Tote Bag Ideas & Free Patterns

For some, tote bags may not be symbols of high fashion but they are awesome tools to stay organized. And if you sew them yourself, you can make them as high-fashion as you like ! Here are a few ideas for using tote bags:

1. Have a tote ready for work (water bottle, planner, personal needs) so that all you have to do is throw your lunch in the tote on your way out the door. Everything else is packed and ready.
2. Have a tote ready for any volunteer or church groups you are involved with. Keep all your papers, notepads, pens, other tools you need, stored in this one tote. No more scrambling at the last minute to pull everything together before rushing out the door to the weekly meeting. Works well with keeping team notes, memos, fundraising plans together as well.
3. Keep a sewing, knitting, craft project or mending items contained in a tote with all tools and items you need for that project. Makes it easy to grab a craft tote while you’re racing out the door to your child’s soccer or hockey game.
4. Prepare a child’s travel kit for your children. Have coloring books, crayons, paper, books to read, toys packed in a tote bag for car trips or for those days when there are lots of errands to run. All you have to do when ready to go is pack juice boxes and snacks and your children will be entertained during car rides.
5. Have a tote just for the library. Keep all the borrowed books in the bag when you’re not reading them and you’ll never lose track of library books again.

More ideas: Totes for the beach, shopping, gym class.

Free Tote Bag Patterns

Here are some free patterns to make your own tote bags:

• Gusseted Tote Bage Tutorial *There are 5 parts to this
• Easy Tote Bag Instructions
• Little Library Tote Tutorial
• Basic Booty Bag Tutorial
• Berroco Free Pattern: Pignoli Felted Bag *Not a tote but Wow! Love it!

Don't Miss These Tips:

• Quick & Easy Summer Library Tote
• Quick & Easy Spring Tote Tutorial
• Smile & Wave’s Tote Bag Tutorial