Tote Bag Sewing Pattern for Beginners — 34 x 36cm | CLAIRE (Printed)
Sew a simple, roomy tote bag — the perfect first bag
CLAIRE is about as straightforward as a bag gets: two pieces of fabric and a length of webbing, hemmed at the top and stitched up the sides. It's single-layer and unlined, which is exactly why it's such a good very-first sewing project — you'll have a genuinely useful tote finished in an afternoon.
Roomy enough for the market, the beach or the everyday, and you choose your own handle length to suit how you like to carry it.
What you'll learn
- Folding and topstitching a clean double hem at the top
- Positioning and securing webbing handles the same distance in on both sides
- Stitching the sides and base, then boxing off the corners for a flat bottom
- Zig-zagging the raw edges so nothing frays
Finished size
Approximately 34cm wide x 36cm top to bottom
What you'll need
½m of medium weight cotton for the main bag, and 1 to 2m of webbing for the straps (handle length is a matter of personal choice). Seam allowance is ¼".
Skill level
Beginner — an ideal first project. The printed pattern is posted to you with full-colour step-by-step photographs, our trademark 'Easy to Follow Instructions', a fabric requirements list, and full-size reusable A4 templates — no enlarging required. A free video tutorial is available on our YouTube channel.
CLAIRE is also available as a ready-to-sew kit in Orla Kiely fabric, with everything pre-cut.