These free tote bag sewing patterns are great for anyone needing a bag to carry their belongings in at the beach, park, or office, or while roaming about town. There are patterns for bags of many sizes and styles here, so you can sew something perfect for whatever you need.
You'll find that these tote bag patterns are ideal for the beginning sewist. They're a great first project because they require mostly straight-line sewing and have easy construction. These patterns are so simple that even kids can tackle them.
So, dive into these patterns and have fun sewing a project that's as useful as it is creative.
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Let's Go to the Park Bag
This free tote bag pattern from Delia Creates is the perfect solution for trips to the park or anywhere you need to go where you require a bag larger than a standard handbag. It's big enough to hold everything for a day, but not so huge that you'll struggle with its size. A stylish circular pocket is on the outside of the bag and the inside features gathered pockets, perfect for water bottles, sunglasses, and more. Duck canvas is used to make the tote extra sturdy and the lining is made of cotton fabric. There are no pattern pieces here, just measurements to cut and sew, making this a great beginner pattern.
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Reusable Grocery Bag Tote
Everyone should have a tote bag that makes bringing groceries home from the store easier. You can make this large grocery bag tote with canvas or denim, and it calls for cotton webbing, to make it strong and sturdy enough for the heaviest groceries.
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Oversized Beach Bag
This tote bag created by Polka Dot Chair is perfect for a day at the beach. Two different fabrics make up the bag's outside, creating a nice paneled look. The pom-pom trim adds a fun detail and pop of color. Finish the bag with a rope handle attached to metal grommets.
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Retro Striped Pocket Tote Bag
This large, sturdy tote bag is just what you need for the beach, library, or even an overnight trip. The stripes on the outside make up a huge outside pocket so you can place smaller items there and find them easier. The cotton webbing used for handles wraps around the entire tote, making it even more sturdy.
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Grocery Bag from a Tea Towel
Tote bags can be made of more than just cut fabric, and this free tote bag pattern from DIY Candy proves it. A large tea towel picked up at a thrift store forms the body of the bag and then a rope is used for the handles. You could use a new tea towel or pick up a vintage one for a unique look. There's no lining on this bag, but that's one of the reasons it's such a quick and easy project. This tote bag requires only a few lines of straight sewing, making it perfect for beginners. It takes less than an hour to sew, so you'll be ready to go in no time.
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Four-Step Leather Tote
This simple leather tote pattern comes together so fast you'll be done in less than an hour. Use the free pattern piece from Delia Creates to cut out two leather pieces for the body and handles, and then simply sew them together. It really is as easy as that. This is a wonderful project for a beginner to get a handmade tote bag that they'll use for years to come.
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Easy DIY Circle Tote
This unique tote bag from A Beautiful Mess is made of something much more unique than fabric—placemats! A strip of leather is used to connect the two placemats and they also act as handles. Attach a button to keep it closed and you have a stylish circular tote that everyone will envy.
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Wave Pocket Market Tote
The outside of this tote bag designed by Sew4Home uses two different fabric prints to create a unique wave design that also serves as a pocket. The outside pockets are spacious, but if you need even more room for small items, the bag's two interior pockets are the perfect solution.
Continue to 9 of 10 below - 09 of 10
Easy Felt Tote Bag
Here's another DIY tote pattern from The Spruce Crafts. This tote bag pattern makes a small-ish bag large enough to hold a notebook and some accessories, making it the perfect little tote for a quick errand trip. It's made of felt, so there's no lining needed, which means it's a very quick sew. This bag is a great beginner sewing project for adults and kids alike.
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Drawstring Bag
This tote bag from The Spruce Crafts has a drawstring to keep all your items securely in the bag until you're ready to take them out. You can make this tote in any size and it makes an excellent gift or even gift wrapping!