Lined Reusable Tote Bag

This super simple lined tote bag will be perfect for any use! You can play around with sizes, pockets, and designs to personalize it for yourself. It's a perfect quick project for a beginner sewer!

• 1/2 yard of canvas fabric
• 1/2 yard of lining fabric
• Two yards of cotton webbing
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Paint or embroidery thread (optional)

The first step is to cut your fabric. I want my tote bag to be 15" by 16" so I'm cutting a 16" by 34" piece to leave a 1/2" seam allowance on each side. You will also want to repeat this step with your linin fabric. You should now have two identical pieces of fabric.

Now is the time to add a design to the front if you want to. You can add one with either paint or embroidery. I taped out the section I wanted painted and then started on my design. Just be sure to let the paint dry completely before you contrinue sewing.

This step is also optional, but I had some extra lining fabric so I'm adding a small pocket to the inside. I cut a piece of fabric 8" by 6" and then pressed a 1/2 inch down on each side. I sewed a hem along the top side and then topstitched the pocket to the inner lining fabric. It should look like the second photo, with the right side of the pocket facing out on top of the right side of the lining fabric.

Next, you're going to want to take your large pieces of fabric and fold them in half, with the right sides facing each other. Then you'll pin everything and sew straight down each side, leaving a half-inch seam allowance. After this, just flip both pieces inside out and iron the sides to finish your seams.

Next cut the rope to the length you desire. Since I had two yards, I just cut my piece in half so each side is 36 inches.

For this step, you want to have the lining with the right side facing out. Then you can pin on your straps, I placed my straps 3 1/2 inches in on each side, but place them wherever is most comfortable for you. Make sure to put them with the loop facing the bottom of the bag, so when you flip it inside out the straps are in between the layers. Finally, flip the outer layer inside out (right sides facing each other) and place that over the lining and straps. Pin everything together and sew (again with a half-inch seam allowance), leaving a small space to the side of a strap unsewn.

With the unsewn space, you can flip the entire bag inside out and put the lining inside the bag. After you hand sew the small space where the bag was flipped inside out, the bag is finished!