Spring Tote - Free Sewing Pattern

Spring - a season full of hope and possibility as the skies clear and the days become warmer and longer.  The fresh air calls and it is a time when I feel particularly lucky to call the Wairarapa home.  

Written by Emma, featured in Wairarapa Lifestyle Magazine, Spring 2024

It is a time for strolling into the Village, making grocery trips by foot and simply slowing down to take in the sights, smells and sounds of life emerging from winter. The local events calendar is busy with garden tours, bookshop hops, daffodil festivals and more, so it is with this in mind that we’ve designed the Spring Tote to be the perfect bag for spring adventures.                             
Elevated beyond a simple shopper with its ample size, rounded corners and straps that pop means that you’ll look fab strolling country lanes as well as having plenty of room for shopping and all your spring essentials. There is a large main compartment, a slightly smaller outer pocket plus a handy patch pocket for keys and a wallet.  

The tote can be sewn in a mid-weight cotton for a lighter weight version that you can fold up as a handy just-in-case bag, or use a sturdy canvas for a hard working tote!  The straps are reinforced with webbing and are just the right length for easy access when slung on one shoulder or for wearing across your body to keep it neatly out of the way while walking or biking.

Finished Measurements: 42cm wide, 47cm deep
Fabric: 1m of mid to heavy weight cotton, at least 110cm wide. 
Note - Since photographing the blue and white bag, we have found that the textured nature of this fabric catches on items in the bag, so would be ideal lined with a cotton poplin or lawn.
The floral bag is a cotton/linen canvas and a great weight (210gsm) for a tote bag. 
You will also need: matching thread, 2m of flexible webbing - we recommend either our Heavy Cotton Tape or Light Nylon Webbing 

Or grab a sewing kit with everything you need.  

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cut fabric pieces as follows:

Front and Back - two pieces each 47cm wide x 50cm high
Outer Pocket - 47cm wide x 46cm high
Facing - two pieces each 47cm wide x 12.5cm high
Patch Pocket - 23cm x 23cm
Straps - two pieces 8cm wide x 95cm long On Front, Back and Outer Pocket round bottom corners by measuring 5cm from corner along bottom and up side of fabric.  Use a plate or similar to join these marks to create a rounded corner.  Trim along curve just created. 

Patch Pocket:

At top of pocket press 1cm towards wrong side of fabric. Then, with right sides together, fold back an additional 2cm. Stitch fold down at sides of pocket with 1.5cm seam allowance, trim corners. Finish sides and bottom of pocket with overlock or zigzag. 

Turn folded top edge to wrong side, press - also turning in sides and bottom of pocket edges to wrong side by 1.5cm. Edgestitch top folded edge.

Place Patch Pocket on right side of Front - 14cm from top edge, centred between sides. Edgestitch Patch Pocket on sides and bottom of Pocket, reinforcing top corners. 

Outer Pocket & Main Bag:

At top of Outer Pocket press 1cm then an additional 3cm towards wrong side of fabric. Edgestitch folded edge.

Baste wrong side of Outer Pocket to right side of Front. 

With right sides together and 1.5cm seam allowance, sew together Front (including Outer Pocket) and Back along sides and bottom edge. Finish seams with overlock or zigzag. 

Turn to right side, press. 

Facing:

With right sides together, sew Facing pieces together along short edges with 1.5cm seam allowance. Press seams open. You now have a large loop. 

On one edge of Facing, press 1cm towards wrong side of fabric.  With right sides together, stitch opposite Facing edge to top edge of bag.  Sew with 1cm seam allowance, make sure to match side seams. 

Turn Facing to inside of bag, press.  Topstitch around top edge of bag.  

The next step will need to be done in two stages - first the back then front, ensuring to move the Outer Pocket out of the way between each stage. Topstitch around bottom edge of Facing to secure to bag (10cm from top edge of bag).  The photo below shows topstitching the facing on the front side of the bag.  The outer pocket is being held out of the way to the left.  

Straps:

Fold in half lengthwise to mark middle of each strap. Open. With wrong sides facing, fold each long edge into middle of Strap. Do not overlap edges. Cut webbing to 95cm. Lay webbing along centre of Strap to cover raw edges. Topstitch webbing to Strap along long edges. This is now the right side of Strap. Repeat for other Strap. Fold under 5cm on short edge of Strap to wrong side. Place Strap at top of bag - 6cm from side seam, 5.5cm from top of bag. Sew onto bag (including Facing) with a rectangle and cross pattern for reinforcement.Repeat for other end of Strap, then for other Strap.  Ensure you don’t twist Straps. Load your new bag with your spring essentials and time to head out to absorb a little of new season life.