Tote Bag Sewing Pattern — French Seams & Boxed Corners | JESS (Printed)
Sew a two-tone tote with a professional French-seam finish
JESS is a roomy shopping tote with a contrasting panel along the bottom, boxed corners for a flat base, and an optional appliqué on the front. What sets it apart is the method: the whole bag is built with French seams, so there isn't a single raw edge anywhere inside — a lovely, satisfying technique that gives a genuinely professional result on a beginner project.
What you'll learn
- Sewing French seams so every raw edge is enclosed — inside and out
- Joining a contrast lower panel to the main body
- Boxing the corners (5cm) for a flat, roomy base
- Attaching webbing handles securely
- Adding an optional Heat n Bond appliqué motif
- Optionally pinching the handles for a tailored look
Finished size
Approximately 42cm wide x 38cm high, with a boxed base
What you'll need
½m each of two contrasting medium/heavy weight cottons (one main, one for the lower panel), 2.6m of webbing for the handles (adjustable to your preference), and optionally fabric plus Heat n Bond for the appliqué. Light iron-on interfacing for the top edge is optional. Seam allowance as directed for the French seams.
Skill level
Beginner. 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.