Hi everyone!

In this sewing tutorial I’m going to show you how to sew a zippered and lined small sized tote bag with boxed corners.

Important note: I use the metric system and make the exact conversion from cm to inches in the hope of helping. Please adapt these measurements to your ruler.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial. 🥰🪡

Supplies

NOTE: Dimensions in inches are approximated.

The materials and techniques I used are the ones I thought were the best for me as a self-taught creative seamstress. It doesn’t mean they are the best for you, so feel free to use your creativity and make it your own! You can adjust the measurements as you like and also add other features.

Fabric measurements:

- 2 fabric pieces for the lining: 24cm | 9 29/64” x 32.5cm | 12 51/64”

- 2 fabric pieces for the outside of the bag: 24cm | 9 29/64” x 28cm | 11 1/32”

- 2 fabric pieces for the border: 24cm | 9 29/64” x 6cm | 2 23/64”

- 2 fabric pieces for the handles: 28cm | 11 1/32" x 10cm | 3 15/16”

- 2 fabric pieces for the zipper tabs: 4cm | 1 37/64” x 6cm | 2 23/64”

Heavy-weight fusible interfacing measurements:

- 1 piece for the front and 1 piece for the back of the tote bag: 24cm | 9 29/64” x 32.5cm | 12 51/64”

- 2 pieces for the handles: 28cm | 11 1/32” x 2.5cm | 63/64”

Zipper:

- 19cm | 7 31/64” length

Needle size:

- 90/14

Seam Allowance:

- 0.7cm | 9/32”

You will also need:

- Scissors

- Wonder Clips

- Quilting Ruler

- Rotary Cutter

- Cutting Mat

- Corner and Edge Shaper

- Sewing Thread

- Seam Ripper

- Heat Erasable Pen

- Measuring Tape

- Clover Roll & Press

- Iron

- Ironing Board

- Sewing Machine

- Zipper Foot

Step 1: Make the Handles

- Cut the fabric for the handles.

- Fold the fabric as shown in the images. Fold the longest side in half and press it. Place the fusible interfacing in the middle facing the wrong side of the fabric and apply with the iron. Make sure the side with the glue is facing the fabric. Then open the fabric and fold both sides in to meet the middle line and press it again.

- Repeat this process for the other handle.

- Adjust the stitch length on your sewing machine according to your preferences. Use a 90/14 sized needle.

- Edge stitch 0.3cm | 1/8" away from the edges of each handle. Don't forget to back stitch at the beginning and at the end of every seam.

Step 2: Sew the Borders to the Outer Fabrics

- Place the right side of the border fabric facing the right side of the outer fabric.

- Sew them together using a 0.7cm | 9/32" seam allowance.

- Repeat this process for the other outer fabric.

- Press the seams open with a Roll & Press.

Step 3: Apply the Fusible Interfacing to the Outer Fabrics

- Place the fusible interfacing facing the wrong side of the outer fabric and apply it with the iron. Make sure the side with the glue is facing the fabric.

- Repeat this process for the other outer fabric.

Step 4: Cut the Size of the Zipper You Need

- Cut the zipper slightly longer than what you need.

- Put the zipper slider and then cut to the right size. For this tote bag you'll need a 19cm | 7 31/64" zipper.

- Sew a piece of fabric (wrong side facing the zipper) where you want your zipper to stop. Stitch a few times to secure it further.

- Repeat this process to the other end of the zipper.

- Turn the zipper tab ends right side out.

Step 5: Place and Sew the Handles to the Outer Fabrics

- Fold the outer fabric in half (on the side of the border) and mark it with a heat erasable pen. Then, starting in the middle, mark 4cm | 1 37/64" to each side.

- Then place the handle as shown in the images. Each side of the handle must be placed beyond the marks.

- Repeat this process for the other handle.

- Now sew the handles to the outer fabrics as close to the edge as possible.

Step 6: Sew the Zipper

- Place the wrong side of the zipper facing the right side of one piece of your lining fabric. Then place one piece of the outer fabric (with the border up) on top, right side facing the right side of the zipper.

- Install a zipper foot on your sewing machine. Make sure the needle isn't hitting your zipper foot. If necessary, change the initial needle position. Take a look at the images to see how my zipper foot and needle are placed.

- While sewing the zipper make sure the zipper slider won't get in the way. Check the photos to see how I make it.

- Now place the right side of the lining fabrics facing each other and the zipper (already sewn to one of the outer fabrics and lining) aligned with the edge of the lining that we're going to add. Now place the right side of the other piece of outer fabric facing the right side of the zipper and of the outer fabric already stitched to it. Sew them together making sure to keep the handles and the zipper slide out of the way. Check the images for more information.

- Open the fabrics to each side of the zipper (lining + outer fabric and lining + outer fabric) and top stitch each side of the zipper, as shown in the images.

Step 7: Sew the Boxed Corners

- Flatten and align the lining fabrics to one side (right side facing the right side) and the outer fabrics to the other side (right side facing the right side) and make sure the edges match. Using a quilting ruler cut off a 4cm | 1 37/64" square from each bottom corner (of the lining fabrics and the outer fabrics).

- Align again the fabrics (lining with lining and outer fabric with outer fabric) and sew all the way around leaving the corners unstitched and a 10cm | 3 15/16" opening in one side of the lining to turn the tote bag right side out.

- Now open and align each cut corner. Make sure to match the seams (side and bottom) together.

- Sew through all layers along each of the cut edges to close the corners. To add extra strength you can reinforce your stitching by stitching again. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and at the end.

- Press the seams open.