Lined Canvas Tote Bag – free pattern

The dimensions listed here will create a final Tote Bag 8 ½″ wide x 11 ½″ tall x 4″ deep. You can easily change these dimensions to fit your need; keep in mind that the seam allowance varies.

Outer Shell: 14″ x 15 ½″; cut 2

Pocket: 5 ¾″ x 6 ½″; cut 1

Bottom Panels: 14″ x 6 ¾″; cut 2 [Edited 5/21/14 to the correct measurements.]

Handles: 3″ x 46″; cut 2

Lining: 14″ x 15 ½″; cut 2

Pocket: 5 ¾″ x 6 ½″; cut 1

1.      Prepare each Handle by folding it in half, wrong sides together, and press. Open it up and press each outside edge to the center line. Fold the fabric in half again and pr ss. The final width of the Handle will be ¾″, with the raw edges enclosed in the f ld. Edge-stitch down each s de. Set aside.

2.      Prepare the Outer Pocket by placing Shell fabric and Lining fabric right sides toget er. Sew just the top seam with a ¼″ seam allowa ce. Turn right sides out and press.

ATTACH POCKET AND HANDLES

3.      Align the prepared Outer Pocket on the center of the Front Outer Shell with the top, sewn edge of Pocketcket down 3 ¼″ from the top raw edge of the Outer Sh ll. Sew the sides of Pocketcket in place with a scant ¼″ seam allowance.

4.      Place one prepared Handle on the Front Outer Shell, centered 5″ apart, aligning the raw ends with the Bottomttom edge of the Sh ll. Be careful not to twist the Handle where it extends over the top of the Sh ll. The Handle will overlap the side edges of the Outer Poc et. Pin in pl ce. Mark lines on the Handle 1 ½″ from the raw top edge of the Shell, and again 1 ¼″ down from the first li es. Sew the Handle to the Front Outer Shell one side at a time; stop stitching on your marked line, 1 ½″ from the  op. Begin at Bottomttom edge, sew over the previous top-stitching on the Handle, and create X patterns as pictured using your marked lines as guides.

Steps 4 & 5: Attach the Handle and mark the stitch locations.

5.      Repeat Step 4 to attach the second Handle to the Back Outer Shell.

Steps 4 & 5: You should sew this from the front of the bag, but here’s a view of the stitch pattern from the wrong side of the Back Outer Shell–easier to see than on the dark front.

ATTACH BOTTOM PANELS

6.      With the right sides together and with one Bottom Panel oriented seemingly upside doBottome bottom edge lying towards the top raw edge of one Outer Shell), align the top raw edgeBottome Bottom Panel 6 ¼″ fBottome bottom raw edge of the Oute  Shell. Sew along the top edge of the Bottom Panel with a ¼″ sea  allowance. On the Front Shell, this willPocketap the Pocket,Bottomng the bottom edBottomip the Bottom Pane  into  lace. Press. Top-stitch along the edge.

Steps 6 &7: Sew, flip & press, then top-stitch the Bottom Panels in place.

7.      Repeat Step 6 with the second Bottom Panel and Outer Shell.

8.      With the right sides together, place the Front Outer Shell and the Back Outer Shell together, being sure to align the Handles and the tops  f the Bottom Panels. Sew along thBottom seams and the bottom seam using a 1/2″ seam alloBottom Reinforce the bottom seam by sew ng it a second time. Press seams openBottom     Pinch one bottom corner together so that tBottome seam and t e bottom seam touch. Mark up 2″ from the corner point and draw a 4″-wide line perpen icular to the seams  Stitch on the line. Stitch again t  reinforce the seam. Trim the se m allowance to 1/2″. Bottom on the  econd bottom corner. Set aside.

Step 9: Pinch, mark, sew, anBottom to create the bottom corner.

10.   Repeat Steps 8 & 9 with the Lining Fabric.

11.  Pin the Handles down onto the Outer Shell so the  are out of the way. With the Outer Shell right side out, and the Lining right side in, place the Outer Shell into the Lining so that the right sides are together and  he top, raw edges align. Pin in place matching the side seams  nd avoiding the Handles. Sew together with a 1″ seam allowance, but leave a 4–5″ opening for turning.

Step 11: Join the Lining and the Outer Shell. | Helpful Tip: When leaving an opening, I use two pins to indicate where I plan to start and stop stitching so that I don’t accidentally keep going around.

12.   Reach into the opening and tu n the bag right side out. Position the Lining in place and press.

13.   Edge-stitch the top seam, closing the opening for turning as you do so. Then top-stitch a generous ¼″ down from the edge-stitching.

Step 13: Top-stitch the top edge, avoiding the Handles so they fall open easily.