Market Bag Pattern - How To Make A Tote Bag

See how to make a tote bag using my best free market bag pattern in 3 sizes. And it's more than just a tote - see why I call it a two-in-one pattern!

This is a great looking tote in 3 sizes you can make with 3 different prints or solids. I love how it can be used either as a storage basket or as a proper market tote. Plus, no corner boxing required, due to a specific bottom construction - all super easy, promise! The result is stunning, and it looks so profesionally made!

If you like sewing bags, make sure to check out these too:

• Free Color-Blocked Tote Bag Pattern
• All my best bag making tips
• Free Messenger Bag Pattern
• or make these medium sized fabric baskets (so sweet + video too!)

How To Make A Tote Bag

Now back to our market bag pattern: this market tote has a generous, square flat bottom, allowing you to bring your delicate market purchases home with ease. It's perfect for a baguette or two, some fresh produce and a bundle of herbs and flowers - all in your favorite market tote bag! 

Scroll further down to get the template from my shop for free (no code. Just free.)

My favorite features with a bag pattern: well constructed, easy and beautiful. This one covers all three.

And I'm sure you'll also love the two-in-one feature: this market bag pattern can be used either as storage basket or a tote - same item!

See how to sew a tote bag like this one, now. Also, don't forget to scroll down for even more tips to make this market bag pattern work for you - better, easier, and quicker!

FINISHED SIZE of the MARKET bag / BASKET - 3 sizes!

The finished sizes are as follows:

• small tote: 7" x 7" at the bottom, 9" tall, 14" wide on top (18 x 18 cm, 23cm tall, 36cm wide on top)
• medium tote: 9" x 9" at the bottom, 11" tall, 18" wide on top (23 x 23 cm, 28cm tall, 46cm wide on top)
• large tote: 11" x 11" at the bottom, 13" tall, 22" wide on top (28 x 28 cm, 33cm tall, 56cm wide on top)

Where Can I Get the FREE Market Bag Pattern?

Get mine from the shop here - it's absolutely FREE! Print and start cutting and sewing right now!

Get all cutting dimensions and the printable main piece for free in the SHOP at THIS LINK (click on MARKET BAG pattern)

You can also opt for drafting your own template if you don't want mine, it's not rocket science. In this case, just make sure to keep the bottom edges at 90 degrees and not to cut the pieces too wide.

Supplies For Sewing The Tote Bag

For the Large Market Tote

To make the large tote, you'll need:

• ½ yard/meter of Fabric #1 (Outer MAIN)
• ½ yard/meter of Fabric #2 (Outer SIDES)
• 1 yard/meter of Fabric #3 (LINING)
• 44" of 1" to 1 ¼ -wide webbing for handles, preferably cotton + thick (heavyweight)
• ¾ yard of fusible fleece (for tote lining and pocket)
• ¾ yard/meter of stiff mid-weight interfacing like Pellon Craft Fuse, Vilene S320 or stronger like Decovil I Light (to interface the outer and handle accents)

To make the medium and the small sizes, you'll have some leftover fabric.

Want to sew the tote with the same fabric as this one in my photo? Here is the link to the Garden Party collection by Keera Job for Riley Blake Designs. Rich colors, and these gorgeous bouquets of flowers are so perfect for a stroll through the Saturday market. I can't wait to visit it again, hopefully soon!

How To Make A Tote Bag - Tutorial

Here's how to start making your own market tote. You'll be offered options as you go, and you can just stick to the basics, or go a few extra steps - your choice entirely!

Step 1- Cut the Pieces

Get all cutting dimensions and the printable main piece for free in the SHOP at THIS LINK (click on MARKET BAG PATTERN)

First, these are the pieces you’ll need:

From Fabric #1 (OUTER MAIN), cut

• 2 main pieces from the PDF template (for tote outer, main panels)
• optional 2 strips 1 ½" x 22" (for handle accents)
• 1 rectangle for interior pocket: 9" x 15" for large+medium tote size / OR 7" x 11" for small tote size - the pocket can be in a different print (I used tiny red florals here)

From the Fabric #2 (OUTER SIDES) cut:

• 2 main pieces from the PDF template (for tote outer, side panels)

From Fabric #3 (LINING), cut:

• 4 main pieces from the PDF template (for tote lining)
• IF YOU DON'T WANT WEBBING FOR HANDLE base: 2 strips 4″ x 22″ (for handle base)

From fusible fleece, cut:

• 4 main pieces from the PDF template, but make sure to cut them on the seam allowance to avoid bulk (fuse to bag lining)
• 1 rectangle for interior pocket: 8" x 7" for large+medium tote size / OR 6" x 5" for small tote size

From fusible stiff mid-weight interfacing, cut:

• 4 main pieces from the PDF template, but make sure to cut them on the seam allowance to avoid bulk (fuse to market tote outer)
• OPTIONAL accents FOR HANDLES: 2 strips ¾″ x 22″ (for handle accents)

Step 2 - FUSE interfacing to main pieces

Using the manufacturer’s instructions, add fusible fleece to the back of the 4 lining pieces, and stiff interfacing to the 4 outer pieces. Here's some help for how to fuse interfacing if you need it:

STEP 3 - MAKE TOTE HANDLES

Your finished handles will be 21" long. You can opt for webbing only, in this case just cut 2 pieces as indicated in the cutting chart. I made my handles 1" wide. I used poly webbing as base for my tote handles - cotton webbing would have been better, but I ran out of it.

OPTION: handles are sturdier and stronger - and prettier - when you add a stripe of fabric to your webbing. Optional, but it's easy:

What you need to do is 1- fuse the interfacing stripe to the fabric, then 2- turn under the two long edges of the fabric to make it ¾" wide (1.9cm), press the fabric strip well (NOT the poly webbing!) and 3-stitch it onto the 1" wide webbing. Feel free to adjust the width if you like.

If you need more guidance to make the handles, or want to make the handles entirely out of fabric I've got you covered. Check out my bag handles tutorial here:

Step 4 - Baste Handles to Outer MAIN PANELS (Fabric #1)

Take the two main piecs cut from Fabric #1 - that is, OUTER MAIN panels, and baste the handles on their top edge, each end of the handle 1" (2.5cm) away from the top corner. Also, make sure the accent fabric on the handles is facing the fabric main panels.

Set them aside for now.

Step 5 - Make the Pocket

Add fusible fleece to the pocket piece, making sure to leave the seam allowance free (see photo below). Then fold right sides together and sew with a ½" seam allowance, leaving a gap for turning.

Trim and notch the corners and turn right side out. If you need help with trimming the seam allowance, this is a good how-to:

Once you’ve turned the piece, topstitch, but NOT all around the piece: you’ll ONLY topstitch the top (folded) edge. The turning hole will remain open. Like this:

Step 6 - Attach Pocket To the Lining

Now attach the pocket on one of the lining pieces. Place the lining piece right-side-up, then place the pocket piece, with topstitching at the top side, at a distance of 3" away from the top edge of the lining, and horizontally centered. See the photo:

Pin and topstitch the pocket in place: I start at the top right, across the bottom and go back up on the left. See the white dashed lines above.

Step 7 - Assemble The Tote

Now you'll have 4 outer pieces (2 main panels have handles basted on) and 4 lining pieces (1 has a pocket installed). The assembly will go in several steps, I'll try to guide you through each substep to make it super clear:

7A- LINING PIECES

First', take the lining pieces and place them two by two right sides together. Make sure the POCKET piece will be at the bottom. Using a ½" (1.3cm) seam allowance, stitch along the LEFT side from top to the bottom tip.

Make sure to leave a 5" gap on the one pair that does not have a pocket. This will be your turning gap.

7B - OUTER PIECES

Now, the OUTER panels. Place them as pictured, MAIN panels with handles at the bottom (with right-side-up) and the SIDE panels on them, right-sides-down. The handles will be sandwiched between the layers.

Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch on the RIGHT side of the stacks only - from top to the bottom corner.

7C- LINING+OUTER

Trim the seam allowance on the finished seams. Now let's place the new sets together: take the lining set WITH the pocket and align it to the top edge of one of the OUTER panels so the POCKET will lie directly OPPOSITE the MAIN panel (handles!) - see the 2 WHITE arrows below:

Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch the top edges together. This will become the top of the tote.

Then repeat with the other, remaining set (no pocket on lining.)

ADVANCED SEWING TIP: Optionally, understitch: press the seam allowance towards the lining and topstitch on the lining side all the way along the sewn edge. See the sewing tips section below, towards the end of the post.

7D - The Grand Finale 🙂

All you need is to stitch together the final two panels. Use the ½" seam allowance and stitch all the way around. You'll already have a turning hole in lining from one of the previous steps:

Step 8 - turn Right Side out AND PRESS

Turn your tote right-side-out through the hole in lining and stitch it closed. Then topstitch around the top edge of your tote.:

Press and voila! Done, congratulations, you've made a beautiful square bottom tote. Now that you're familiar with the steps, the next one wil go much faster, I promise!

Additional Sewing tips:

And here are even more tips to make this market bag pattern work for you - better, easier, and quicker!

How To Interface the Tote BAG For More STABILITY

If you want a stand-uppy tote, feel free to use Decovil I Light for Outer instead of Decor Bond, or do like I did: use two layers.

This is what I did with my outer pieces: I added some mid-weight fusible first (the weight is similar to the Pellon SF101 or WovenFuse) and the stiff interfacing on top of that (cut on seam allowance to reduce bulk).

Topstitching OR Understitching?

A NOTE to ADVANCED SEWERS: Towards the end of the tutorial, I suggest topstitching the top edge of the tote. If you are a seasoned bag maker, you've probably already understitched the top edge in one of the above steps as mentioned. (see step 7) If you understitched, topstitching might not even be necessary, depending on the structural stability of the materials you've used. Just to compare, I understitched the larger, red colorway tote, so no topstitching was necessary here:

I also quilted the lining on the red tote, as I used quilt batting instead of fusible fleece. Worked great, and I love the soft, squishy lining layer on my larger size tote.

Want to Add Magnetic closure?

Here's a quick placement photo in case you want to add magnets to your market tote: check out the green dots below (ignore the arrows and whatsnot other markings. Just the GREEN dots). And this is the ONLY place that's right for your magnets on this pattern:

PLACEMENT: install your magnets at 1 ¼ or 1 ½" below the top raw edge of the two lining pieces as marked in the above photo, making sure they are centered horizontally. If you need guidance for installing magnets, I've got you covered, too 😀 - here's how to install magnetic snaps. Super easy!

And I have so many more ideas for bag sewing tips, like the scotch tape I used (did you notice it above, on the handles? Yep, one of my fav tricks to keep things in place so they are out of the way when I'm sewing. But let me stop here, I have a whole post on bag making tips and tricks and I desperately need to bring it to life, or else I might clog all my tutorials with extra bag making tips and hacks not everybody might want to hear about 🙂 Soooo, get ready for a bag sewing tips kinda post then. Or run - you've been warned 🙂

Save this tutorial for later:

As always, I'd love to see if you've made a tote using this tutorial. Please post a picture to Instagram and tag me @applegreencottage or #applegreencottage - so I can take a look!