Make a Cool Tote Bag with Pockets, Piping, and Lining!

[@lindsaylulu7830]

This tutorial was FABULOUS! A homemade bag that doesn't *look* like a homemade bag! I went straight to my 'local' fabric shop (2 hr drive) and got ready to make my bag over Christmas. It looked complicated but I followed step by step and ended up with a BEAUTIFUL bag that I wish I could post a pic of here. I've had so many compliments and I'm so proud of the bag. I now have the materials to make a second one for me, one for my sister and one for Mother's Day! Thank you so much. (by the way, I could really use the iron prize as my iron just started leaking this weekend!)

[@jodyh3323]

Finally a guy who can sew! It’s awesome to see more guys doing sewing projects. I’m a guy that sews as well so this is encouraging! 👏

[@scott5479]

This is was the first non-quilt sewing project I attempted and this tutorial helped so much. If I had to follow just the pattern, I would eventually have got it, but Rob's tips here made all the difference.

[@ManSewingVids]

So glad you liked it!

[@maggiechia1007]

interesting man sewing, Nice, pattern, n I like your videos, keep it up, man ...

[@lisacollins4414]

I really like Rob's tutorials. He gives great instructions that are easy to follow. Thanks for all the great projects and ideas.

[@warialdasue]

Love your personality and the sound effects. Your tutorials are informative and fun. The bag is awesome. Thankyou

[@theresaconner185]

Just made this for a friend. Used Hershey kiss and pig fabric as the liner so that she has 'hogs and kisses' when she is sad. She LOVES it! Thank you so much for this tutorial!

[@ellaprevette388]

Thanks for this design...I made this bag for my granddaughter-in-law to carry her laptop and phone and wallet to go to college. She just loved it..now her friends want one too. Thanks again. Love your tutorials and looking forward to more.

[@pamelarising8808]

I am a beginner. I just love this tutorial! I was never lost or overwhelmed by all of the steps. You make it fun and easy. Thank you for taking the time to show it to us :D HUGE respect from Wyandotte, MI

[@ManSewingVids]

Thanks so much!

[@dharry1215]

Rob - I think this may be my favorite tutorial and something I would like to tackle. Looks fairly straightforward. Thanks

[@wendymartin3011]

I totally love that you don't use pins. Very swift and effective style of bag. Thanks

[@deborahkirkland2350]

Nice to see a man in the sewing room! You should try to get a class started for the local boys in your area. Enjoyed .

[@kallewirsch2263]

Nicely done. Just one minor tip. If you do not want to hand stitch the last seam for the opening (needed to turn the whole bag inside out), you can move that opening to a different location. Eg. into the lining. When assembling the last face to the lining bag, just leave an opening which can later be used to turn the bag inside out. The opening can e.g. be at the bottom of that lining bag. The advantage is, that you can sew the last bag-lining seam (after turning) in one part and close the opening in the lining with a simple close-to-the-edge top-stich. No one will ever see this top stich, because it is hidden inside the bag.

[@judychurchill294]

What a brilliant video. So well explained, with all the boring bits cut out. Well done

[@janicemaceachern1004]

You make everything look so simple!

[@christastegemann9031]

Love your Snowflake quilt. I had to immediately try to make one. It turned out just beautifully. Thanks Rob. Christa on Vancouver Island.

[@ManSewingVids]

Hi Christa! I'm so happy you enjoyed the tutorial! Feel free to share a photo of your snowflake quilt on my Man Sewing Facebook page!

[@marilyntrent3516]

Love the portable sewing board. Thanks for the tutorial

[@cynthiabrewer266]

This is my all time favorite tutorial for making a bag. Great instructions!!!

[@misunflowerstyle906]

really like this especially since I just watched and learned how to quickly to cut bias strips--without all the hand cutting in a tu be. It is like seeing things through a first pair of glasses. I cannot wait to use bias cording on everything! Your tutorial is so timely for me.

[@ManSewingVids]

Hope you have fun making this tote bag!

[@urskinsworthitwellnessspa9280]

Your a blast to chill out with & an excellent teacher...thank you, Hope

[@karlagoddard2353]

23:52 an audible laugh from your camera operator. Amazing you don't always have her in stitches. Fun stuff!

[@ManSewingVids]

+Karla Goddard haha believe it or not that's actually me laughing, BUT I do get some good laughs out of the camera crew. We have to edit those out lol :) Thanks for watching!

[@femalemart1388]

Cool fabrics, great pattern and fun tutorial - keep them coming. Thank you.

[@ediedarleneedgmon5301]

Absolutely love this bag!!! Love the fabric too. Excellent tutorial, you always explain each step so it's easy to follow along!!! Thank you!!👍🏻👍🏻

[@ManSewingVids]

Thank you, Edie! Have fun creating this tote!

[@MrZeagans]

Just found this channel & I may become a man sewing guy myself. Too cool!

[@ManSewingVids]

Awesome! Thanks for tuning in Moshe!

[@jacquelinehopkins6601]

I just love this video! You make explain everything thoroughly! Thank you for your time!

[@GB58able]

Absolutely beautiful! It's time to go into my sewing room and make one right now. 😸

[@lisafenn4238]

you are one cool dude and your sewing skills aren't bad either. Great video... really enjoyed it, thank you :)

[@niluvien]

Love this tutorial Rob! Thanks for the help and inspiration to get started on my next project!!

[@diamondbeth7268]

Rob! You should make a sling bag tutorial, it would be so useful for me and lots of other people too I am sure. Happy sewing!

[@samsclubchik]

I love the ManSewing tutorials, but this is my favorite! I'm a sucker for a good bag.

[@WildRemedies1]

My daughter would love this.

[@ManSewingVids]

+WildRemedies1 I know my wife and daughter sure did!

[@annal7809]

I enjoyed this video, but I really like your skateboard thread holder, very creative way to display them both 😃

[@JudyHart1]

Yes you were in Sisters! So glad to meet you.

[@ManSewingVids]

+Judy Hart I'll be posting a video of me in Valori's home studio soon. I can't wait to get up there every July for the show!

[@tddptd]

Another great tutorial. Just in time to make for gifts. Thank you.

[@ManSewingVids]

+Patrice Davis be sure and send pictures of the things you create!

[@smallfootprint2961]

I really like this. Going to make a bunch of them. Thanks for posting.

[@winterzee]

I love this tutorial. Not so patiently waiting for the pattern to come back into stock!

[@upstairshobbyroom]

Great bag! How fun to create your own fabric!! Thank you for showing the piping....this will be handy knowledge to have!!

[@deborahgiles8214]

I love the detailed tutorials! Love.

[@SuzetteG316]

Fantastic tutorial!!! I love this bag and it is always so much fun learning from you Rob!! I cannot wait to make one of these. :)

[@ManSewingVids]

+SuzetteG316 Thanks for watching, it's hard not to fall in love with this one. Especially when Valori Wells is the designer!!

[@HRHDMKYT]

GREAT video tute, thanks Rob!! I ADORE Valori Wells's fabric designs, and am super-jealous that you got to visit her studio and work with her on learning a new technique! (As for this bag, the corners are where I would add some backstitching for strength on a stress point. Also, those small Clover clips work great when securing all the layers of a tote bag together before sewing so it doesn't slip around and you don't bend any pins. Finally, the demo bag where you used a piece of your hand-printed fabric had a large un-printed section. Wouldn't it be cool to applique a fussy-cut elephant from your main bag fabric on that spot to tie it all together? Just friendly suggestions!). ~Diana from Toronto.

[@tracywodonga8112]

Great tutorial, Rob

[@kctsp6631]

This is pretty cool. I am very new to sewing. I'm working on making a messenger bag but I'm trying to figure out how to put a zipper pocket on the outer flap of the bag and a zippered divider inside the lining. Oh boy I got my work cut out for me as I start this project tomorrow, lol. Thank you for a great tutorial I think I can follow the majority of your tutorial.

[@donnasmith2720]

That is a beautiful bag. 💖

[@monicahaigh4490]

Great tutorial - thanks for sharing

[@daisygirl9914]

Thank you. Thank you. I will be making this bag for a birthday gift with a few adjustments. Thank you again.

[@ManSewingVids]

+Jessie Ross we hope to see photos when you're done!!

[@lindagraham9179]

Love the tote bag.

[@brendasantos1551]

Yet another great tutorial!

[@quetadominguez50]

muchas gracias.....geniales tus ideas y consejos!!!

[@flowergirlinWard17]

After making my "sample" bag, I have a few tweaks for other intermediate sewers like myself: 1. if you are using a heavier-weight fabric, such as corduroy or khaki, instead of using the batting as interfacing, use a medium-weight light- plain-colored muslin as an interfacing to reduce bulk. Also use a heavier-weight thread, a denim needle, and lengthen the stitch length to 3.0 mm. 2. Cut the bottom piece 3" x 12-3/4" - a little bit longer - to help account for the bulk of the piping and help with a little "give" for turning corners. 3. When basting the piping, try as much as you can to pinch the cord at the corners and square the corners as much as possible. 4. Draw your 3/8" or 1/2" seam lines on the bottom piece, and start sewing the bottom piece starting at the corners of the seam line. 5. Do try to turn as square a corner as you can around the piping and it will sit cleaner. 6. When sewing the bag structure, sew the long side pieces of the back of the bag to the long sides of the side pieces first, and be as clean as possible with the side piping. Then sew the long edge of the back bottom edge to the long edge of the bottom piece, then the short sides, making sure to start and stop at the corners of your drawn seam lines. You can fudge a little with the short edges better. 7. The top piece needs to be cut a little wider and a little longer to account for the seams turned in and the bilk of the piping along the edge of the top flap, and to account for the bulk of the bag to close better when the bag is full. I think the top flap piece should be cut at 12-3/4" x 14-3/4" to have more flap reach over the bulk of the bag and close easily when full. 8. Have one magnet closure button at the edge of the top flap, but inside the front of the bag, have two bottom magnet buttons, one to the bottom of the bag and one higher up about 2" so the flap closes and secures when the bag is full without extending or pulling at the lining to close the bag awkwardly. 9. When attaching the lining to the bag, pin the piping of the front of the bag towards the front piece, but pin the bulk of the seams towards the side piece. DO the same with the back of the bag, pinning the piping of the back piece towards the back piece of the bag and the bulk of the seams towards the side piece. The piping will then sit better. 10. If following along, and if this is your first try, don't try to do this all in one sitting, but give yourself time to do each step cleanly. It reduces the frustration when the corners won't turn nicely with the piping or the bottom is not long enough to reach the other end. Other than that, cute bag. My next attempt will be with these "tweaks"

[@jsmith3980]

A great tutorial, thank you so much, you make it look easy.

[@MrBishopcody]

Love thus bag... Good job

[@99rylee]

cool tote. I love it!!

[@rjgphotography1239]

Just made this bag love it

[@tammy5590]

This tut was super awesome but I do think you went to fast at some points even though the vid was long. I love the colors of the bag and the way it's constructed. Thanks Rob. Good job.

[@marymote8951]

great bag looks easy to do; just takes time thank you ,

[@ManSewingVids]

+Mary Mote I think this bag is worth every second though, it's nice and sturdy AND looks great!

[@anitawessels3932]

I made this bag with a little extra pocket in front. Love my bag and very body that see my bag also what a bag.

[@phyllis26red]

Very nice, thank you for sharing.

[@sheetalmudaliar]

Thankyou so much for showing us such a wonderful bag..I loved it. Could you please show us how to make a atleast A2 size cloth bag with pockets and zipper. For carrying my canvas,art supplies to my studio. I'm an artist..and it's very difficult to get a perfect bag in a budget which looks good too.

[@virginiaomalley]

If you wanted to make this bag with a zipper instead of a flap, when would you sew in the zipper? Right at the beginning, and would you include the liner in with it?

[@ManSewingVids]

I would still use the lining, Virginia. Here's a link to a Missouri Star tutorial showing how to add a zipper that I think will help you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5nHf3WPo6umd9k

[@kathyg.1902]

Rob, This came a the perfect time. A friend asked if I could make her a bag like this. Could you please tell me the approx. inside dimensions? thanks!

[@hazelcoate9203]

very cool, well done , and funny too

[@bettyochoa4099]

great tutorial!

[@ManSewingVids]

+Betty Ochoa Thank you so much!!

[@ssuthman]

love very aspect of your work

[@ManSewingVids]

+ummuh salama thani thank you so much!!! We wouldn't be able to do tutorials like this if we didn't have people watching them!

[@Bc-wq7rv]

Great tutorial.

[@RedrumRobyn]

I made this bag for my daughter out of blue batiks. Though I'm not a man but I grew up with 2 brothers so that makes me a tomboy (girl?) lol. I didn't have no cotton pipping so used something I have tons of.... 550 Paracord folded the fabric over that and i had pipping lol. looks great -Robin

[@beckywhiteside8147]

Great tute, as always. Recommend watching a couple of times before actually sewing! Question - have you done a tute on the quilt hanging on the wall behind you? If not, could you? Love it!!

[@ManSewingVids]

+Becky Whiteside thanks for watching! We are working on that tutorial as I type this! It should be ready in December! Thanks for following along! Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already so you don't miss that tutorial!

[@jaylendamari5451]

not sure if you guys gives a damn but if you are bored like me during the covid times then you can watch pretty much all the latest movies and series on InstaFlixxer. Been watching with my girlfriend for the last few months =)

[@leviraylan7489]

@Jaylen Damari Yea, been using InstaFlixxer for years myself :D

[@themelonpatchbydeb8411]

You need to bring this pattern back!! What good is the video without the pattern?

[@lynetterene]

Thank you so much....Exactly what I was looking for!

[@RedrumRobyn]

I know you did this video almost 2 years ago but my daughter REALLY likes this bag. I had no cord to make the piping with but I love to make paracord braclets so I thought I would use 550 paracord to make the piping knowing it would be thinner but that was ok for us. Hows that for Man sewing.

[@karenpetmecky9467]

I love the pattern you made, what type of ink did you use?

[@දෙරණෙපයියා]

Please come soon with ladies bags

[@jacquelinerojas1722]

I like your Iron. Can you tell me more about that?

[@CR0520]

Great tut, I love making bag, totes & stuff. I didn't catch how much piping you need, I'm guessing about 2 1/2 yds. Also what kind of paint or ink did you use on your block prints? I'd love to try that too, maybe another tutorial?

[@kathyg.1902]

+Chris I too was wondering how much and the size of the piping cord.

[@දෙරණෙපයියා]

My boss you er explain is very clear im sri lankan thankyou 🙏

[@maryjones2033]

Amazing channel i love it

[@sainacubito6668]

Genial, me encanto!!! Gracias eres SUPER!!Ahora comienza a traducir los videos al español por favor!!

[@ManSewingVids]

I wish that I could do that for you, hopefully one day!

[@Muselor]

Love the looks of this bag... your fabric print is great! Can you tell me how much piping I have to make please ? how long ?

[@ManSewingVids]

you'll need around one yard of the piping. Here's a link to what I used! :) www.missouriquiltco.com/shop/detail/32400/wrights/-/cotton-piping-14-natural

[@كرارالكرار-ز3ر]

great tutorial 😙😙😙😙

[@sharonnason8193]

Thanks for the opportunity to win an iron.

[@ГалинаАнисимова-л3м]

Ух ты какой красавец мужчина!

[@glendasuereno7666]

great tutorial.

[@pattipegharjo5863]

I wish you'd shown how to go around corners with the piping.

[@MrsHollywood810]

Awesome tutorial! Question how would I do the straps if im using vinyl leather? Will it be to thick to feed through the adjustable metal?

[@ManSewingVids]

It's hard to say without actually seeing it, but I would think that it would still.

[@marylynngranado7006]

I had some men's shirts given to me from family & friends. have collected a total of 55 shirts about 22 of them are 100% cotton which I know I can use the others the tag says 55% cotton/45% polyerster can I use these shirts as long as I keep the same fabric in the quilt ...also what is your though on using bed sheets

[@maezimmerman2340]

What is the name of the cording? Want to buy some

[@amberscreations1901]

you are too good 😊

[@kimtaylor4751]

hi can you make the bag with patches.thank you

[@janetmcadamsbailey1874]

Rob, the pattern by Josie, does it have full size pattern pcs?

[@MrsHollywood810]

Love ur tutorial. Where can I get piping from?

[@ManSewingVids]

+Shannon Rucker Missouri Star Quilt Company sells this one! www.missouriquiltco.com/shop/detail/32400/wrights-/-/cotton-piping-14-natural

[@ninamiller1417]

love this, BTW how did you make your logo?

[@ManSewingVids]

Isn't it cool? I had a vision and I had some graphic designers work it up for me!

[@ManSewingVids]

+femalemart1 I have to give much credit where it's due. Valori Wells is fantastic! Love using her fabrics and patterns! Thanks for following along!

[@אוההירשברג]

Man Sewing

[@אוההירשברג]

Man Sewing

[@kimhammon1973]

I love this pattern. Easy for beginners. My next purchase. Thanks!

[@bethcooley9224]

I didn't catch the name of the ribbon. great idea. thanks.

[@ornelladay2041]

hi. grosgrain ribbon

[@bethcooley9224]

Thanks so much.

[@ManSewingVids]

+Beth Cooley Grosgrain Ribbon is what you'll want to look for. It's durable and machine washable! Thanks for watching this tutorial!

[@lucillekoch5023]

the cotton cording - what size it this? I find tons of sizes of the width online and don't know what to buy

[@mikialafd0715yt12]

What is "anchored to the print fabric"???

[@bahrwiadodo1110]

i like your video it is very useful thanks a lot

[@gregthompson8062]

Do you ever feel the need to use a industrial sewing machine vs household?

[@oneseeker2]

love

[@bethcooley9224]

In making the cording what is the benefit to useing fabric cut on the bias?

[@ManSewingVids]

+Beth Cooley it creates less bulk and many times a smoother look. It will still work if you don't do it on the bias but it might be a little more bulky at the seams. I hope this helps!

[@bethcooley9224]

I have watched this video multiple times. I love the design and colors. I like to keep my wallet safe. If you ever do a similar video could you show how to put a zipper pocket it?

[@ManSewingVids]

+Beth Cooley that's a great idea! Thanks! I will have to do a zipper tutorial in the future!

[@9Dutchboy]

+Beth Cooley I don't think his fabric is cut on the bias....it's sewn on the bias like you would do quilt binding. They do that so when you sew it on you don't get bumpy seams. I'm sure you could find a KZbin video on it. I would hate for you to cut all that fabric on a bias if you don't have to.

[@robynirwin7138]

Just sub'd, just love your channel

[@ManSewingVids]

Thanks a bunch!

[@azzagalal2050]

you are great

[@jeantaylor9440]

Nice tutorial, as always! However, I wish I could see more of your hands and your work surface when you are explaining steps!