How to Make a DIY Market Tote
Supplies Needed
½ yard main solid fabric½ yard main print fabric1 yard solid lining fabric1 ½ yards of fusible interfacingFree printable patternFabric shears or scissorsTape measurePencil or penIronIroning boardQuilter’s pinsSewing machineThread6-inch sewing gauge
Finished Market Bag Tips
Bag size: 11x11 inches at the bottom, 13 inches tall, 22x22 opening at the top.Quantities are for 44/45-inch-wide, 100 percent cotton fabrics.Measurements include ¼-inch seam allowances.Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.
Step-by-Step Directions
Transform budget-friendly cotton fabric into a chic tote perfect for taking to the farmers market. With interior pockets, a roomy interior, and a hanging loop made for a bouquet of flowers, you can tuck all your finds in this roomy DIY tote bag.
Step 1: Cut Pieces
The first thing you’ll need to do is decide which fabrics you want to use. We chose 100% cotton Better Homes & Gardens fabric from Walmart. You can make this bag from all the same fabric, or opt for two coordinating fabrics for the straps and bouquet loop, pockets, and lining. Once you’ve chosen your fabrics, cut your pieces in the following order using fabric shears or scissors.
Cut 4 body pieces of the lining fabric.Cut 2 body pieces of the solid main fabricCut 2 body pieces of the print main fabric.Cut 8 body pieces from fusible interfacing.Cut 2 handles: 24x3 inches main print fabric and 2 pieces of 24x2 inch interfacing.Cut 1 inside pocket: 7x10 inch solid fabric.Cut: 1 outside pocket: 12x12 inch print fabric.Cut 1 flower strap: 15x3 inch print fabric and 3x3 inch print fabric for loop.
Step 2: Prep Interfacing
Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of all body and lining pieces. Fuse to the wrong side of the handles, centering down the middle of the strips.
Step 3: Assemble Straps
Form the main handles. Press strips in half lengthwise, right sides out. Open strips and press under ½-inch on each long edge. Refold and pin or clip to secure. Topstitch down both long edges of each strip. Create the flower strap. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Open and press ½-inch on both long edges and refold. Pin to secure and topstitch both long edges. Repeat with loop piece.
Step 4: Assemble Pockets
Fold in half right sides together to make a 6x12 inch piece and a 5x7 inch piece. Stitch around edges, (½-inch seam) leaving an opening to turn. Trim corners. Turn right sides out and poke out corners, press flat.
Step 5: Attach Main Straps
Attach handles to the top edge of print main bag pieces. Right sides together and raw edges even. Set them in two inches from the sides and baste ½-inch from the top edge.
Step 6: Attach Pockets
Pin the smaller inside pocket to the right side of one piece of lining, centering it 3 inches below the top edge. Stitch sides and bottom to secure. The outside pocket is centered and pinned to the lower edge of one body piece just above “v”. Stitch sides and bottom and down center of the pocket to divide.
Step 7: Assemble Bag
You will have four lining pieces with interfacing on the wrong side and four body pieces with interfacing on the wrong side. (Two solid and two patterned with handles basted to top raw edge.) Finish the lining. Pin two pieces (one with pocket and one plain) right sides together and stitch a ½-inch seam on the left long side and pivot to continue down the angled side. Repeat with the other two lining pieces but leave a 5-inch opening to turn out the bag later. Form the main body pieces. Lay print body pieces (with handles) on the bottom and place the solid body pieces on top, right sides together. Stitch along the right side of each pair avoiding the handles as you stitch. Pivot and continue down the angled side.
Step 8: Finish the Market Tote
Take one set of lining with pocket and align to top edges of one set of body pieces (align with handle edge) Stitch a ½-inch seam across the top edge. Repeat with the other set of lining and body pieces. Press seams. Now align lining pieces and body pieces. Pin well and stitch ½-inch all around. Pull the bag through the 5-inch opening to turn it right side out. Stitch lining opening closed and tuck lining into the main body of the bag. Press the top edge of the bag and topstitch all around ½-inch from folded edge to finish. The flower strap is attached to one solid side of bag. Pin each end of the strap 2 ½-inches from the top edge of the bag on the side seam. Topstitch to secure. It will be wider than the width of the bag. Find the center of that panel and pin the short strap over the long flower strap and stitch to secure. The long strap should slide freely through the short strap.
