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The Easiest Way to Sew a Handbag: A Beginner-Friendly Tote


If you're new to sewing and want to make a handbag, the easiest way is to start with a simple tote bag design. These bags are essentially two rectangles sewn together with handles, and often a flat bottom. They don't require zippers, complicated closures, or many small pieces, making them perfect for beginners to learn basic sewing skills.

This guide will focus on creating a basic, lined tote bag with a flat, boxed bottom and webbing handles. This provides a functional and stylish bag without too much fuss.

The Easiest Way to Sew a Handbag: A Beginner-Friendly Tote

This project is straightforward, teaches fundamental sewing techniques, and results in a practical, customizable bag. We'll use a standard 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance throughout.

I. Planning Your Easy Tote Bag

Even for a simple bag, a little planning goes a long way!

  • Size: A common and useful size is about 14 inches wide x 16 inches tall x 4 inches deep (35.5 cm x 40.5 cm x 10 cm). This is a good general-purpose tote.
  • Fabric Choice: This is where you can have fun!
    • Exterior Fabric: Choose a medium-weight woven fabric like cotton canvas, duck cloth, denim, twill, or even a sturdy quilting cotton. Avoid anything too thin, slippery, or stretchy for your first project.
    • Lining Fabric: A lightweight cotton is perfect. You can pick a fun print or a contrasting solid color for a pop of surprise inside your bag!
  • Handles: For the easiest approach, we'll use pre-made cotton webbing. It's sturdy, comes in many colors, and saves you time making fabric handles.

II. Gather Your Materials

Having everything ready before you start will make the sewing process smooth and enjoyable.

  1. Exterior Fabric: About 1 yard (0.9 meters).
  2. Lining Fabric: About 1 yard (0.9 meters).
  3. Fusible Interfacing (Optional but Recommended): About 1 yard (0.9 meters) of medium-weight fusible interfacing (like Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex). This gives your bag more body and makes it look more polished, but you can skip it if you're using a very sturdy exterior fabric and want the absolute simplest sew.
  4. Cotton Webbing for Handles: 2 yards (1.8 meters) of 1.5-inch (3.8 cm) wide webbing.
  5. Matching Thread: All-purpose polyester thread that blends well with your fabrics.
  6. Basic Sewing Supplies:
    • Sewing Machine
    • Fabric Shears or Rotary Cutter and Mat
    • Quilting Ruler or Measuring Tape
    • Fabric Chalk or Mark-B-Gone Pen
    • Plenty of Pins or Fabric Clips (clips are great for holding multiple layers)
    • Iron and Ironing Board
    • Seam Ripper (everyone needs one!)

III. Plan Your Cuts & Cut Your Fabric

This tote bag is made from simple rectangles!

Example Finished Size: 14 inches wide x 16 inches tall x 4 inches deep. Seam Allowance: 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).

Cutting Calculations:

  • Panel Width: Finished Width + Finished Depth + (2 * Seam Allowance) = 14" + 4" + 1" = 19 inches
  • Panel Height: Finished Height + Finished Depth + (2 * Seam Allowance) = 16" + 4" + 1" = 21 inches

Your Cut Pieces:

  1. Exterior Fabric: Cut 2 rectangles, each 19 inches wide x 21 inches high.
  2. Lining Fabric: Cut 2 rectangles, each 19 inches wide x 21 inches high.
  3. Fusible Interfacing (if using): Cut 2 rectangles, each 18 inches wide x 20 inches high (1 inch smaller on all sides than your exterior panels to keep bulk out of the seams).
  4. Webbing for Handles: Cut 2 pieces, each 25 inches (63.5 cm) long. (Adjust this length for your preferred handle drop; 25-30 inches is a common comfortable range).

IV. Let's Start Sewing!

General Sewing Tips for Beginners:

  • Press as you go! Ironing after each seam helps your bag look crisp and professional.
  • Use plenty of pins or clips. This prevents fabric from shifting.
  • Backstitch at the beginning and end of every seam to secure your stitches.
  • Use a regular stitch length (around 2.5 mm). For topstitching, you can increase it slightly (3.0-3.5 mm) for a neater look.

Step 1: Prepare Exterior Panels (Optional: Fuse Interfacing & Attach Handles)

  1. Fuse Interfacing (If using): Take one Exterior Fabric panel. Lay it wrong side up on your ironing board. Place one interfacing rectangle on top, centered. Fuse it to the fabric following the manufacturer's instructions. Repeat for the second exterior panel.
  2. Attach Handles: Take one Exterior Fabric panel (right side up, with interfacing fused if applicable).
    • Measure in about 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) from each side edge along the top (19-inch) raw edge. Mark these points with chalk.
    • Take one webbing handle. Align one end of the webbing with each mark on the top raw edge of the fabric. Ensure the webbing lies flat on the panel and is not twisted. Pin securely.
    • Stitch the handle ends in place with two lines of stitching within the 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance (e.g., one at 1/4 inch and one at 3/8 inch from the raw edge). Backstitch multiple times over the handle attachment points for strength.
    • Repeat for the second Exterior Fabric panel and the second webbing handle.

Step 2: Sew the Main Bag Body (Exterior)

  1. Place the two Exterior Fabric panels right sides together, carefully aligning all raw edges. The attached handles should be tucked neatly inside.
  2. Pin securely along both side edges and the entire bottom edge. Leave the top edge (where the handles are) open.
  3. Using your 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance, stitch from one top corner down that side, pivot sharply at the bottom corner, stitch straight across the bottom, pivot again, and stitch up the other side to the top corner. Backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.
  4. Press your seams open to reduce bulk.



Step 3: Box the Corners of the Main Bag

This step creates the flat, structured bottom of your tote bag.

  1. Lay the main bag body flat. The side and bottom seams should be pressed open.
  2. At one of the bottom corners, carefully bring the side seam and the bottom seam together, aligning them perfectly. This will naturally form a triangular shape at the corner.
  3. Measure from the tip of this triangle inward along the seam line a distance of 2 inches (5 cm). (This is half of our desired 4-inch bag depth).
  4. Draw a straight line perpendicular to the seam at this 2-inch mark. This is your new stitching line.
  5. Pin firmly along this drawn line.
  6. Stitch precisely along the drawn line, backstitching securely at both ends.
  7. Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving about a 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance beyond your new stitching line.
  8. Repeat this exact process for the other bottom corner of your main bag body. Result: Your main bag now has a defined, flat bottom. Keep it wrong side out.

Step 4: Sew the Lining Bag Body

The lining is constructed almost identically to the main bag, with one crucial difference for turning the bag later.

  1. Place the two Lining Fabric panels right sides together, aligning all raw edges.
  2. Pin along both side edges and the entire bottom edge.
  3. Using your 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance, stitch down one side seam.
  4. CRUCIAL STEP: For the bottom seam, you must leave an opening! Stitch approximately 3 inches (7.5 cm) from one side, then leave a 6-8 inch (15-20 cm) unstitched gap in the middle of the bottom seam. This opening is absolutely essential for turning the entire bag right side out later. After the gap, stitch for another 3 inches (7.5 cm) to reach the other side seam. Backstitch well at the start and end of the stitched sections around your opening.
  5. Stitch up the second side seam.
  6. Press your seams open.
  7. Box the Corners of the Lining Bag: Box the corners of your lining bag using the exact same method you used for the main bag (refer back to Step 3). Result: Your lining bag is now fully constructed, with that important turning opening at the bottom. Keep it wrong side out.

Step 5: Join the Main Bag and the Lining (The "Bag-in-a-Bag" Method)

This clever technique encloses all raw edges at the top of your bag, giving it a super clean and professional finish.

  1. Ensure your main bag body is right side out.
  2. Ensure your lining bag body is wrong side out (and still has that turning opening).
  3. Carefully insert the main bag body into the lining bag body.
    • The right sides of both bags should now be facing each other.
    • Align the side seams of the main bag with the side seams of the lining bag.
    • Align the top raw edges of the main fabric and the lining fabric all around the entire opening of the bag.
    • Pin securely all the way around this top edge, matching up seams precisely.
  4. Using your 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance, stitch all the way around the entire top opening of the bag. Go slowly and carefully, especially when you go over the handle attachment points. Backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.
  5. Trim & Clip: To reduce bulk, trim the seam allowance at the top down to about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm).

Step 6: Turn Your Bag Right Side Out & Finish

This is the satisfying moment your bag takes its final shape!

  1. Reach through the opening you left in the bottom seam of the lining.
  2. Slowly and carefully pull the entire bag (main body, lining, handles – everything!) through this opening until it is completely right side out. Take your time, gently pushing out all the corners for a crisp, well-defined shape.
  3. Close the Lining Opening: Go to your ironing board. Press the raw edges of the opening in the bottom of the lining under by 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) so they meet neatly. Align these pressed edges and pin/clip them together. Stitch this opening closed by machine (sewing very close to the folded edge for a neat finish) or by hand using an invisible ladder stitch for a truly seamless look.
  4. Now, push the lining down into the bag.
  5. Final Press & Topstitch: Carefully press the entire top edge of the bag. Make sure the lining is fully tucked inside and isn't peeking out over the top of the main fabric.
    • For a super polished and durable finish, topstitch all around the entire top edge of the bag, about 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) from the edge. This final topstitching secures the lining, helps the bag hold its shape, and adds that professional touch.

Congratulations! You've successfully sewn your first handbag. This basic tote is versatile and perfect for everyday use. As you gain confidence, you can try adding features like interior pockets, a magnetic snap closure, or even different strap styles. Enjoy your new handmade bag!

Tutorial Video



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