Canvas tote bag patternCanvas tote bag pattern

Step 1

Wash, dry and iron your fabric.

Step 2

Print your pattern pieces from here.

Step 3

Assemble the pattern for the top piece and the bottom piece.

Step 4

Place both top and bottom pattern pieces on the striped fabric and cut around the patterns. Do the same for the mustard fabric.

Step 5

Then mix and match. Match the bottom pieces of the mustard to the top pieces of the striped fabric and the bottom pieces of the striped fabric to the top pieces of the mustard. I used the mustard top/ striped bottom panel as lining but you can choose which ever one you like.

Step 6

Place the pattern pieces on the interfacing and cut accordingly. You will only need 2 pieces for the bottom and 2 for the top as you'll only use interfacing for the outer fabric panels.

Step 7

Fuse interfacing to the outer fabric as instructed on the package.

Step 8

Take the outer panels and match them at the straight line, facing together then sew with 1/4" seam allowance. Do the same for the other outer panels and the lining panels.

Step 9

Now you'll have 2 big outer fabric pieces and 2 big lining pieces.

Step 10

Take the 2 outer fabric pieces, pin at the sides and the bottom then sew a 1/4" seam.

Step 11

Do the same for the 2 lining pieces.

Step 12

Box the lining fabric. In the corner, measure 2" away from the side and the bottom and mark with a fabric marker.

Step 13

Now pinch the top fabric and match the side seam to the bottom seam, lining them up to make a nice triangle. Stick a pin if you need to.

Step 14

Sew a straight line perpendicular to the corner and do a backstitch at the beginning and at the end.

Step 15

When boxing the outer bag you may find it difficult to pinch and match the seams so draw the 2" mark and cut the fabric out then match the seams as above and sew with 1/8" allowance, backstitching at the beginning and the end.

Step 16

Make the corded handles as indicated in this tutorial.

Step 17

Take your handles and place them on the outer bag as indicated in the image below, 4" away from each side and 1/8" outside the rounded top. Pin in place and sew to the bag with 1/8" allowance.

Step 18

Take your lining and outer bag and place the outer bag into the lining bag, facing right sides together. (I added some simple pockets to my lining before so that's what shows in the image below)

Step 19

Match up the top side seams and edges, pin, and sew leaving a 1/2" seam allowance around the top of the bag.

Step 20

Don't sew all around the bag. Leave an opening in between the handles on one side of the bag, to leave room to turn the bag right side out.

Step 21

Turn the bag right side out through the gap. If you use really stiff interfacing this will prove a bit tricky. Spray some water on your outer bag to make the interfacing moist then turn the bag right side out. This will also help with ironing which is the next step, once the bag is right side out.

Step 22

Place the lining down into the bag, iron your top edges, and top stitch as close to the edge as possible.

Step 23

Use an ironing board or the back of a chair to smooth out the wrinkles easier. If you didn't spray any water on the previous step, you may want to do it now or use a damp cloth.

Step 24

Wash, dry and iron your fabric.

Step 25

Print your pattern pieces from here.

Step 26

Assemble the pattern for the top piece and the bottom piece.

Step 27

Place both top and bottom pattern pieces on the striped fabric and cut around the patterns. Do the same for the mustard fabric.

Step 28

Then mix and match. Match the bottom pieces of the mustard to the top pieces of the striped fabric and the bottom pieces of the striped fabric to the top pieces of the mustard. I used the mustard top/ striped bottom panel as lining but you can choose which ever one you like.

Step 29

Place the pattern pieces on the interfacing and cut accordingly. You will only need 2 pieces for the bottom and 2 for the top as you'll only use interfacing for the outer fabric panels.

Step 30

Fuse interfacing to the outer fabric as instructed on the package.

Step 31

Take the outer panels and match them at the straight line, facing together then sew with 1/4" seam allowance. Do the same for the other outer panels and the lining panels.

Step 32

Now you'll have 2 big outer fabric pieces and 2 big lining pieces.

Step 33

Take the 2 outer fabric pieces, pin at the sides and the bottom then sew a 1/4" seam.

Step 34

Do the same for the 2 lining pieces.

Step 35

Box the lining fabric. In the corner, measure 2" away from the side and the bottom and mark with a fabric marker.

Step 36

Now pinch the top fabric and match the side seam to the bottom seam, lining them up to make a nice triangle. Stick a pin if you need to.

Step 37

Sew a straight line perpendicular to the corner and do a backstitch at the beginning and at the end.

Step 38

When boxing the outer bag you may find it difficult to pinch and match the seams so draw the 2" mark and cut the fabric out then match the seams as above and sew with 1/8" allowance, backstitching at the beginning and the end.

Step 39

Make the corded handles as indicated in this tutorial.

Step 40

Take your handles and place them on the outer bag as indicated in the image below, 4" away from each side and 1/8" outside the rounded top. Pin in place and sew to the bag with 1/8" allowance.

Step 41

Take your lining and outer bag and place the outer bag into the lining bag, facing right sides together. (I added some simple pockets to my lining before so that's what shows in the image below)

Step 42

Match up the top side seams and edges, pin, and sew leaving a 1/2" seam allowance around the top of the bag.

Step 43

Don't sew all around the bag. Leave an opening in between the handles on one side of the bag, to leave room to turn the bag right side out.

Step 44

Turn the bag right side out through the gap. If you use really stiff interfacing this will prove a bit tricky. Spray some water on your outer bag to make the interfacing moist then turn the bag right side out. This will also help with ironing which is the next step, once the bag is right side out.

Step 45

Place the lining down into the bag, iron your top edges, and top stitch as close to the edge as possible.

Step 46

Use an ironing board or the back of a chair to smooth out the wrinkles easier. If you didn't spray any water on the previous step, you may want to do it now or use a damp cloth.