Reversible Tote Bag Tutorial

This is my first tutorial so please excuse any formatting issues etc.

You will need:-

2 x pieces of fabric 36cm x 27 cm (outer)

2 x pieces of fabric 36cm x27cm (lining)

2 pieces of fabric 5cm x 60cm (outer)

2 pieces of fabric 5cm x 60cm (lining)

Step 1- make handles

With right sides together pin one lining handle piece of fabric to one outer handle piece. Using a 0.5cm seam allowance sew handle together along long edges. Turn so that right sides are outermost and press. If desired or if time allows top stitch 0.5mm from long edges.

Repeat for 2nd handle.

Step 2- Sew main body of bag

Using outer fabric and with right sides facing, pin and sew around 3 sides (2 short and one long side) leaving top side open. Still keeping right sides together place your hands inside the bag and push out the bottom corners to create a triangular shape at each corner.

Pin, perpendicular to the bottom seam 2.5cm from the corner to keep the triangle shape in place.

Then sew a seam along this line perpendicular to the corner (see photograph)

Cut excess fabric off

Leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance.
Repeat from beginning of step 2 for lining fabric.



Step 3- attaching the handles to bag

Take the outer bag piece and turn right side out. Take one handle piece and face the outer fabric of handle onto the outer fabric of bag (so reverse side of handle is uppermost). Lay the handle so that the loop is resting at the bottom of the bag and pit the two open ends to the top of the bag about 11cm apart. Using your machine attach handles to bag using a 1cm seam allowance. Turn bag over and repeat to attach handle to the opposite side of the bag, making sure the two places where you attach the tops of the handles match up on either side.

Step 4- making up the bag

Well done, you’re almost there! Keeping the bag outer just as you’ve had it for attaching the handles, take the lining section and with the right side of the lining facing the right side of the outer fabric, pop the outer fabric bag into the lining fabric bag. Line up side seams and pin the open section at the top of the bag together. (making sure the bag handles are safely tucked inside)

Sew around the top of the bag leaving a gap between the handles on one side of the bag open for turning.

Turn bag out like so:-

Next, pop the lining bag inside the outer to create your (almost) finished bag!

Pin and stitch the opening where you turned the bag 0.5 cm from the top.

Then continue to stitch 0.5cm from the top all around the bag to give it a neat top stitch.

Congratulations you now have a new, finished reversible bag!

This technique can be used to create a variety of different sized bags. You can embellish it with appliqué or pockets and if you don’t want to make it reversible you could easily secure the top of the bag with a strip of sew on Velcro or attach a button and loop closure. The possibilities are endless!