45+ Free Tote Bag Patterns & Tutorials: {Sewing}

Ruffled: Made of soft cotton with a cascade of ruffles. This is one of my favorites!

Easy: This is unlined and uses french seams to create a nice, neat inside with no exposed seams.

Reversible Bucket Style: Sweet design with a flower embellished button for the closure, use a different print for the inside so you can alternate looks (reversible).

Scrunch Style: Lined and a leather belt (with buckle) is used for the strap, each side is gathered first before assembling.

Fold-Over: You’ll need material for the exterior, lining and scraps for pocket, double fold bias tape, medium weight fusible interfacing, cotton webbing and grommets.

Secretary: Nice and big and measures 15″ x 14″ so it’s large enough to carry a laptop, files and whatever else you like.

Ruffly Ribbon Handles & Ties: A simple lined, box-bottom style, featuring fun double-ruffle ribbon accents. This is lined and has a small inner pocket.

Braided Handle: Made with a sturdy cotton duck canvas, features a clean tear drop shape and side snaps…so simple yet gorgeous.

Compact: Folds up neatly into its own little pocket and is the perfect size to fit into a bike basket and to pick up groceries from the farmers market or corner store.

Denim: Cut up old jeans to make this, nice & sturdy.

School: Nice ‘n big with a button & strap closure. Handles can be made with same material or just use nylon strapping.

Freezer Paper Designs: Stencil any design you like using freezer paper and paint (no tutorial for the tote itself).

Fat Quarter: Uses every bit of a fat quarter to make this, make sure the piece is squared and true.

Library: Whether you like things scrappy or streamlined, this is ready to go when you are. Take it to the library or to the park, it’s big enough for all the essentials.

Simple Six Pocket: Surprisingly easy to make and cleverly incorporates outer pockets for everyday necessities.

Basic Booty: Unlined and made from jeans or other pants.

Piano Style: Fun design and perfect gift idea for piano students.

The Weekender: Here is a fun choice in a cotton waxcloth outer with leatherette base and trim, perfect for the do-it-yourselfer.

Gorgeous Lined Handbag: Made with medium weight wool suiting, upholstery vinyl, lining, muslin, Peltex and covered buttons.

Dishtowel: This is made from a dishtowel and is lightweight enough for your little reader, but sturdy enough to carry a small stash of library books.

1 Yard, 1 Hour: Make this quick and simple project in about an hour from one yard of material. A lightweight material such as quilter’s cotton is recommended.

Two Kates: Nice for holding and carrying project supplies.

Summery: Made with two coordinating rectangular dishcloths and a yard of webbing (twill tape style).

Sweet Sac: Based on a project found in a Japanese craft book with added patchwork and yo-yo embellishments.

Made With A Pillowcase: They are super easy and quick to make, involving only straight line stitching. Made with a thrifted pillowcase.

Easy: Basic instructions provided.

With Outer Pocket: This one’s a little different to make, you sew one lining to one outer fabric and then stitch them all together after putting on pockets and handles.

Dress Stitchery: Features embroidered dress designs across the middle.

Doily Canvas: Shows how to use a paper doily and paint to decorate a plain canvas bag.

Dish Towel: Quick & easy and uses four dish towels for the material.

DIY Reversible: Easy-to-make and features a shoulder strap and inner pocket. Image file download for pattern pieces (not to size but use as reference).

Eva: Simple yet versatile and you can customize it any number of ways (several examples shown on page).

Charm Square: Made with 16 charms across and around the top, contrasting fabric for the bottom and a gathered strip in between.

Spring: Made with a set of tea towels, belting, fusible fleece interfacing and coordinating piping.

Wallet Style: Nice! This roomy version folds up into a small zipped wallet, template download available (via pdf).

Market Purse: Lined with an inner pocket, open top (with magnetic snap) and a shoulder strap.

Made With A Tank Top: The best kind of tank tops to use for this project are ones that have front and back necklines that are the same height—or very close.

Gathered: This is lined and has webbing straps and ruffles, a gathered body and 2″ grommets to run the straps through, magnetic snap closure.

Doily Makeover: Uses a ready made canvas bag, logos are covered then a doily is attached over top.

Mickey Design: Cover a plain canvas tote with Mickey Mouse shapes cut from assorted prints.

Post Office: Convenient for hauling parcels, this is made with heavy duty material, interfacing and thread to match.

Pleats: Features preppy pleats and a sweet curved top edge.

Utility: The most functional yet basic design.

Outer Pockets: Has four outer pockets (two on each side) and can be made with complimentary fabrics.

Leather Satchel: You can use repurposed leather for this, simple stitching involved.

With Pockets: Make this any size you like with a piece of main fabric, a piece for accent, lining and straps, fat quarter for pockets, ric rac and pellon.

Weekender: Extra-large in size, made with canvas, accent fabric and lining. Zips closed.

Leather & Canvas Satchel: You’ll need a scrap of leather, heavy weight canvas (about a yard), and basic supplies.

Bucket: Lined, drawstring closure and twill tape is attached for a carrying strap.