The Best Tote Bag Patterns to Sew in 2021

Are you a tote bag person? I have a small collection of tote bags that I use for various types of outings and purposes, as I think everyone should! i’m not a hoarder or keeper of many things (we move too much for that), so the tote bags I keep are absolute favorites and get heavy use. My best bags are handmade and have lasted for years now. So, I have a few absolute favorite tote bag sewing patterns to share with you today!

Tote bags are very fun to sew and can be easy or skill building (I like that term better than complicated, ha!) The tote bag patterns I’m sharing today vary in difficulty from easy to somewhat advanced, so there’s something here for everyone. I’ll share my top three recommendations for tote bag sewing patterns that I have made and love, and then I’ll share a few more that are on my wishlist. Bags make such great handmade gifts too, so my bag patterns tend to get a lot of use!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that while I am not paid to promote certain items, I will earn a small commission should you purchase items through these links. For more info, see my disclosure policy.

What Fabrics are Best for Tote Bags?

It’s probably best not to use your average quilting cotton for tote bags (except in the case of #3 on my list). The best fabrics for tote bags are going to be thicker choices like denim, canvas, or duck cloth. Many patterns call for interfacing, but I like to use flannel as interlining in many cases because it helps the bag feel nicer and less crunchy than most actual stiff interfacing feels. Other bags really need that structure, so it’s a judgement call. I also like a tote bag with fun hardware!

3 Tried & True Tote Bag Patterns to Sew

The Costa Tote

First on my list is not going to be a surprise if you’ve been reading for awhile! I super love the Costa Tote pattern, which is a FREE pattern from Helen’s Closet. I like this bag because it’s big, it has four large outside pockets. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, and it’s very simple to sew. I’d consider this one a beginner friendly project, for sure!

You can read about how I made my first Costa Tote version using a denim fabric that I dyed with bleach!

Best part, it makes a very nice gift. I’ve made a few for family and friends and I use my own constantly. I used some denim that I bleach dyed for my first version and I use it as a pool bag, a picnic bag, my homeschool co-op bag, a library bag, and more.

Here’s a Costa Tote I sewed up for a friend’s birthday in January.

The only downside to this particular pattern is how much fabric it takes. This isn’t really a problem if I plan ahead, but it’s not one I can usually sew on a whim because the suitable fabrics in my stash typically aren’t big enough. So I get to go fabric shopping, darn it ;)

Don’t forget to add a sweet label!

One change I make to this pattern every time: I shorten the height by two inches. It’s still huge, but I just like that height better. Also, you’ll notice that I sometimes use store bought webbing for the handles instead of using the pattern piece. I also make shorter handles than the pattern calls for. I like to be able to hold it down by my side without it hitting the floor.

Next!

The Megan Foldover Tote

I looove this tote bag! I purchased this pattern on Etsy to make as a gift, but I ended up thinking it was too small (so I made that person the Costa Tote instead). I kept the one I’d made and once I started using it, I realized it’s actually the absolute perfect size! Check out all the lovely patterns by this designer in her Etsy shop.

This is the bag I take with me in the car to drive my kids to their activities. I spend a lot of time sitting in the car or at McAlister’s working on my blog or reading. It holds my laptop and books perfectly, plus pens and sticky notes, and my awesome book light for when I’m in the car in the dark outside the ballet studio. I love the interior pocket in this bag and the contrasting fabrics look so sharp. I also love the hardware, and having both a long strap and shorter handles. I highly recommend this pattern and I’m looking forward to making an updated version for myself now that I’ve been using this one for a few years. I’m dying to use this Cotton & Steel butterfly canvas for something!

I’d rate this pattern intermediate because of the optional zipper pocket on the outside, (which for some reason I left off of mine, but I can’t remember why.) The instructions are very good though, so don’t be afraid to try it if you’re a beginner!

The only change I made for my version of this tote was to use flannel for the interfacing. I just like a less stiff bag. I really don’t need my tote bags to stand up on their own.

The Maker’s Tote

Okay, this isn’t a traditional tote bag, but I really, really love it and it makes sense for you, my readers too, being the makers you are. I think it can be so useful for so many things, but particularly for anyone who has a hobby they carry with them from room to room or place to place. Knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, quilting, or handwork of any kind.

You can read my full review of this pattern here.

This tote is on the more advanced side. It has a ton of pockets of all kinds, which is part of what makes it amazing. It also has a binding all the way around the edges, which is the trickiest part. I have a pretty heavy duty machine, but I think some machines might struggle with it. Wonder clips will help a ton, though, along with zig zagging the entire edge before attaching the binding in order to flatten it out a bit. Those are my tips!

You can make the Maker’s Tote in two sizes. Mine is the smaller one, which I use for my knitting/crochet bag. The various pockets make it so perfect and I love that I can zip it all the way closed so I don’t lose anything when I transport it. I’ve also made the bigger size for a friend who was hand quilting a large quilt at the time. Sadly, I don’t have any photos of that one! What was I thinking!?

This bag is perfect for quilting cottons! I had a blast getting creative and mixing several Cotton + Steel cottons together for mine because they’re just so fun. The instructions will tell you which batting and interfacing you need and in this case, I trusted the pattern and used what was called for.

This pattern comes with cutting instructions, but no pattern pieces other than a curve to trace for your rounded corners. This can be kinda nice because you don’t have to print a ton of pages, but the cutting can get confusing because there are so many pieces. I just labeled them with sticky notes as I cut them out so I wouldn’t get confused.

My daughter has been requesting her own Maker’s Tote for her crochet projects and I remember this bag being very fun to make, so I’m excited to make her one, maybe for Christmas.

More Tote Bag Sewing Patterns to Try

Here are some of the bags I’m itching to make soon!

Noodlehead Wool + Wax Tote

Anna Graham of Noodlehead is well known in the world of sewing patterns and has a stellar reputation for creating lovely and unique patterns for bags of all kinds. What I love about this designer is that the bags look so professional. No one would ever guess you didn’t buy that bag from a boutique (although the homemade look has it’s own special place :) You can also buy Anna’s book, Handmade Style.

Quilted Tote Bag by Suzy Quilts

I love Suzy Quilts! If you don’t follow her on Instagram, you totally should. She not only makes beautiful modern quilt designs, she is quite funny too. And she has cute babies! But anyway, she has a quilted tote bag tutorial on her site using a block from one of her quilt patterns. I love it!!

Shop all Suzy Quilts patterns here.

The Madrid Tote Bag

I love the retro look of the Madrid Tote Bag by Victory Patterns. It appears to be beginner friendly like the Costa Tote, and I like how it uses webbing so you don’t even have to make handles. This is another tote that would be great for gifts. This pattern is FREE if you subscribe to the Victory Patterns email list (which I totally just did!)

I hope you’re inspired to sew some tote bags and this this curated little list has given you a good place to start! When I was researching for this post, I noted there are other blog posts out there on this topic, containing lists of up to 320 tote bag patterns! Nobody needs 320 options for anything in my humble opinion, so I set out to provide you with a simple list of the best of the best. I hope it’s been helpful!

Cheers!

Nikki

P.S. I have added yet another pattern to the Pin Cut Sew pattern shop! Hop over to check out the four printable PDF patterns and tutorials that I’ve posted there so far. and be sure and “like” the shop so you’re updated when I add more, which I’m doing as quickly as my life allows!