Pleated Tote Bag Free Pattern

To make these pleated tote bags, you need about a yarn of fabric for the outer bag, and a yard for the ling. I’d pick heavy weight cotton or canvas for the outside, and a cotton (lined with interfacing) for the lining of the bag.

 You need your pleated tote bag to be strong and able to carry loads of groceries, books, beach gear or sports gear. I have made most of by bags with a closing, using a vintage button. But these pleated tote bags work very well without a closing as well.

The sewing pattern of the pleated tote bag, it’s well written and very clear. Even if you’ve just started to sew. Go ahead and have a go! 

DOWNLOAD FREE PDF PATTERN

Materials:
1/2 yard fabric for exterior
1/2 yard fabric for lining
interfacing of choice
Button
straps (2)  4” x 22”
interior pocket (2-4 for 1 or 2 pocksts) 13” x 6”
loop closure (1)  2” x 5”

finished size of bag:
15” wide x 12” tall x 4” deep

Notes:
All fabrics used are 44”  wide quilting cottons.
All seam allowances are 1/2” unless specified otherwise. For a sturdy, more rigid bag, use heavyweight fabrics and a heavyweight interfacing.
To ensure that your pattern prints at the correct size, set your printer settings to 100% or set scaling to “none”.  Use the scale  printed at the top of page 5 to check the size.

Instructions:

1.  Prepare fabric:  Cut out all pattern and fabric pieces.  If using fusible interfacing, fuse to wrong side of fabric.  Transfer all pleat and dart markings from pattern to the fabric.

2.  Make pleats:  On the  bag exterior,  bringing the outer half-dots to the center dot, then pin in place.  Above is a cross section of the  pleat.  Once fabric is folded, pin in place, then stitch about 1/4”
from the edge to keep the pleat together, if desired.  It is helpful to pin the pleats in place about 1.5” down from the top edge of the bag during assembly.  Repeat this process for all 4 pleats (two on exterior front, two on back).

3.  Assemble pocket and attach to lining.  Place right sides of pocket pieces together, then stitch around all four sides, leaving an opening on one side (either the side or bottom) for turning.  Clip
corners and turn right side out.  Center the pocket on one side of lining.  Stitch pocket to lining on three sides, making sure to stitch over the opening left in the pocket.  If desired, sew two parallel lines
to divide the pocket into sections.  This provides more stability to the pocket.  Repeat for other side of lining if making 2 pockets.
 

4. Darts: Fold bottom corner right sides together, lining up the legs of the dart (lines farthest apart).  Sew from dart legs to dart point, back stitching at the point.  Repeat for all darts on both the exterior and lining.

5. Make straps: Fold strip of fabric in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, press.
 Open. Fold long sides of strap to the center, using the previous fold line as a guide (Fig. A).  Press.  Fold in half again along center fold line. Press.  Repeat for second strap.  Then, sew 1/4” around the edge (Fig. B).  Use the same method for making the strip that will be used for the purse closure.

6. Pin straps: On right side of the exterior of the bag, pin one end of a strap at a pleat, then pin the other end of the strap at the other pleat.  Repeat for other side of the exterior.  **Make sure your straps
are not twisted.  Next, make a loop with the piece to be used for the bag closure, then pin it at the top center of exterior piece you plan to use for the back.

7. Assemble bag exterior and lining: Place right sides of exterior together, lining up the top edges, sides and corner darts, pin in place, then stitch around sides and bottom 1/2” from edge.
 Do the same for the lining, but leave an opening at the center of the lining bottom about 5-6” wide.

7. Join exterior & lining: Turn exterior wrong side out, turn lining right side out.  Place lining inside of exterior—the right sides of both the exterior and lining should be facing each other and the straps will be sandwiched between the two. (I like to have my fabric loop on the same side as the pocket, but the choice is up to you)   Line up side seams and top edges, then pin in place.

Beginning near a side seam, sew all around the top, 1/2” from the edge.  Back stitch when you return to where you started. Using the opening you left in the lining, turn your bag right side out.  Gently tug on the straps and the closure to make sure that everything is fully turned.
 
8. Finish:  Complete your bag by top stitching 1/4” from the top edge of the bag.  Next, decide where your button should be placed based on your closure loop, then sew on button.  Lastly, sew up the opening in the bottom of the lining.

Enjoy your bag!