These simple sew DIY tote bags are an easy way to make your own reusable gift bags. Drawstring bags are a reusable gifting favourite, but cute little tote bags are child-friendly and are very versatile for reuse. Not a sewist? Looking for a different type of greener gift wrap? For more creative ideas and inspiration, check out our lower waste gift wrapping post.
Selecting Fabrics for Reusable Gift Bags
Whatever fabric style and pattern you choose for making your totes, make sure that it is durable and washable so that the bags can be safely used long term.
I’d usually recommend sturdy fabric for making a tote bag; however, if you are making simple gift bags or children’s tote bags, like mine, you can get away with using lighter weight fabric. This opens up a much wider range of fun pattern and colour options. They also require a little less sewing since these are smaller bags for carrying lighter loads. If you’d like to make a more rugged tote bag, see our DIY shopping bags for ideas and instructions.
The DIY children’s tote bags shown in this post were made for packing up Christmas presents. I didn’t want to use Christmas fabrics and limit their use to just the holidays or gift wrapping. Instead of going festive, I opted to use some of the kids’ favourite colours.
How to Sew a Reusable Fabric Tote Style Gift Bag
Supplies and Materials
To make your own similar children’s tote bag or gift bag, you will need:
- Washable fabric
- Coordinating thread(s),
- Scissors (a rotary cutter and board are also handy but not essential)
- Iron and ironing board
- Basic sewing tools and equipment, including a sewing machine (affiliate link).
The instructions and photos below are for making a fully lined lightweight tote bag. To make an unlined tote bag, you can adapt from the same basic process, but you’ll need to finish your exposed seams on the inside. Eagle eyes will spy that I also put a coordinating iron-on on each of the bags for a little extra fun and personality. Totally (tote-ally hehehe) optional, of course!
Cutting Fabrics
Prior to sewing, it is recommended that your tote bag fabrics be washed and dried to remove any excess dye (prevent running and bleeding of colours) and pre-shrink the material. Once your fabric is washed and dried, iron it flat so that it can be accurately measured and cut. For a lined tote bag made from four panels (suitable for directional pattern) you will need:
- Four identical squares/rectangles (two for the outside, two for the inner/lining) at the desired bag size + seam allowances and extra for the top fold. If you have a strong pattern, like the geometric designs in my bag, you might like to make sure that your pieces are cut and positioned such that the patterns will align and match up at the side seams for an attractive finish.
- Two long narrow rectangular strips for the handles (double the desired width thick + seam allowances) at the desired length plus extra to attach.
Preparing the Layers of the Tote Bag
Starting with one layer (inside/liner or outside) bag:
- Place the two panels right-side-in. If your fabric is directional, ensure that both are right-side-up to the same side, which will be your top edge.
- Sew the sides and bottom edges together at the seam allowance. Do not sew the top. Recommended: Repeat a second row of stitching between the seam allowance and edge for added strength.
- Repeat for the other bag layer.
Double check to ensure equal size. - Iron flat if needed and trim any loose threads.
Boxing the bottom corners to add shape to the bag:
Box all of the bottom corners to give the bag added shape. To box a corner:
- Measure an equal distance in both directions from where the side seam meets the bottom seam and draw a square.
- Repeat on both sides.
- Pull the corner into a point, seams flat (ironing recommended) so that the lines from your back/front square meet on the diagonal across the corner.
- Sew along the diagonal line, taking care to ensure seams are held flat. Optional: Repeat a second row of stitching between the seam and corner for added strength. Trim excess.
- Optional: You can carefully align and sew the completed box corner seams together, if you wish, which keeps things in position during use/washing etc.
Preparing Handles
The handles shown are basic double layer, but you could go full quadruple or add interfacing to stiffen and/or strengthen things up, if you prefer. Alternatively, you can also swap homemade fabric tote bag handles for coordinating ready-made webbing or strapping.
- Fold each handle strip along the mid-line into half and iron to crease.
- Fold a seam allowance along the edge of each handle strip, and iron to crease.
- Sew a narrow seam along the open edge, ensuring that you capture the folded edge underneath.
- Repeat at the same distance from the fold on the closed edge.
Attaching the Handles and Finishing the Bag
- Fold an even extra wide seam allowance along the top of each bag and iron to crease.
- Invert the outer bags to right-side-out.
- Place the inner bag/liner wrong-side-out inside the outer, and double check that everything is equal and snug. Ensure side seams are aligned and the folded top edges are flush.
- Pin the handles into position between the bag layers, extending just below your folded over seam allowance.
Before sewing and attaching handles, pin the bag and temporary handles together and check for comfort, etc. Is the width right? The length? The spacing? Adjust now and save angst later.
- Sew the bag layers together along the top edge. Optional: Repeat a second row of stitching between the seam allowance and edge for added strength.
- Optional: Sew small additional line of stitching through each handle at the lower end of the foldover. Alternatively, you can sew crossed box where the handles are attached if you want additional reinforcement.
- Optional: Add an iron-on embellishment or initial to the finished bag.
If your inner and outer fabrics have different dominant colour schemes, you may have to compromise on visible stitching in some areas. You can experiment with the thread/bobbin trick (different coloured threads on each) or stitch carefully to make it work for you as an accent.
