I’m bringing you one of my favorite sewing patterns and bags I’ve made yet. I’m going to show you this Free Tote Bag Pattern With Inside Pockets & Sewing Tutorial. This bag has the extra organization on the inside that I have been missing from my other bags. This turned out so nice and I am loving how it looks. I had been looking for a pattern for a new bag for a while, and my sewing friend Debbie showed me this one. It is super cute. I made my straps with fabric, but you could make yours with webbing if you wanted. I just added interfacing to my fabric and it worked great. Make one of these bags for yourself and one for a friend. It is great for keeping books, documents, and other items in place for easy reach. You can use it as a larger purse or just as a carry-all bag. Whatever you decide to use it for, it will be wonderful. Pick out some solid color or print fabric you love to give your bag that personal touch.
You’ll need at least a yard of main fabric and a yard of lining fabric. You’ll also need the same amount in interfacing to stabilize your fabric and add some durability and stiffness. Finally, you will need either a yard of webbing or fabric for your straps. Gather up the other sewing items from the list below and let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- 1 Yard of 44″ Wide Fabric for main bag
- 1 Yard of 44″ Wide Fabric for lining
- 1 Yard of Interfacing
- 1 Yard of Webbing or fabric if using it for straps
- Matching Thread
- Free Tote Bag With Pockets Pattern
- Iron
- Pins
- Scissors
- Optional Rotary Cutter & Mat
- Measuring tape
- Thread nippers
- Sewing machine
- Fabric marker
- Bodkin or Safety Pin
Printing Instructions
This tote bag pattern with inside pockets has layers, so that you can choose to print only the size you need. To achieve this Adobe Reader must be installed on your machine or device. Adobe Reader allows you to click on the layers icon which will show you each size with an eyeball beside it. Click on the eyeball beside the size you do not want to print. Is this tote bag missing the size you are looking for? Then check out our post on Pattern Grading.
Before printing check that your printer is set to No scaling or Actual size. Set the Page orientation to Auto or Portrait. And then print page 1. Measure the 2” test square to see if it measures exactly 2”. If it does, print the remaining pages.
Trimming Pages
Cut off the right and top margins of each printed page before assembling the pattern. You can use tape or school glue to adhere your paper pattern together.
Pattern Assembly
After the pages have been printed and trimmed as instructed above, use the quarter circles located at the corner of each page for perfect alignment. When done your pattern should look like this:
Pattern Pieces Checklist
Once you have printed and assembled your pattern you will cut:
- Bag body – Cut 2 Main, 2 Lining, 2 Interfacing
- Straps – Cut 2 from main fabric, 2 Interfacing (optional)
- Divider -Cut 2Main, 2 Interfacing (optional)
- Pocket – Cut 1 Main, 1 Interfacing (optional)
Seam Allowance
Use a 3/8” seam allowance unless otherwise instructed.
Free Tote Bag Pattern With Inside Pockets With Sewing Tutorial
Start this free tote bag pattern with pockets sewing tutorial by printing out and assembling the free tote bag pattern. Once you have done that, you can use it to cut out your fabric pieces. Next, you’ll need to use the pattern to cut out your interfacing pieces. Iron them to the bag lining pieces, the divider pieces, the pocket lining, and the straps if you are using fabric instead of webbing.
Fold and press straps in half wrong sides together. Open the strap and fold in the long ends to meet the pressed line and fold again and press.
Sew along both long edges 1/8” from the edge. Sew two additional lines down the middle of the strap. Repeat for the other strap.
Next on the free tote bag pattern with inside pockets sewing tutorial, we will work on the pockets. Fold the pocket right sides together. Mark a 2” opening at the opposite end of the fold (SHOW IN RED) Sew around the open edges of the pocket, leaving the opening unsewn (SHOWN IN BLUE). Trim the corners of the pocket. (SHOWN IN BLACK). Turn the pocket right sides out. The corners should be nice and sharp.
Place the pocket in the center of the bag piece. Sew around the edges securing the pocket to the fabric and closing the opening left for turning.
Pin the divider right sides together and sew the top.
Flip the divider wrong sides together and topstitch the top of the divider. Press.
With one layer of your lining fabric right side up, lay the divider on top of it, aligning side seams.
Now on this free tote bag pattern sewing tutorial, place the other layer of the lining fabric on top so that it is wrong side up ( lining fabrics will be right sides together) and pin.
Sew the side seam. Repeat for the other side. Sew each side seam of the bag. When you are finished, turn the tote bag right sides out.
Pin the divider between the front and the back bag piece at the base and sew.
To form the base of the bag align the side seam and the bottom seam on top of each other and pin. Ensure the divider is flattened before you pin.
Sew the seam. Repeat for the other side.
At the top of the main fabric find the center and mark.
Mark 3” from either side of this center mark and pin the center of the strap at this mark.
Baste the strap in place. Repeat for the other bag piece and straps.
Pin the main bag pieces at the side seams and also at the hem and sew.
Align the bag side seams and base seam as shown and sew the corners. Repeat for the other side.
With right sides together, pin the main and the lining of the tote bag together and sew, leaving a 3” opening to turn the bag right sides out.
Turn the bag right sides out through the opening, aligning the main and lining, ensuring the seam allowance for the opening is turned in, and sew around the top of the bag 1/8” from the edge.
And that’s it! Now your tote bag with inside pockets is done! We hope you love this free tote bag pattern with inside pockets sewing tutorial as much as we do. This has become one of my favorite bags!
Now you can wear this bag knowing that your stuff will stay more organized and neat. This bag is large enough to accommodate anything you want to fill it with while still having a method to the madness. Be sure to let us know in the comments what you are going to put in the inside pockets, as we love seeing the creativity of our readers.
If you liked this free tote bag pattern with inside pockets with sewing tutorial, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!
Free Tote Bag Pattern With Inside Pockets With Sewing Tutorial
Add some organization to your daily carry with this cute little bag with a divider. Fun to sew!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Use pattern to cut out fabric.
- Iron interfacing to Bag lining pieces, Divider lining, Pocket Lining and the Straps
- Fold and press straps in half wrong sides together.
- Open the strap and fold in the long ends to meet the pressed line and fold again and press.
- Sew along both long edges 1/8” from the edge. Sew two additional lines down the middle of the strap.
- Repeat for the other strap.
- "Fold the pocket right sides together. Mark a 2” opening at the opposite end of the fold (SHOW IN RED)
- Sew around the open edges of the pocket, leaving the opening unsewn (SHOWN IN BLUE).
- Trim the corners of the pocket (SHOWN IN BLACK).
- Turn the pocket right sides out. The corners should be nice and sharp.
- Place the pocket in the center of the bag piece. Sew around the edges securing the pocket to the fabric and closing the opening left for turning.
- Pin the divider right sides together and sew the top.
- Flip the divider wrong sides together and topstitch the top of the divider. Press.
- With one layer of your lining fabric right side up, lay the divider on top of it, aligning side seams.
- Place the other layer of the lining fabric on top so that it is wrong side up ( lining fabrics will be right sides together) and pin. Sew the side seam.
- Repeat for the other side.
- Sew each side seam.
- Turn right sides out.
- Pin the divider between the front and the back bag piece at the base and sew.
- To form the base of the bag align the side seam and the bottom seam on top of each other and pin. Ensure the divider is flatten before you pin.
- Sew the seam.
- Repeat for the other side.""At the top of the main fabric mark the center and mark.
- Mark 3” from either side of this center mark and pin the center of the strap at this mark.
- Baste the strap in place.
- Repeat for the other bag piece and straps.
- Pin the main bag pieces at the side seams and also at the hem and sew.
- Align the bag side seams and base seam as shown and sew the corners. Repeat for the other side.
- With right sides together, pin the main and the lining of the bag together and sew, leaving a 3” opening to turn the bag right sides out.
- Turn the bag right sides out through the opening.
- Align the main and lining, ensuring the seam allowance for the opening is turned in, and sew around the top of the bag 1/8” from the edge.
- Enjoy!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Best Beginner Sewing Machines -
Fiskars Crafts 95237097J Rotary Sewing Cutting Set (3 Piece), Grey -
4-Pack Turquoise All Purpose Sewing Thread -
LIVINGO Premium Tailor Scissors Heavy Duty Multi-Purpose Titanium Coating Forged Stainless Steel Sewing Fabric Leather Dressmaking Softgrip Shears Professional Crafting (9.5 INCH) -
Pinking Shears for Fabric, Zig Zag Scissors, Ergonomic Grips, Ultra-Sharp, Professional Peaking Shears for Sewing, Craft, Dressmaking, 9 Inch, Black
