Vintage Fabric Tote Bag

Do you have some fabulous fabric that is just sitting on a shelf? Do you have a soft spot for vintage fabrics? (Check out ours, here.) Do you have an hour? Then put that fav fabric to good and practical use by making this cute Vintage Fabric Tote Bag. The pattern is from the Better Homes & Garden website, but any tote pattern would be fine.

Inspired by the many interesting vintage fabrics at Contemporary Cloth, I selected this whimsical fabric and a coordinating print for the inside of the bag.

A simple half yard of each fabric is all that is needed. Two rectangles are cut and sewn around three sides. Press under 1/2" at the top. This is repeated for the lining.

The long edges on the strips are pressed in and then folded together to form the handles.


The strips are edge-stitched.

The bag pieces are placed with wrong sides together and the handles are pinned in between the layers. Top stitch to sew the lining to the bag and encase the handles.

The result? A quick-to-make tote that is functional and cute!