First, let me say you can sew this from leather or pleather.. I just used what I had on hand. I’m so excited about this summer tote bag, and happy to offer it as a free pattern for you all. You may recognize the fabric I used in this tote – it’s all left over fabric from my Perfect Purse Pattern from last year… {another free pattern!} This tote turned out just how I imagined and I gave it to a friend for a birthday gift {even though I really wanted to keep it for myself!} I hope you will be able to use this summer tote bag free pattern to sew up an amazing summer bag for you or for a gift.
Join the Nap-Time Creations Pattern Group for support on this pattern!
This bag ended up being just the right size for daily use, but also big enough to throw in some extra stuff for a bigger outing.
This tote pattern has two inside pockets, perfect for your keys and phone and the little items you don’t want floating around the big open space. I also made a little zip pouch to hold my lip gloss and pens – I’ll be sharing that simple tutorial on Friday. The finished bag is W16 x H14.
A magnetic clasp in the middle of the bag holds it closed and your things safe.
Okay, now that you love this bag and can’t wait to make it, let’s jump into the pattern and tutorial!
You can go download the Summer Tote Bag Free Pattern here:
After you print your pattern gather the supplies you need. You need about a 1/2 yard of two different fabrics. I used pleather on the outside and a sort of plastic coated lining… I think it’s kind of like wind-breaker fabric, I think. You also will need a magnetic clasp and either a leather foot or walking foot for your sewing machine. Leather/Pleather is very sticky to sew. Having one of these feet will really help.
You should have 1 main bag piece, 1 lining main piece, 2 straps, one small pocket, and 1 medium pocket.
Use a 3/8 allowance for all seams
If you don’t want to print – you can cut the pieces by measurements…
Main – 16 x 28 {cut one of lining and one of main}
You will fold this in half W16 x H 14
Straps – 3 x 30 {cut 2 of lining fabric}
Pockets – one 7 x 8, one 5 x 4
Ok, let’s get started with the inside pockets. Take your lining main piece and fold it wrong sides together. Put the fold towards you, this will be the bag bottom. Place the bigger pocket piece where ever you want on the side towards you, but 3 inches down from the top {as the ruler shows} Pin the three sides and sew with the walking foot or leather foot.
Turn the lining piece over and pin on the smaller pocket, this should be placed 4 inches from the top… you can put it left, right or center as you want.
If you unfold your lining, this is what you should have. The pocket openings should be towards the edges {top of bag}
Now you need to put the magnetic clasps on the lining fabric. You wan the clasp to be centered on top edge of the bag and about 1.5 inches from the top. I use a scrap of fabric to reinforce the area where I put the clasp.
This is the back side…
And this is what it should look like on the right side of the lining. Repeat with both sides of the magntic clasp.
Place the lining right sides together and sew the side seams.
You will now make the corners to form the bottom of the tote bag. Fold the bag so that the side seam is in the center of the corner, with a point at the end as pictured. Mark 2 inches from the point and sew straight across.
Do this with both corners.
If you turn right side out, this is what the corner should look like.
Turn back inside out and clip the corners.
Now take the main bag piece, sew the side seams and sew the corners just as you did for the lining.
Here is the outside of the main bag piece.
Take the strap pieces, sew the long side – right sides together – and turn right side out. Here is one sewn and one turned.
Fold in the raw edges of the strap end.
sew the straps to the right side of the main bag. I have 7.5 inches between the straps, and put the straps 2 inches down on the bag. You will sew a square starting 1 inch from the top.
Sew the strap to the bag however you want.. but this is how I did it. You need at least 1 inch from the top with no sewing.
Turn the lining right side in, and place the main bag inside the lining. Place right sides together.
Matching the side seams, sew around the top of the bag.
Leave a 4 inch opening to turn the bag.
Pull the lining through and open up the bag like this. Push the lining inside the bag and straighten it all out.
Pin the opening closed and top-stitch all the way around the top of the bag. The side seams were too thick for me to stitch over… so I just got as close as I could, then skipped over and started stitching again.
And there you go! A super cute summer tote bag. Make one for yourself and one for a friend! 
Don’t forget to check out my other free bag patterns before you go…
Summer Purse
Free Purse Pattern
anouk says
May 27, 2015 at 6:05 amWahou! thank you so much for the tutorial!!! And the coulors you chose are so perfect! I love it!
Emily says
May 27, 2015 at 8:28 amthanks!
Anne Weaver says
May 28, 2015 at 9:22 amGreat bag! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this morning that links to your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=82688 –Anne
Emily says
May 29, 2015 at 10:43 amthanks so much!!
Bonnie says
June 1, 2015 at 7:30 amWhat a great bag! Thanks for the detailed tutorial. I’ll be pinning this for later.
~Bonnie
Gail Akeman says
June 2, 2015 at 1:06 pmThank you for joining the Small victories linkup. Please join again.
DIY Crush says
June 2, 2015 at 10:02 pmI LOVE this!! Need to make it ASAP!! I would love it if you would submit the post to our new ‘submit a tutorial’ category! We feature every one!!
Emily says
June 3, 2015 at 1:46 amokay, will do! thanks for the tip ;o)
Lowanda J says
June 3, 2015 at 2:55 pmI really wish I could be this creative. And along with that, I wish I had the time to learn to do so. 🙂 This is such a cute bag and it sounds so easy to make. Maybe one day, like when I retire.
Sondra (Sondra Lyn at Home) says
June 4, 2015 at 10:38 pmHow awesome is this bag? And what a great tutorial. Love the colors… makes me want to sew, sew, SEW! Thanks for sharing the pattern.
-Sondra
Sondra (Sondra Lyn at Home) says
June 4, 2015 at 10:40 pmPS-Visiting from the Inspiration Gallery link party.
Emily says
June 5, 2015 at 8:14 pmthanks so much for stopping by!!
Sunita says
June 21, 2015 at 6:20 amThank you very much for sharing the pattern, it is really helpful.
Kathleen says
June 28, 2015 at 10:58 amGreat bag! I have some pleather that I’ve been wanting to use! What did you use for lining?
Emily says
June 30, 2015 at 6:37 pmIt’s a water resistant fabric I had around, you can use anything though that works for you.
Karen says
July 13, 2016 at 11:25 pmIt’s a little late for the info, but based on the photos the lining fabric is called rip-stop nylon.
MADELINE says
June 13, 2016 at 10:20 pmTHANK YOU FOR A GREAT BAG TO SEW AND WONDERFUL INSTRUCTIONS ….