How to Sew a Tote / Handbag

Today's step-by-step tutorial "How to Sew a Tote / Handbag" is going to require only a handful of pre-cut fabric strips, some scrap fabric and some iron on interfacing. Your finished good is going to look like a million dollars. If you think sewing your own tote or handbag is too difficult, don't be afraid. It is much easier than you think; just follow my step-by-step instructions on how to sew a tote / handbag and within an hour or two, you will have a new tote to show off to your girlfriends.

To start out, I cut two fabric strips measuring 4" x 20" to make the handles. If you like your handles somewhat stiff like me, cut two iron interfacing strips measuring also 4" x 20" and iron it on to your fabric.

Fold the fabric strip in half and iron it. Once ironed "open" your fabric strip and fold the outer edge towards the middle...

...and iron your fabric strip again.

To complete your tote handles, top stitch your fabric strip as shown in my below picture:

For the body of my new tote I used 6 fabric strips. Each fabric strip measures 2.5" X 44". I assembled them using a 1/4" seam allowance. Once assembled, I cut my assembled fabric piece into three pieces. Two of the pieces are 15.5" wide (you can choose your desired width) and remaining third piece measuring approximately 13" is being used as the inside pocket for this handbag. 

I added an additional wide fabric strip to the two fabric pieces that will be the "body" of the tote (see below picture). My finished fabric pieces will measure 15.5" X 20" since I wanted a large tote but you can easily adjust the size to your liking.

I ironed on a thicker iron interfacing on to the back of my fabric pieces and top stitch along each fabric strip seam (you may choose to do so or not). Then place the two fabric pieces right side together and sew around 3 sides using a 1/4" seam allowance. 

To create the bottom of your tote "pinch" the corner to create a triangle - see below picture for clarification:

The triangle should measure 4" on the bottom and 2" high. Sew along the bottom of your triangle. If you want a wide bottom, just increase the width of your triangle and vice versa.

Cut the excess fabric and repeat these steps with the other corner of your tote:

The bottom of your tote should look like this at this point of time:

Now pin your handles on to the right side of your tote 4" from the outer edge of your tote.

Now sew the handles to your tote using a 1/4" seam allowance.

To make the lining for your tote, repeat these steps: cut two fabric pieces with exact same measurement - sew on your pocket if desired - assemble the three sides with 1/4" seam allowance BUT leave an opening at the bottom of your lining - that is where you will turn your tote inside out.

Once you have completed your lining put your "outer" tote inside your lining with the right sides of the fabrics facing each other. As seen in the below picture, your handles should be in between your lining and your "outer" tote.

Now sew along the top edge to attach the lining with the "outer" tote. 

Once you have sewn all around the top edge, turn the tote inside out through the bottom of your lining. If you lay your tote flat it should look like this:

Now you can top stitch the bottom of your lining close using 1/8" seam allowance. Then place all of the lining inside your tote and top stitch all around the top of your tote using a 1/4" seam allowance and now your tote / handbag should look like this:

YOU ARE DONE!