace trim to the tote bag stitching along the center line of the lace trim.

26) Your tote bag should look as shown in the picture above.

27) The inside of the tote bag should look as shown in the picture above.

Since I was making them anyway I decided to create an e-book tutorial showing you how I made my large tote bags.

Linda's How-Do-I Series? How To Make A Large Lined Tote Bag

To view and download my free e-pattern please CLICK HERE.  You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view my free e-pattern. Then just download my free .pdf e-pattern  by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

Once my e-product is downloaded to your computer you can save it and print it. I hope you enjoy my free e-products.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.