Patchwork Tote Bag

For this Tote Bag project you will need:

1/4 yard each of 4-5 different fabric
2- 13 ½ inch pieces of fabric for lining
2- 2 ½ x 24 inch strips of material for straps

~To make a taller bag use 4 strips with 24- 4 ½ x 4 ½ inch squares.

Sewing Materials Available

Sewing a Tote Bag Tutorial

Cut your ¼ yard of fabric in 4 ½ x 4 ½ inch squares.
patchwork material

Arrange your different squares as you'd like them to be laid out. Sew 6 squares together to make one strip by sewing one end to the next, to the next, etc. Sew them with the right sides together. Make 3 strips of 6 squares. Once your 3 strips are done lay them out again the way you'd like it.

patchwork strips

Pin together Row 1 to Row 2, right sides together, matching squares up. Sew together taking out pins as you go. Continue with Row 3. Now you have a rectangle, fold in half right sides together. Measure, if your rectangle is smaller than 13 inches, cut lining pieces to equal size of outside bag. Sew side and bottom together of patchwork tote.

Use your presser foot guide to keep an even straight line.

To make lining, take 2 pieces of lining material and put them right sides together. Sew along edges leaving top open. Leave inside out. Turn the outside of the tote so that the right sides are facing out. Insert bags into each other so wrong sides are together.

patchwork lining

On the top edge turn 1/4 inch down and 1/4 inch again. Pin in place.
***We pinned our bag with the lining showing out, just for fun, or you can fold it inside also.

patchwork hem

Make straps by taking your 2 1/2 x 13 1/2 inch material and place them right sides together. Sew along long edge. Turn inside out. Attach handles to middle of front and back.

patchwork bag adding handles

Pin in place and sew.

patchwork tote bag done

Need a fun hand sewing project?
Felt Sewing Patterns!

Patchwork Tote Bag

by Susan Hupkens (Netherlands)

patchwork purse

Using all little squares of fabric (10x10cm), you can easily make the nicest patchwork tote bag from any pattern available. My 7 year old daughter made this bag and it is now already her favorite.

1 - Sew together 3x4 squares (the front)

2 - Sew together 5x4 squares (the back + closure)

3 - Sew a long piece of fabric between the front & back (this is the bottom & the sides)

4 - Make the same bag from plain fabric (front of the size of 3x4sq, back of size of 5x4sq and the sides/bottom).

5 - Fit the bags into each other with the nice sides facing together on the inside.

6 - Sew the front top & around the closure. Leave the short sides open

7 - Turn the bag the right way through one of the two holes

8 - Fit the "strap" in the two holes & sew it to the bag

9 - If you like you can add buttons to the closure or just leave it as it is.