Spring Color Blocked Tote

Hi there! It’s Crystal here, from Stitched by Crystal. Are you guys ready for spring? I am! And I am excited to share a super easy tote bag tutorial with you that is perfect for spring!

One of the things I love about spring is going to the local farmer’s markets to buy fresh veggies. This color blocked tote bag is perfect for carrying all those veggies at the market, but it would also make a great pool or beach bag, a library tote, or even a great bag just to carry around town.

The finished bag measures about 16 inches x 16 inches. I like having a handy place to store my keys and phone in my bags so I added a little pocket on the inside, but you could leave it off.

Ready to sew? Let’s make a bag!

For durability, this bag should be made out thicker fabric, something like canvas, twill, duck cloth, or corduroy. Try looking in your fabric store’s home décor, apparel, or utility fabric sections for something you like that has some weight to it.

You will need:

2/3 yard of the fabric you will use for the bottom of the bag and the straps
1/4 yard of the fabric you will use for the top of the bag
Some double fold bias tape if you want to add a pocket.

From the 2/3 yard, cut one 22 inch x 17 inch rectangle and two 3 inch x 28 inch rectangles.

From the 1/4 yard, cut two 8 inch x 17 inch rectangles.

For the optional pocket, cut one 7 inch x 12 inch rectangle

To make the pocket, sandwich one end of your pocket piece inside some bias tape and sew it in place. Fold the end up about 5 inches. Sew bias tape on one side tucking the raw edge of the tape in about ½ inch. Repeat on the other side. If you want, you can add a snap to keep everything inside the pocket. Set your pocket aside.

Line up the 17 inch sides of the bottom bag piece and one of the top pieces with the right sides together. Sew along the edge with ½ inch seam allowance. Finish the edge with a serger or zig zag stitch on your sewing machine. Press the seam up and top stitch. Repeat those steps to sew the other top piece on the other side. You should now have one long rectangle with the bottom piece sandwiched between the top pieces.

Fold the bag in half and pin, lining up the seams at the side. Sew the side seams and finish the seams with a serger or zig zag stitch.

Create gussets at the bottom by measuring 2 inches over from the side seam and 2 inches up from the bottom and cutting a square out of the bottom corners. Pull the fabric apart so the raw edges line up and sew across the gusset with ½ inch seam allowance.

Turn your bag right side out.

Find the middle of one side of the bag. Pin your strap about 3.5 inches from the middle on each side. The raw edges of the straps should line up with the raw edge of the bag and the strap should be pointing down. Baste the strap in place. Repeat with the other strap.

If you are adding a pocket, place the pocket right side down in between the straps on one side of the bag. Line the raw edge of the pocket up with the edge of the bag and baste it in place.

Hem the top of the bag by folding the top edge down ½ inch then another 1 inch press and pin in place. The straps will be down inside the bag. Sew along the folded edge to hem the bag.