Having a reversible tote bag is like having 2 bags in one, now with the adjustable strap, you can have even more styling with it. Be it full length till your hip and sling across your chest, or shorten it till just below your armpit, inside out or outside in, style it with your mood and base on your outfit.
I made this bag with one of my favorite fabrics. It is actually a lightweight upholstery material normally use as curtain or drape. The silver flower printing caught my eyes and I can’t go home without taking a few yards with me.
For all my favorite fabrics, I will make sure I sew something good out of them. This explained why I constantly crave on fabrics, buy them and keep them until I am convinced enough to sew a good project. For this fabric, not only that I am 100% satisfied with my reversible tote design but I also feel happy that I got them sold for a good cause.
Let’s get to the tutorial and pattern on how to sew this reversible tote bag with the adjustable strap after this jump…
Reversible Tote Sewing Pattern
Difficulty: Intermediate Skill
Time required: 2-4 hours
Material:
1. Main Fabric – 1 yard
2. Lining Fabric – 1 yard
3. Fusible Interfacing (medium weight) – 1 yard
4. Square ring – 2 pcs.
5. Matching color sewing thread
Tools:
1. Sewing Machine
2. Hot iron
3. Paper, pen & ruler
4. Scissors
5. Sewing kits
6. Carbon and tracing wheel
Download the pdf pattern. The pattern is scaled to 25%, blow it up to 4 times to enlarge it. Otherwise, you can draw it out on the paper, all dimensions are included.
Cut out paper patterns from the drawing.
Fold the fabric as indicate in the drawing, place and pin the tote pattern on top of the fabric. Make sure the folding is on the right-hand side of the pattern. Cut fabric with 1/2″ seam allowance.
Cut all patterns according to drawing.
Cut Lining and cut fusible interfacing too.
You might need to patch up the sling strap in order to get the required length.
Mark sewing lines with carbon and tracing wheel.
With right-side facing each other, align sewing lines, pin, sew side and base of the tote.
Press open side and bottom seams, fold at the corner to form a triangle and sew the 2″ depth of the base.
Trim excess fabric and leave only 1/2″ seam allowance.
Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the lining fabrics, the pockets and the stand-alone ring holder.
With right-side facing, sew around the pocket, leaving about 1″ opening at the bottom of the pocket. Clip corners. Turn the pocket right-side out, adjust corners and press. Topstitch top hem about 1/8″ and 1/2″ from the edge.
Place the pocket onto the lining and top-stitch the sides and bottom edges.
Fold the lining with right-side facing each other, sew the side and bottom seam. Leave about 3-4″ opening at the bottom, we need this hole to turn the tote inside out later.
Make a snip on the seam allowance 1″ below seam (b). Remark: I reserved 1″ seam allowance for (b), but I trimmed it to about 1/2″ later.
Fold in the side seam and press. Topstitch near side edges (a).
Slot in the square ring either on tote side of lining side, with right side facing, sew alone seam (b).
Bring the holder down with the wrong side facing each other, topstitch (c) around 3/4″ below (b). Remember to tack the thread at the beginning and end of the stitching by performing a few back stitches to keep the seam from unraveling.
Repeat the same to the other side of the ring holder which is not attached to the tote.
Again, topstitch at (c), about 3/4″ below seam (b). Note that I left a larger seam allowance at the bottom but 1/2″ is sufficient.
With right-side facing each other, slot the tote into the lining. Keep the ring and holder facing down.
Place the detached ring holder upside down between the tote and the lining, pin in place.
Sew along the curve (red line), around.
Clip curve about 1/2″ apart. Be careful, don’t snip the sewing thread.
Turn the tote right-side-out from the opening at the bottom of the lining.
Align the base corners of the tote and lining, carefully bring them out from the opening and sew on the wrong side to hold them together.
Insert them back through the opening.
Slip stitch to close the opening.
Topstitch about 1/4″ from the edge of the top hem of the tote.
Sew the sling strap by placing 2 fabrics right side facing each other, sew around and leave a 2″ opening at the center. Turn the strap right side out, Slip stitch to close the opening. Topstitch near the edge, around the straps.
Insert the strap into the square ring and tie a knot at each corner.
If you want a shorter length, double fold the strap through one ring and tie on the other.
Adjust to your favorite length.
I like making my own tote bags because the color, design and specifically the size is totally up to me. nice sharing great work
I’ve made 2 of these bags and about to make my 3rd one – my girls absolutely love them!! Thank you!!
That’s so lovely!!! Thanks for sharing this news with us!!!
Hi,
Just found your site. I really like this bag pattern especially like the strap. I own a small home sewing business. I have an etsy shop and do craft shows. Do you allow your patterns to be used to make and sell items? I would not sell the pattern just the finished product. I did not see a place to open the FAQ.
Thanks,
Carol
Hello, I love this a lot and I have decided this as my first sewing project.
I cut my fabric but I’ve also cut the part on the bottom 2″ at the both sides. I guess I shouldn’t have done so. Now I am stuck. Is there a video how to make this kind of bottom?
Oh, the bottom sewing seems to have been explained here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLD4AoTV4eg
Help!!!!
I found this purse on pinterest and fell in love – it is the only one I’ve ever cared to make but I’m stuck!
I do not understand the steps starting at 5 where the ring holder begins. I have invested a lot of time and really need detailed help.. Is that something you would be willing to do. I quilt & sew lots of other things, but never utilizing hardware.
Hopeful!!!
It is not difficult, all you need to do after folding in the edges of the 2 fabric handle, put in the hardware then sew the seam to join the 2 fabrics up and seam b.
Hope this help to clear up your question marks 🙂
HI there,
I have a question about the base of the bag. On the pattern it has a 2″ x 2″ indentation on each side but your pics of cut out materials don’t have that. Am I misreading the pattern? I can’t figure it out.
Thanks for your help,
Patrice
I didn’t cut the 2″ x 2″ at the beginning, I keep it until step 4, after I sew the base side seam (the triangle).
I love that it’s reversible. You can show off two awesome fabrics!! Thanks for the tutorial – you make it look fun and enjoyable!
Jenny
http://seaminglysmitten.com/
http://www.seaminglysmitten.blogspot.com
thank you i finaly figured it out than you very much gonna do it tomarrow.thanks alot
I great tutoral i am so excited to try out this pattern but i can’t seem to understand the part you say we must cut on the fold but the pattern appear slant at the bottom.i am a bit lose when it comes to where to sew and how to cut
Hi Keisha, the fold is on the side and yes, it is on the slant. If you look at the pattern, there is a fabric grain direction, fold your fabric according to the direction which is parallel to the slant slope. Hope this help.
tanks, i like u’r tutorial
What a wonderful job you’ve done! Thanks for sharing your pattern and writing such a great tutorial.
Elnorac, you are most welcome!
Any idea how I might print off the entire pattern blown up four times on a mac. I seem to be able to blow it up but then it prints just one little portion and nothing else.
Super excited to make this, even if I end up having to estimate the pattern.
I am not sure how to blow and print. I use photocopy machine to do it.
Thanks, I just used the measurements you gave since they were very clear. I love my bag! Thanks so much for the pattern!
You are always welcome 🙂
I love this bag and can’t wait to make it! I have read and reread the tutorial several times and am slightly confused about the bottom of the bag. I can’t figure out where I sew the bottom with the way it’s cut out with the 2″ notches…I feel like I am missing something very simple.
It is very simple, indeed. After you have both side and bottom seams sewn up, press seam open. Bring side seam to meet bottom seam, you will see the triangle as shown in the picture.
thanks for the pattern. I made one for my sis
The lion is very cute!!!! Great work 🙂
I’m impress…I like your blog, the craft…I gained a lot…
super cute bag..love the smart design & color..
I love this bag! I downloaded the pattern and I’ll make it very soon.
I also leave in SG. I bought some cute fabrics in Spotlight and I hope I can make a nice bag like yours.
That will be my first bag! I’m really excited!
Thanks!!!
Thanks for liking the bag, Angelie 🙂
I was at Sportlight last Wed and bought some nice fabrics too. That was my first trip to Sportlight which my Singaporean friends recommended that I have to go there if I happened to be in the country. And yes, I was crazy and wanted to take the whole shop back.
Thanks for such a great tutorial! I added it to my November listings for Free Tote Purse & Bag Tutorials at http://www.linda-matthews.com/free-purse-patterns-and-tutorials/by-date/
Oooooo LOVE THIS! Asymmetrical AND reversible…my two favorite things!
Whoa… what a fabulous bag! Thanks so much for this, I’ll be linking.
Muchas gracias!!!! Excelente tutorial, preciosa bolsa. 🙂
Besos
Translation (by Google):
Thank you very much!! Excellent tutorial, nice bag.
Hi!
Thanks for the pattern and the tutorial! They’re great!