I am super excited to share with you my new zippered tote bag pattern, it’s the perfect size for a large bag!

The zippered tote bag has an external zip pocket and one internal slip pocket – it is easy to customize and add additional internal pockets to your preference.

This free pattern for a zippered tote bag utilizes two different fabrics for the exterior.

The finished large handbag size is 17 high by 14″ width by 4 1/2″ depth.

Fabric choices for your zippered tote bag

I have worked with a canvas and an upholstery weight fabric for the exterior of the bag, with a polycotton lining. Due to the size of the finished bag I do recommend a heavier-weight fabric than a quilter’s cotton for the exterior panels. Contrasting fabrics are fun.

Do check out my youtube channel video for this bag.

I have many free patterns for tote bags on the blog:

The delight of working with simple rectangles when making bags is the fact you have no need to print out PDF files, grab a quilting ruler and away you go. Scroll to the bottom of the page for bullet-point printable instructions.

Tote Bag with Zipper Sewing Pattern

Zippered Tote Bag Pattern pieces:

Front

Two Front side panels 5 1/4 by 14″
One Middle top panel 7″ by 9 3/4″
One Middle bottom panel 7 1/2 by 9 3/4″

Back

One piece 14 (high) by 19″ (wide)
Two zipper tabs 3 1/4 by 3/4″

Contrasting Fabric for bag base

2 bottom pieces 7 1/2 by 19″

Lining Fabric

Two pieces 20 1/2 (high) by 19″ (wide)
Internal Pocket 13 by 5 1/2″
External pocket lining 18 1/2 by 10 1/2″

Interfacing Pellon SF101 or similar – two pieces 20 1/2 by 19″ (for bag lining)

Fusible fleece

Hardware

Top zipper 18″
Pocket zipper 9″
Bag Strap Webbing 1″ wide 3.5yard

Sewing tools

Scissors
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat
Quilters ruler
Taylors chalk
Sewing machine needle size 90/16
Fabric glue such as fabric tac

Prepare fabric pieces

Start by cutting out your pattern pieces. I find a rotary cutter, quilters ruler and cutting mat very helpful for cutting out measured rectangles.

Iron an interfacing to the back of the two main pieces of lining fabric. I have chosen to use interfacing Pellon SF101.

For the external fabric pieces iron fusible fleece onto the back of external fabric pieces, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

External front zipper pocket

Seam Allowance throughout the width of my sewing machine foot 1/4″ approx.

Let’s start with making the front zipper pocket. You will need the two central panels, exterior pocket lining piece and the 9″ zip.

Lay your central bottom panel right side facing you, then the zipper wrong side facing, then the lining fabric right side facing you so all the straight edges align. Pin or tack, personally I prefer to use large tacking stitches and take an extra moment or two as I find it easier to sew a straight line than when I use pins. Machine stitch using a zipper foot this pinned edge.

Press the exterior fabric and lining fabric away from the zipper and top stitch.

To complete the zipper pocket we are going to follow the same process for the top central panel. Fold the lining fabric so the right side top edge is facing you, place the zipper right side facing you followed by the central top panel, wrong side facing you.

Note that your lining fabric is now in a loop. As you stitch your pinned seam pull the looped fabric out of your sewing machine way so that you don’t accidentally catch it. You may find this easier if you unzip the zipper.

Press and top stitch.

Exterior Tote Bag Panels

On the back of the central panel press the pocket lining, press so that about an inch of your pocket lining is above the zipper. The open side edges of your pocket lining will be closed in the next step.

Now to complete the front panel. Place your side panel along the side of your central panel, right sides facing, machine stitch.

Repeat for the second side of the central panel. Press.

Place the bottom piece right side facing your now complete outer bag piece. Machine stitch, press the seam allowance to the base of the bag and then top stitch to finish.

For the back panel, place the bottom piece right side facing the bottom edge of the main fabric back panel. Machine stitch.

Press the seam allowance to the base of the bag, then top stitch along the straight edge of the bottom fabric.

Zippered Tote Bag Straps

Cut two pieces of webbing 63″ long.

Place one external strap along the join between the side panel and middle panels of the front exterior bag, the webbing starts at the base of the bag, goes up, loops along and then folds back down to the base.

I suggest using fabric glue to hold it in place before machine stitching – stitch from the base up towards the top of the exterior panels, 3″ before the top stop, turn, stitch across at right angles and then stitch down the other side of the strap. Stopping before you reach the top of the bag gives you plenty of room to attach the top zipper.

For the second exterior bag panel we are going to mark the same position for the bag handle using taylor’s chalk or a vanishing ink marker pen, this is 5″ in from the side edge.

Place the bag strap, inner edge of strapping along your taylors chalk line glue in place. Machine stitch to secure, stopping 3″ before the top.

Internal Slip Pocket

Fold your slip pocket fabric in half, right sides together. Machine stitch the long side and one short edge 1/4″ seam allowance.

Turn the right side out, fold in the raw edges and press.

Place the pocket piece 7″ in from the outer edges and 5″ down from the top edge, with the folded raw edges at the base of the pocket.

Machine stitch pocket into place ensuring you backstitch at the top edge of each side of the pocket.

Zipper Tabs

Fold both short edges of the zipper tab in 1/4″ and press. Fold the zipper tab in half again, wrong sides facing and press.

Place the second fabric tab over the opposite end of the zipper, pin and top stitch to secure. Repeat with the second zipper tab.

Assemble the zippered tote bag

Lay your lining right side facing you, then the zipper right side facing, then the outer bag wrong side facing you along the top edge of the tote bag, ensuring the bag handles are folded well away from the zipper. Using a zipper foot stitch along the top edge of the zipper.

Fold the fabrics away from the zip and press, then topstitch.

Repeat for the second side to complete the top zipper closure.

Undo the zipper partway. Open out your fabric so the right sides of the outer fabric pieces face each other and the right sides of the lining fabric pieces face each other. Pin in place, I check the seams on the exterior fabric aligned along the side seams.

Machine stitch all around, except a 8″ turning gap along the bottom of the lining.

Box the Tote Bag Corners

Mark a 2″ square in each of the four bottom corners of your bag – two on the lining, two on the outer pieces. I find a quilters ruler very helpful for this.

Cut the squares out, then fold the fabric so these edges form a straight line, the box corner. Machine stitch to close ensuring you back stitch at each end of this hardwearing seam.

Now for the magic moment, turning your bag right side out. Ensure you push out each corner and the top corners of the zipper.

Now to finish the bag lining. Before you push the lining inside of the bag fold the raw edges in of your turning gap and top stitch to close.

Lastly, push the lining inside your bag, one finished zippered tote bag.

I hope you love your own tote bag as much as I do! Now you have made one customize your second to your style, adding pockets, adjusting the size, the options are endless.

Tote Bag with Zipper Sewing Pattern

Prep Time 2 hours

Active Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours

Materials

Pattern Pieces
Front
Two Front side panels 5 1/4 by 14"
One Middle top panel 7" by 9 3/4"
One Middle bottom panel 7 1/2 by 9 3/4"
Back
One piece 14 (high) by 19" (wide)
Two zipper tabs 3 1/4 by 3/4"
Contrasting Fabric for bag base
2 bottom pieces 7 1/2 by 19"
Lining Fabric
Two pieces 20 1/2 (high) by 19" (wide)
Internal Pocket 13 by 5 1/2"
External pocket lining 18 1/2 by 10 1/2"
Interfacing Pellon SF101 or similar - two pieces 20 1/2 by 19" (for bag lining)
Fusible fleece
Hardware
Top zipper 18"
Pocket zipper 9"
Bag Strap Webbing 1" wide 3.5yard

Tools

Scissors
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat
Quilters ruler
Taylors chalk
Sewing machine needle size 90/16
Fabric glue such as Fabric Tac

Instructions

Cut out your pattern pieces
Iron interfacing to back of lining fabric and fusible fleece to bag of exterior fabric pieces.
Front zipper pocket. Lay your central bottom panel right side facing you, then the zipper wrong side facing, then the lining fabric right side facing you so all the straight edges align. Pin or tack, machine stitch.
Press the exterior fabric and lining fabric away from the zipper and top stitch.
To complete the zipper pocket fold the lining fabric so the right side top edge is facing you, place the zipper right side facing you followed by the central top panel, wrong side facing you. Pin or tack and machine stitch being careful not to catch the loop of lining fabric.
On the back of the central panel press the pocket lining, press so that about an inch of your pocket lining is above the zipper.
Complete front exterior fabric. Place your side panel along the side of your central panel, right sides facing, machine stitch.
Repeat for the second side of the central panel. Press.
Place the bottom piece right side facing your now complete outer bag piece. Machine stitch, press the seam allowance to the base of the bag and then top stitch to finish.
For the back panel, place the bottom piece right side facing the bottom edge of the main fabric back panel. Machine stitch.
Press the seam allowance to the base of the bag, then top stitch along the straight edge of the bottom fabric.
Attach bag straps. Cut two pieces of webbing 63" long.
Place one external strap along the join between the side panel and middle panels of the front exterior bag, the webbing starts at the base of the bag, goes up, loops along and then fold back down to the base. I suggest using fabric glue to hold in place before machine stitching - stitch from the base up towards the top of the exterior panels, 3" before the top stop, turn, stitch across at right angles and then stitch down the other side of the strap.
For the second exterior bag panel we are going to mark the same position for the bag handle using taylor's chalk or a vanishing ink marker pen, this is 5" in from the side edge.
Place the bag strap, inner edge of strapping along your taylors chalk line glue in place. Machine stitch to secure, stopping 3" before the top.
Internal Slip Pocket Fold your slip pocket fabric in half, right sides together. Machine stitch the long side and one short edge 1/4" seam allowance.
Turn the right side out, fold in the raw edges and press.
Place the pocket piece 7" in from the outer edges and 5" down from the top edge, with the folded raw edges at the base of the pocket.
Machine stitch pocket into place ensuring you backstitch at the top edge of each side of the pocket.
Zipper Tabs Fold both short edges of the zipper tab in 1/4" and press. Fold the zipper tab in half again, wrong sides facing and press.
Place the second fabric tab over the opposite end of the zipper, pin and top stitch to secure. Repeat with the second zipper tab.
Assemble Tote Bag. Lay your lining right side facing you, then the zipper right side facing, then the outer bag wrong side facing you along the top edge of the tote bag, ensuring the bag handles are folded well away from the zipper. Machine stitch along the top edge of the zipper.
Fold the fabrics away from the zip and press, then topstitch.
Repeat for the second side to complete the top zipper closure.
Undo the zip part way. Open out your fabric so the right sides of the outer fabric pieces face each other and the right sides of the lining fabric pieces face each other. Pin in place.
Machine stitch all around, except a 8" turning gap along the bottom of the lining.
Box the Corners. Mark a 2" square in each of the four bottom corners of your bag - two on the lining, two on the outer pieces.
Cut the squares out, the fold the fabric so these edges form a straight line, the box corner. Machine stitch to close ensuring you back stitch at each end of this hardwearing seam.
Turn your bag right side out. Ensure you push out each corner and the top corners of the zipper.
Finish the bag lining by folding the raw edges in of your turning gap and top stitch to close.
Insert the lining inside the bag and enjoy your newly finished zippered tote bag.