How To Make A Farmer’s Market Tote Bag

I am so excited about this weekend. The farmer’s market is back in season and I cannot wait to go. I decided to make a new sewing project just for this weekend. I’m going to show you How To Make A Farmer’s Market Tote Bag! This is a great bag for hauling around your fresh fruits and veggies you buy at the market. I made this bag out of a combination of duck fabric and regular cotton and it turned out great. You can use regular cotton throughout and it will be fine. I love the way this turned out. This is a larger bag perfect for all the goodies you will find. I love shopping local and getting my produce as fresh as possible. This is a great sewing project for advanced beginners and anyone comfortable sewing several different size layers and pieces together. The interfacing really helps this bag keep its shape. Pick out some fun print fabric or just a plain color you like. I have lots of bags, so I thought I would go with a nice flower design print to help differentiate it from my other regular tote bags. 

I love the straps on this bag, too. They go around the entire tote to give you extra help hauling around your fruits and veggies. Gather up your supplies from the list below and let’s get started!

What You’ll Need:

• 1 ½ yards heavyweight fusible interfacing 
• ¼ yard cotton/twill/duck fabric – Pocket
• ¼ yard cotton/twill/duck fabric – Straps
• ½ yard cotton/twill/duck fabric – Sides
• ½ yard cotton fabric – Lining
• ¼ yard cotton/twill/duck fabric – Bottom
• Coordinating Thread
• Rotary cutting mat set 
• Iron
• Ironing Board
• Pins
• Scissors 
• Measuring tape 
• Thread nippers
• Sewing machine
• Fabric marker

My fabric was 54” wide upholstery fabric, so I didn’t need to join my pieces together. If you have 44” wide fabric, you may need to cut 2 additional pieces and join them together on the diagonal. 

How To Make A Farmers Market Tote Bag

Start this how to make a farmer’s market tote bag sewing tutorial by washing, drying, and ironing your fabric. I like doing this because it makes the fabric nice and soft and easier to cut. Do not do this with this interfacing. Once your fabric is prepared, cut the following: 

• 1-9”x6.5” piece from the Pocket fabric
• 2-21.5”x12.5” pieces from the Sides fabric
• 2-21.5”x12.5” pieces from the fusible interfacing
• 2-21.5”x13” pieces from the Lining fabric
• 1-21.5”x9.5” piece from the Bottom fabric
• 1-21.5”x9.5” piece from the fusible interfacing
• *2-4.5”x54” pieces from the Straps fabric

Once you have your fabric cut out, place one piece of the interfacing on the wrong side of each of the sides, bottom, and pocket pieces. Press with a warm iron.

Instructions for the Pocket:

Next on this how to make a farmer’s market tote bag sewing tutorial, we will work on the pocket. Place the pocket piece on your ironing board or pressing mat with the wrong side of the fabric facing up. Using a warm iron, Press each side over 5/8”. Repeat. Topstitch across the top. 

Find the middle of one of the side pieces as well as the middle of the pocket. With the side piece and the pocket with right sides facing up, align the mid-point of the pocket on top of the side piece. Using a ¼” seam allowance along the sides and bottom, attach the pocket to the side piece.

Instructions for the Body:

Now that the pocket is done, we will work on the body. With right sides together, pin or clip 1 of the side pieces and the bottom piece together. Using a ½” seam allowance, sew the pieces together. Repeat for the other side piece to the other side of the bottom. Open the 3 pieces and using a warm iron, press the seams open.

Topstitch ¼” on the right side of the fabric, on either side of the two seams.

Instructions for the Lining:

Step 6: The next step in the how to make a farmer’s market tote bag tutorial is to work on the lining for our tote. Using a ½” seam allowance, attach the lining pieces just as you joined the sides and bottom pieces in Step 4, leaving a 4” gap for turning. With right sides together and using a ½” seam allowance, close up the sides of the lining.

Instructions for the Straps:

For the straps, fold each side over ½” lengthwise and press with a warm iron. Fold the strap in half, with pressed sides aligned. Press with a warm iron.

Step 9: Using a ¼” seam allowance, use a straight stitch to close the open side of the strap. Topstitch the closed side and close the two short open ends.

Instructions for Attaching the Straps: 

Once you have your straps done, we just need to attach them to the farmer’s market tote. Place the finished piece from Steps 4-5 right side up on a flat surface, so the sides are at the top and bottom and the bottom piece is in the middle. Find the middle of the bottom piece and using your fabric marker, make a line going across the length of the piece.

Using your fabric marker and ruler, make a vertical line from the top to the bottom that is aligned with the outer edge of the pocket, stopping 3” from the top. Do this on the opposite side as well.

Step 10: Beginning at the middle line on the bottom piece, and aligning the strap with the line you drew, pin the strap in place, going up from the bottom, along one side of the pocket and down the other side of the pocket, so the other end f the strap meets the middle lone of the bottom piece, making a “U” shape. Repeat on the other side.

Step 11: Using a ¼” seam allowance, attach the straps to the bag, stopping at the 3” mark you made from the top of the bag.

With right sides together, pin or clip the open sides of the bag together.

Using a ½” seam allowance, close the sides of the body of the bag.

Instructions for the Boxed Corners: 

In order for our farmer’s market tote to stand up, we need to box the corners. Lay your bag on a flat surface. Using your fabric marker and ruler, mark a 2” square on each corner of the outer bag. Repeat with the lining.

Pinch the opening of each corner and line up the seams and press them together. Clip or pin and using a 1/2” seam allowance, close the opening. Trim the seams. Repeat for the lining.

Instructions for Putting the Bag Together:

Now on this how to make a farmer’s market tote bag sewing tutorial, we will put it all together! Fold over the top of the body of the bag ½”, from the right side over onto the wrong side. Press with a warm iron. Repeat with the lining Using a ¼” seam allowance, sew along the perimeter of the outer edge of the bag. Repeat for the lining.

Turn your outer bag and lining right side out. Slide the lining into the outer bag. Line up the side seams and pin or clip into place and then continue to pin or clip the remainder of the pieces together. Slide the straps in between the bag and lining. 

Step 19: Using a 1/4” seam allowance, sew around the perimeter of the bag, joining the bag and the lining together. 

Steps 20-21: Pull the bag right side out through the opening in the lining. Using a warm iron, press, paying attention to the seam around the opening. Topstitch 1/8” around the perimeter of the bag. 

Step 22: The last step in this how to make a farmer’s market tote bag tutorial is to attach the remaining part of the strap that is still unattached at the top. Do this on all four spots. You may want to sew an “X” to reinforce it. Enjoy your new Market Tote Bag!

And that’s it! Now you know how to make a farmer’s market tote bag! This is a fun and simple bag you can use for many years to come. Perfect for your fresh fruits and veggies!

If you liked learning how to make a farmer’s market tote bag, 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!

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