DIY Tote Bag: How to Make a Large Tote Bag Kit

Ready for your next DIY project? You'll love making this fun and functional tote bag kit. Whether you're new to sewing or want a stress-free way to refresh your skills, this is the kit for you! This generously sized tote will be your new go-to bag! It's perfect for an everyday bag, a diaper bag, for a day at the beach, or even as a reusable grocery bag. This oversized tote features a recessed zipper top, soft interior lining, three internal pockets — plus an outside pocket — and gorgeous leather details that elevate the look and quality of the bag. This bag is so stylish and elegant no one will believe you made it yourself!

Sailrite^® Bag Kits are like taking an online sewing class. You'll learn valuable sewing techniques and special skills that you'll be able to apply to lots of future sewing projects. Choose from four bag fabric styles, and then get ready to boost your skills and sew with confidence!

Here are some of the sewing skills you'll learn while making this tote bag:

• How to match up pieces of directionally patterned fabric.
• How to create bag pockets.
• How to sew a bag liner.
• How to create a zipper plaque.
• How to add a leather bottom and accent pieces.
• How to add a decorative topstitch.
• And more!

What's included in our Large Tote Bag Kits? You'll receive all the materials you need to sew your own quality tote bag. Our kits include fabric, notions, patterned template material and leather accent pieces. All you need to provide is a sewing machine and tools like scissors, a marking tool, fabric pins and other basic sewing tools you probably already have on hand. If you want to choose your own fabric and notions, you can order the Tote Bag Pattern (#124822), which is just the patterned template material. This allows you to still follow along with the video tutorial, but you can order your fabric and notions of choice.

The finished tote bag size is approximately 15 inches high x 6 inches deep x 19-1/2 inches wide, filled.

Watch the video below to learn how to sew a tote bag. And then find the materials and tools list below and how to order your very own Sailrite Large Tote Bag Kit!

Have you made any Sailrite Bag Kits? We'd love to hear your thoughts on our kits in the comments section below. And if there are any bag kits you think we are missing, please let us know! We're always looking for suggestions and ideas from our customers regarding what video tutorials and products you'd like us to offer.

Video Chapters:

• Intro – 0:00 min.
• Patterning & Cutting Fabric – 0:40 min.
• Sewing Decorative Body (directional fabric only) – 8:21 min.
• Creating Front Pocket – 10:46 min.
• Creating Zipper Plaque – 15:50 min.
• Creating Bag Handles – 25:07 min.
• Sewing Pocket & Handles to Body – 29:41 min.
• Adding Leather Bottom – 36:12 min.
• Sewing Decorative Fabric Together – 40:07 min.
• Adding Zipper Stop – 43:08 min.
• Cutting Lining Fabric – 49:52 min.
• Creating Inside Pocket – 52:01 min.
• Sewing Zipper Plaque to Lining – 1:00:30 min.
• Sewing Lining Fabric Together – 1:04:03 min.
• Sewing Decorative Fabric to Lining Fabric – 1:09:20 min.
• Sewing Lining Fabric Shut – 1:14:23 min.
• Adding Perimeter Topstitch – 1:16:14 min.
• Materials & Tools List – 1:19:33 min.

Materials List:

• Sailrite^® Large Tote Bag Kit (choice of four fabric designs)

Tools List:

• Professional Stainless Steel 10" Scissors - SKU: 123615
• Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine - SKU: 300600
• Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® Industrial Sewing Table - SKU: 120934
• Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - SKU: 102400
• Super 88 Spray Adhesive 13 oz. - SKU: 123287
• Multiuse Pins 1-1/2" (250 pack) - SKU: 102985
• Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set - SKU: 121669
• Scratch Awl Yellow - SKU: 235411
• Bag Making Package for Ultrafeed^® LSZ - SKU: 124182
• Fabric Edge Pattern Notching Tool - SKU: 124326
• Sailrite^® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package - SKU: 122177
• Sailrite^® Leather Safety Beveler - SKU: 123266
• Sailrite^® Alphabet & Number Stamp Set 1/4" (6mm) - SKU: 123971
• Sailrite^® Bakelite Mallet 13 oz. - SKU: 123309
• Permanent Marker, Pencil, Straightedge, 1-1/2" Swing-Away Bag Handle Folder