DIY Korean Cotton Tote Bag with Pocket

Spruce up your wardrobe with a stylish and functional tote bag handmade using this beginner-friendly sewing tutorial!

Tote bags are a must-have accessory – they’re spacious, stylish, and perfect for everyday use. They’re also a fantastic blank canvas for your creativity! In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of creating your very own DIY tote bag using Korean cotton fabric and adding a handy pocket for extra functionality.

This tote bag is perfect for any season, making it a versatile addition to your wardrobe. Plus, creating your own tote bag is a fun and rewarding way to express your personal style.

What You’ll Need:

• Korean cotton fabric (around 1 yard) – Choose a color or pattern that suits your taste!
• Fabric scissors
• Sewing machine and thread
• Sewing pins or clips
• Iron and ironing board
• Measuring tape (optional, but recommended for accuracy)
• Straight ruler (optional, but recommended for accuracy)
• Fabric marker (optional, for marking fabric)
• Two sets of fabric straps or webbing for the handles (around 20–24 inches each)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Cutting the Fabric:

   • Wash and iron your Korean cotton fabric to remove any wrinkles.
   • Lay the fabric flat on a work surface.
   • Decide on the size of your tote bag. A typical tote bag is around 14 inches wide by 16 inches tall, but you can adjust these measurements to your preference.
   • Using your measuring tape and ruler (or marking the fabric with a fabric marker), cut two large rectangles for the main body of the tote bag. Add an inch to each side for seam allowance.
   • Cut two long strips of fabric for the handles, around 2.5 inches wide and the desired handle length (typically 20-24 inches).

2. Creating the Pocket (Optional):

   • If you want a pocket on your tote bag, cut a rectangular piece of fabric for the pocket itself, slightly larger than what you want the finished pocket size to be (accounting for seam allowance). You can also use contrasting fabric for the pocket for a pop of color.
   • Fold the top raw edge of the pocket fabric inwards twice (around ½ inch each time) and iron it down to create a hem.
   • Pin the pocket to one of the main tote bag pieces, positioning it where you want it on the finished bag.

3. Sewing the Tote Bag:

   • Place the two main tote bag pieces right sides together (meaning the pretty printed sides are facing each other).
   • Pin the sides and bottom of the bag together, leaving the top opening unpinned.
   • Sew along the pinned sides and bottom using a straight stitch on your sewing machine, leaving a ½ inch seam allowance.
   • If you included a pocket, sew along the three sides of the pocket that are attached to the main tote bag piece.

4. Attaching the Handles:

   • Fold each handle strip in half lengthwise and iron it down to create a crease.
   • Unfold the handle strips and lay them flat. Fold in the raw edges of each handle strip inward twice (around ½ inch each time) and iron them down to create clean edges.
   • Pin the ends of the handles to the top raw edge of one of the main tote bag pieces, positioning them evenly spaced. Make sure the folded edges of the handles are facing inward.

5. Finishing Touches:

   • Place the other main tote bag piece on top, right sides facing together. The handles will be sandwiched between the two main pieces.
   • Pin the top opening of the tote bag closed, ensuring the handles are securely positioned inside.
   • Sew along the top opening of the tote bag using a straight stitch, encasing the raw edges and sewing the handles in place.
   • Clip the corners of the bag diagonally to reduce bulk.
   • Turn the tote bag right side out through the gap left at the bottom seam.
   • Use a blunt tool, like a chopstick, to push out the corners and straighten the seams.
   • Iron the tote bag flat to give it a neat and polished finish.
   • Sew the gap at the bottom seam closed using a ladder stitch or a slip stitch for a clean finish.

Congratulations! You’ve now created your very own DIY tote bag from Korean cotton fabric.

Tips and Variations:

• You can add embellishments to your tote bag, such as buttons, ribbons, or embroidery, to personalize it further.
• For a more structured tote bag, you can interface the fabric with

Sew Your Dream Tote: Easy Korean Cotton Tutorial (Perfect for Everyday Use)