How to sew a zippered tote bag (sewing pattern is not necessary)

Today’s handcrafted goods is “DIY zippered tote bag".

zippered tote bag

Materials

Outer body fabrics, 22cm by 32cm are 2 pieces. (Seam allowances are included, attach interfacing)

outer fabrics
attach interfacing

Fusible interfacing gives fabric firmness, and keeps shape of tote bag.

Inner body fabrics, 20cm by 32cm are 2 pieces. (Seam allowances are included)

inner fabrics

Handles, 2.5cm by 28cm. 2 pieces.

handles

Gusset fabrics, 5cm by 25cm are 4 pieces. (Seam allowances are included)

gusset fabrics

Facing fabrics, 4.5cm by 32cm are 2 pieces. (Seam allowances are included)

facing fabrics

35cm zipper.

zipper

Fabric tabs for zipper, 5.2cm by 5.2cm are 2 pieces. (Seam allowances are included)

tabs

Make bag body (outer)

1. Lay the outer fabrics with right side, and sew the side and bottom.

sew the side and bottom

2. Cut off extra cloth, and press seam allowances open. Then make gusset, and sew.

cut off extra cloth
make gusset
outer bag

3. Baste the outer fabric and handles together.

baste the outer fabric and handles

4. Cut the extra seam allowances (2.5cm).

cut the extra seam allowances

Zipper and fabrics

1. Fold and press the fabric tabs (1cm).

fold and press

When making creases, it is recommended to use an sewing ruler for iron. The folds are neat and the finish is nicely.

2. Fold the fabric in half with right side. Then sew the top and bottom.

fold in half
sew the top and bottom

3. Cut off extra seams, and turn inside out.

turn inside out

4. Cover the zipper ends with tabs, and stitch.

stitch

5. Sew the gusset fabric and zipper with right side together. (Don’t sew 1cm from the side edges.)

sew the gusset fabric and zipper

6. Add the gusset fabric, sew with right side together. (Don’t sew 1cm from the side edges.)

sew

How to attach a zipper. More info.

7. Fold the side seams (1cm). Then fold the gusset fabric.

fold the side seams
fold the gusset

8. Lay the gusset fabrics with right side out, and stitch.

stitch

9. Sew the other gusset fabrics, do the same way.

sew the other gusset fabrics do the same way

Make bag body (inner)

1. Baste the gusset and facing with right side together.

baste the gusset and facing

2. Baste the other side of gusset, do the same way.

do the same way

3. Sew the inner and facing with right side together.

sew the inner and facing

4. Press seam allowances to facing side, and stitch.

stitch

5. The other facing, do the same way.

the other facing do the same way

6. Lay the inner fabrics with right side, and sew the side and bottom.

sew the side and bottom

7. Cut off extra cloth, and press seam allowances open. Then make gussets, and sew.

cut off extra cloth
sew the gusset

8. Cut the extra seam allowances (2.5cm).

cut the extra seam allowances

Sew the outer and inner together

1. Insert the inner bag into the outer bag, with right side together. Then sew around. (Leaving 7cm open for turning.)

sew around

2. Unseam the bastings.

unseam the bastings

3. Press seam allowances open, and turn inside out.

turn inside out

4. Do the ironing, and stitch the edge of bag mouth.

stitch

5. Finishing iron. It’s done.

zippered tote bag

Following is the video for how-to.

How to sew a zippered tote bag (sewing pattern is not necessary) – YouTube