Quick & easy linen tote bag

Make your own linen tote bag. It is such a quick and easy sewing project that you’ll have it finished in no time at all. And once you’ve sewed up this easy tote bag, you will be able to head over to the farmer’s market and carry the lovely produce in your own handmade linen tote bag.

Maybe you also grow some of your own vegetables in your garden or an allotment. In which case, being able to harvest your vegetables and then carry them in your handmade linen tote bag would be so lovely. I know I always need a bag to hold my harvest. And what could be better than a linen tote bag, seeing as linen is naturally antiseptic, thereby keeping your veggies as healthy as can be.

Linen is such a beautiful fabric, and it ages exceptionally well. I find that because of its beauty and its strength, it is the perfect fabric choice for a tote bag. Since the more you use your tote bag for running your errands the lovelier it will become. It is not without reason that people used to have so many linen heirlooms. It is because of the simple reason that linen ages in a way that it doesn’t deteriorate but rather becomes softer while maintaining its strength. And who knows, maybe if you create this lovely linen tote bag, that one day your grandchildren will be able to use it for their errands.

Materials that you will need

You will need a handful of items to create this lovely linen tote bag with a flat bottom.

• You will need about half a meter or half a yard of linen fabric.
  • If you don’t have any linen fabric, you can also use a cotton or even a woollen fabric, although it will look and feel different.
• Matching thread

You will also need some tools:

• A sewing machine
• Some pins & a safety pin
• Fabric scissors
• An iron for cleaner seams
• A seam ripper if you want to lift up the woven thread to ensure straight cuts

Sewing your linen tote bag

Make your very own linen tote bag with a flat bottom, perfect for when you need to run some errands or need a strong bag to hold your harvest from the farmers market. It takes hardly any time at all to sew up, and with the great qualities of linen, it will last for decades.

Cutting out your pieces

Measure and cut two main body pieces of 40cm x 45cm or 16″ x 18″.

Measure and cut two strips for the straps of 5cm x 65cm or 2″ x 25″.

Lifting the threads in the linen fabric to ensure straight cuts

Measure your fabric according to the measurement above. Then instead of using a tailor’s chalk, you pick out one thread with your seam ripper.

Lift up the thread and pull it out of the fabric. This will create some puckering in the fabric, and you will find that your thread is pulled taut. This will make it easier to follow your thread while you’re pulling it out.

Once you’ve removed the thread over the entire length that you need to cut, you can clearly see a gap in the fabric. Now you can be ensured that when you cut into that gap, that it will be a true straight cut.

This will prevent any warping and or twisting, that can occur when the fabric isn’t cut straight on the grain.

Preparing the straps

Fold the strips with the right sides together, down the long side, so that you get a long narrow strip. Then iron across the strip and sew a seam along the length of the strip, with a seam allowance of about half a cm or 1/4 inch.

To turn the straps right side out, you can use a safety pin. You simply pin it on the bottom of your strap and guide it through the inside of your tubular strap until you come out on the other side and pull it out.

Iron your strap and topstitch along the edges of your strap with a seam as narrow as you can manage.

Attaching the main pieces together

Pin the main pieces with the right sides together, making sure that they line up properly. And leave one of the long sides open, for this will be the top of the bag.

Sew along the three sides. The two short sides and the one long side which will be the bottom. Don’t forget to finish your raw edge with either a serger, zig-zag stitch or any other stitch finish that you like.

Creating the bag’s bottom

To create a flat bottom in your tote bag, you will want to open up your bag then press the bottom to that your side seam and the bottom seam line up. They should form a triangle with a good clean point.

With a measuring tape find the point where the width is 12cm or 5″. Then pin and sew across this line. If you prefer to have the added accuracy of using tailor’s chalk to mark where you should sew, then by all means do so.

After having sewed across your triangles to form your bottom, you can snip off the excess and finish your edges.

Attaching the straps to the tote bag

To attach the straps to your tote bag. You will want to first, fold over the top of the bag inwards about a centimetre or half an inch. Then fold it over inwards again, but this time about 2 centimetres or one inch. Press your fabric both times with an iron to secure the linen.

Find the middle of one side of your bag and place your strap 7cm or 2.5″ on either side. Tuck your strap underneath the turned over top and pin it in place so that it won’t shift while sewing. Repeat for the other side of the bag.

Sew all around the top of the bag right along the folded edge, sewing over any straps that are pinned in place.

Fold the straps right way up and sew a small cross across the strap to secure it further to the bag.

Finishing touches

This last step is optional but brings the look of your linen bag to a whole new height, as well as giving it some structure.

We’re going to sew along the currently non-existing edges of our bag. With a topstitch that runs very close to the edge of our fabric.

Take the top of your bag and measure about 6cm or 2.5″ and hold it in one hand, while in the other hand holding the corner of the bottom of your bag. Then pin along the edge you’ve created. Repeat for all the edges of your bag.

Sew all the edges with a close topstitch and admire the instantaneous structure that your bag now possesses.

And lastly, go and enjoy your homemade linen tote bag that you made all yourself.

Take your handmade tote bag out for a spin

I hope you enjoyed creating your very own handmade linen tote bag. And you might even want to make some tote bags for your friends or family. After all, who doesn’t need an extra bag, especially when it is as gorgeous as your homemade one is?

When you have finished your lovely tote bag though, I would absolutely love it if you would please tag me on Instagram so that I can see your lovely creation too. And of course, you can always leave a comment down below so that I can answer any questions you might have.

Want to start on your next easy sewing project:

• DIY Drawstring Bag. Sew a round bottom drawstring bag +Free Pattern
• Easy homemade reversible knitting bag
• DIY wicker basket liner tutorial
• Sew your own half apron
• Quick & easy sewing tutorial, how to make a linen scrunchie

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