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

Ruffled: A beautiful drawstring bag made of soft cotton with a cascade of ruffles. This is one of my favorites!

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

With Pockets: Make this bag in 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.

Reversible: Two pdf downloads for this project, one for the pattern pieces and the other for instructions (both free).

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 sturdy bag.

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

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

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

Library Tote: Whether you like things scrappy or streamlined, this bag 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 Bag: This easy-to-sew bag cleverly incorporates outer pockets for everyday necessities.

Basic Booty Bag: Unlined bag made from jeans or other pants.

Utility: The most functional yet basic of bag designs. A book bag, a market carry-all, the perfect everyday tote.

Jordy: Learn how to make the Jordy Bag – a fully lined, roomy tote.

Piano Shoulder Bag: 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.

Applique: Pretty bag appliqued with flowers and embellished with buttons.

Little Library Tote: It 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 tote bag in about an hour from one yard of fabric. A lightweight fabric such as quilter’s cotton is recommended.

Two Kates: Nice bag for toting project supplies.

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

Sweet Sac: Based on a bag 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 sewing. Made with a thrifted pillowcase.

Make An Easy Tote: Basic instructions for a cute bag.

Tote Bag Tutorial: (Free pdf pattern) This one’s a little different to make, you sew one lining to one outer fabric and then sew them all together after putting on pockets and handles.

Dress Stitchery: Features embroidered dress designs across the middle.

Doily Canvas Bag: Shows how to use a paper doily and paint to decorate a plain canvas bag (no tutorial for making the bag).

Dish Towel Tote: Quick & easy project that makes a pretty bag using four dish towels for the fabric.

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

Eva: A simple yet versatile bag that you can customize any number of ways (several examples shown on page). Free pdf pattern download.

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.

Ruffly Ribbon Handles & Ties: A simple lined, box-bottom bag, featuring fun double-ruffle ribbon accents. Bag 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.

Wallet-to-Tote: Nice! This roomy bag folds up into a small zipped wallet, free template download available (via pdf).

Market Purse: Nice lined bag 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. Otherwise, your tote bag will be lopsided.

Gathered Bag: A lined bag with webbing straps and fabric ruffles, a gathered body and 2″ grommets to run the straps through, magnetic snap closure.

Reversible Bucket Bag: Sweet design with a fabric flower embellished button for the closure, use a different fabric print for the inside of the bag so you can alternate looks (reversible). Free pdf download.

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

Doily Makeover: (uses a ready made canvas bag) Logos are covered then a doily is sewn across outer bag.

Mickey Design: Cover a plain canvas tote with Mickey Mouse shapes cut from assorted fabric prints (free template provided).

Hedgehog Book Bag: Has fabric handles, a patchwork strip across the top and a wee hedgehog stitched in the bottom corner (template provided).

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

Post Office Bag: A convenient tote for hauling parcels, this is made with heavy duty fabric, interfacing and thread to match.

Pleats: Features preppy pleats and a sweet curved top edge, tutorial via free pdf download.

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

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