How to Make a Market Tote Bag

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Go green and look stylish doing it with a DIY reusable grocery bag! This DIY tote bag pattern is an easy project for beginners. You'll learn some useful skills and techniques including how to sew webbing to fabric, how to add a lining to a bag, how to bind raw fabric edges and more. Are you ready to make a stylish and eco-conscious reusable tote bag? Let's jump into this fun and fast DIY tote bag project.

Video Chapters:

Introduction — 0:00 min.
Materials Needed — 0:38 min.
Tools & Supplies — 1:33 min.
Step 1: Pattern and Cut Out Pieces — 2:27 min.
Step 2: Hem Main Panel — 4:09 min.
Step 3: Attach Straps — 5:25 min.
Step 4: Attach Bottom Panel — 6:52 min.
Step 5: Fold and Sew Pleat — 8:00 min.
Step 6: Bind Inside Seam — 9:17 min.
Step 7: Top Stitch Pleat — 10:18 min.
Step 8: Make Bottom Insert Piece — 10:55 min.
Outro — 11:34 min.

Materials list

1 yard upholstery fabric of choice (We chose Solarium^® Gould Dune #123979)
1 yard Shower Curtain Liner White #123482
8 feet Heavy Duty Cotton Webbing 1-1/2" (color of choice)
3 feet Grosgrain Webbing 1" (for binding)
Template Plastic Plain A4 #123106
3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas #129
Tex 70 UV Bonded Polyester Thread (color of choice)

Tools List

Fabric Scissors
Sailrite^® Cordless Rotary Cutter #124044 (optional)
Sailrite^® Canvas Patterning Ruler #107040
Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" #102400
Sewing Pins or Fabric Clips
Marking Pencil
#16 Round/Sharp Point Needle
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LS Walking Foot Sewing Machine #311502
Speed Reduction Upgrade for Ultrafeed^® #123372 (optional)

How to Make a Market Tote Bag Video 2 — Our market tote bag design is roomy enough to fit lots of groceries!

The first step is picking out a fun fabric. We made our market tote from outdoor upholstery fabric. Outdoor polyester printed upholstery fabrics are bursting with bright and colorful patterns, and we have a large selection so you can find a fabric that fits your personality and style. We wanted our reusable market bag to be easy to clean in case of food spills, so we lined the bag with water-repellent, quick-drying shower curtain liner fabric. Adding a lining fabric also gives the bag a finished, professional look.

The bag's handles are made from our Heavy Duty Cotton Webbing. This webbing is stronger and thicker than standard cotton webbing. The webbing is incredibly soft and comfortable to hold, meaning no shoulder ache when toting your new tote around! It's a great choice for bag handles, straps and more.

How to Make a Market Tote Bag Video 3 — The finished bag size is approximately 14 inches high x 18-1/2 inches wide x 9 inches deep.

Here's why you'll love this DIY tote bag design:

Colorful and fun outdoor fabric shows off your unique style.
Soft cotton webbing is comfortable to hold with no shoulder ache.
Water-repellent lining fabric means easy cleanup in case of spills.
Large flat bottom gives lots of room for grocery stacking.

How to Make a Market Tote Bag Video 4 — Don't need a reusable grocery bag? Swap the fabric and make a fun beach tote!

Are you ready to make your own tote bag? Watch the video for complete, step-by-step instructions. You'll find the complete materials and tools lists as well so you can make a tote just like ours!

We hope you enjoyed this fun market tote bag DIY project. How will you use your tote bag? As a grocery bag, a beach bag, an everyday tote or as something else? We'd love to hear you. Post your DIY tote bag photos and thoughts in the comments section below!

Do you have ideas for more bag and hobby projects? Let us know what you'd like to see our DIY team make and your idea might become a future Sailrite^® video! Thanks for watching, and happy sewing.