Materials Needed
- 1 yard of Spoonflower Recycled Canvas or an alternative fabric such as Lightweight Cotton Twill, Linen Cotton Canvas, Organic Cotton Sateen or Organic Cotton Knit
- Cutting mat
- Ruler
- Rotary cutter or sewing scissors
- Thread
- Sewing machine
Note: All seams on this DIY Halloween Tote Bag should be sewn at 1/4″ unless otherwise noted.
Step One: Cut Out the Pattern Pieces
Start your tote bag by cutting out your pieces as follows:
- 2 panels for the front and back measuring 12.5″ x 15.5″
- 2 side panels measuring 7″ x 15.5″
- 1 bottom panel measuring 12.5″ x 7″
- 2 handles measuring 22″ x 3″
- 1 facing measuring 37.5″ x 3″
Pro tip: If your facing strip fabric has a directional print (i.e. there’s a definite “right side up”), finish the bottom edge.
Step Two: Finish the Raw Edges
Finish the raw edges of your DIY Halloween tote bag using a serge or zigzag stitch as follows:
- All raw edges on the front, back, bottom and side panels
- The raw edges of the two short sides and one long raw edge of your facing strip
Step Three: Prepping Your Facing
Press the long, finished side of your facing strip toward the wrong side of your fabric by 1/2″.
Step Four: Topstitch the Hem
Topstitch the pressed hem with a 3/8” seam allowance and set the piece aside.
Step Five: Prepping Your Handles
Prep your handles by taking the handle pieces and pressing both long sides toward the wrong side of your fabric by 1/4″.
Step Six: Fold the Handles
Fold your handles in half lengthwise and match up the pressed edges. Press it again and pin it in place.
Step Seven: Stitch the Long Edges
Use a 3/8″ seam allowance to stitch along both long edges of each handle and set them aside.
Step Eight: Assemble the Sides of Your DIY Halloween Treat Bag
With right sides together, stitch one of your large panels (front or back) and one of your side panels together, leaving a 1/4” gap at the end of your stitch line at the bottom of your tote. Repeat this step until all four panel pieces are sewn together in a consecutive line.
You should have a side panel separating each front or back panel.
Pro tip: Leaving a 1/4″ gap at the end will help when assembling the side panels with the bottom of your tote!
Step Nine: Attach the Sides to the Bottom
With right sides facing, match up the raw edges of the tote bottom with the sewn tote sides. Your four sides should easily stretch all the way around the tote’s bottom panel. The short sides of the bottom should match up with the short sides of the bag’s sides. Stitch in place, leaving a 1/4” gap at the beginning and end of the stitch line.
Step Ten: Close the Last Side Seam
With right sides still facing, match up the raw edges of the remaining side seam of the tote, pinching the corner of the tote bottom between the side panel corners. Stitch along this last raw edge, creating a finished tote body with all sides and bottom secure. Flip right sides out.
Step Eleven: Attach the Handles
Take one of your finished handles and pin it to the top of your tote on the right side. The left and right ends of your handle should be pinned 3″ in from the left and right side seams.
Repeat this process for both the front and back of your tote. There should be one handle pinned to the front panel and one handle pinned to the back panel. Make sure all raw edges of the handles and tote top are aligned and that your handle is not twisted.
Step Twelve: Pin and Sew Your Facing
Pin your facing to the top of the tote, aligning all raw edges and with right sides together. Pin around the top of the tote, trapping the handle’s raw edges between the facing and tote body until the two short ends of your facing meet. Secure the two short ends together with a seam allowance close to the tote’s body panels and parallel to the short ends of your facing.
Once the facing is secured to itself, stitch around the top of the tote, taking care to sew through the facing, handles and tote top. Flip the facing to the inside of your tote. Secure the facing by topstitching around the top of the tote with a 1/4” seam allowance from the top edge.
Step Thirteen: Enjoy Your New Halloween Treat Bag
Congrats, you’ve just finished making your own Halloween treat bag that’s perfect for a fun night of trick-or-treating!
Bonus idea: These DIY Tote Bags are the perfect size to take to the farmers’ market or a quick errand to the grocery store! Create your next market bag using one of our fresh picks from the Marketplace or design your own.
really lovely!
I will use unicorn cloth for my girl!
I need to get my machine out 😛 and this looks a good option
These look great, and the instructions very clear, AND I’m happy to see that a guy is sewing here! Thanks!
These are so awesome. I will surely make one for my friends. Thanks for this lovely posting and keep sharing these ideas.
Love this pattern, you could even use Easter fabric to make Easter bags, etc.
That’s a great idea!