Tote bag with pocket divider Sewing tutorial using fat quarters

Tote bag with front zipper pocket, side pockets and zipped pocket divider

Hello Friends, I hope you're off for a good start this year. Today, I'm bringing you a fun tote bag project using 3 fat quarters. This tote bag comes with a total of 9 pockets (seriously!) including a zippered pocket divider, that simply takes the whole process of the making of this bag to a new level. If you're ready for a new challenge, this project might be for you.

Watch the video tutorial

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Finished measurements approx. 12.5" wide x 10" tall x 4" deep

Supplies and Tools
​3 Fat Quarters (or 1/3 yard of each fabric if using yardage) 
2 yards cotton fabric for the lining 
2 yards fusible woven interfacing (20" wide)
Fusible fleece (thermolam) 22" x 21"
Soft n Stable (sew in foam stabilizer) 34" x 4"
2 x size 3 zipper at least 11" long
10" long elastic (1/4" wide)
1 set of magnetic snap
Basic sewing notions

Disclaimer : This post contains Amazon affiliate links, thank you for your support!

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Cutting Instruction

FRONT EXTERIOR ZIPPER POCKET
From Fabric 1  
7" x 3" (upper panel) cut 1x
​7" x 8 1/2" (lower panel) cut 1x

From the fusible woven interfacing:
7" x 3" (upper panel) cut 1x
7" x 8 1/2"" (lower panel) cut 1x

From Lining Fabric:
7" x 8 1/2" (lining 1 for lower panel) cut 1x
7" x 11 1/2" (lining 2 for the whole zipper panel) cut 1x

***For the zipper tabs 3" x 1" (cut 2x) from fabric 1

FRONT EXTERIOR SIDE PANELS
From Fabric 2: 3" x 11 1/2" (cut 2x)
​From fusible woven interfacing: 3" x 11 1/2" (cut 2x)

BACK EXTERIOR SLIP POCKET 
From Fabric 1:  11" x 8 1/2" (cut 1x)
From fusible woven interfacing: 11" x 8 1/2" (cut 1x)
From lining fabric 11" x 8 1/2" (cut 1x)

BACK EXTERIOR PANEL
From fabric 3: 11" x 4" (upper) cut 1x
From lining fabric: 11" x 8" (lower) cut 1x
From Fusible woven interfacing: 11" x 11 1/2" (cut 1x)

***Fusible Fleece for the front and back exterior 11" x 10 1/2" (cut 2x)

SIDE GUSSET
From Fabric 2: 5" x 11 1/2" (cut 2x)  
From Fusible woven interfacing: 5" x 11 1/2" (cut 2x)
From Soft n stable 4" x 10 1/2" (cut 2x)

BOTTOM GUSSET 
From Fabric 3: 5" x 11" (cut 1x)
From fusible woven interfacing: 5" x 11" (cut 1x)
From Soft n Stable: 4" x 10" (cut 1x)

EXTERIOR SIDE POCKETS 
From Fabric 3: 7" x 8" (cut 2x)
From lining fabric: 7" x 8" (cut 2x)
​Cut 2x elastic 5" long

POCKET DIVIDER
From lining fabric:  11" x 8 1/2" (cut 4x)
From fusible woven interfacing:  10" x 7 1/2" (cut 4x)
***For zipper tabs 3" x 1" (cut 2x) from the lining fabric

INTERIOR SIDE GUSSET
From lining fabric:  3" x 11 1/2" (cut 4x)

INTERIOR BOTTOM GUSSET 
From lining fabric 3" x 11" (cut 2x)

INTERIOR FRONT & BACK PANELS
From lining fabric:  11" x 11 1/5" (cut 2x)

INTERIOR SLIP POCKETS
From lining fabric 11" x 7" (cut 4x)

STRAPS
Cut by joining left over fat quarters or use a solid fabric 26" x 4" (2x)
Fusible woven interfacing 26" x 2" (2x)

*If you are a metric user you may refer to the below metric conversion guide 

Click here to download metric conversion guide for sewing

I posted the full video tutorial on my Youtube channel, however you my scroll down for the written instruction. 

Directions

1. Apply the fusible woven interfacing to the following :
    1. Front Zipper Tabs
    2. Upper and lower front zipper panels
    3. Front Side panels
    4. Back slip pocket panel
    5. Divider pocket pieces including the zipper tabs
  
2. Sew the zipper tabs to the front zipper, trim excess fabric

3. Sew the upper front zipper panel to the zipper with 1/4" seam allowance, press, then topstitch

4. Sandwich the lower front zipper panel, with the zipper, and the lining, sew with 1/4" of seam allowance, press, then topstitch

5. Sew the second  lining piece to the zipper pocket piece all around with 1/4" of seam allowance

5. Sew the front side panels to both sides of the zipper pocket with 1/2" seam allowance, press towards the side panels.

6. Apply the fusible fleece to the front exterior panel according to the manufacturer's instruction

7. Sew the upper and the lower panel of the back exterior with 1/4" of seam allowance, press, then apply the fusible woven interfacing followed with the fusible fleece

8.  Sew the back slip pocket piece with the lining with 1/4" of seam allowance, press, then top stitch along the top edges.

9. Position the back slip pocket on the right side of back panel, alligning the sides and bottom edges, then sew along the sides and the bottom with 1/4" of seam allowance. 

10. Place the soft n stable on the wrong side of the gusset piece (center the position) followed with the fusible woven interfacing, then fuse the fusible woven interfacing in place. Repeat the same with the other side gusset piece and the bottom gusset

11. Make an angle cut on both sides of the side pocket panels, do the same for all pieces including the lining.
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12. Lay the pocket piece with the lining right side together then sew the top edge with 1/4" seam allowance, press the seams open.

13. Fold the pocket piece wrong side together, press, then sew the top with 1/2" seam allowance to create the elastic casing.

14. Cut 5" long elastic. Thread the elastic to the casing with the help of a safety pin, sew the edges to secure it in place

15: Place the pocket to the right side of the side gusset, aligning the sides and the bottom edges, then sew along the sides and the bottom with 1/4" of seam allowance.

16. Assemble the exterior piece starting from sewing the side gussets to the front panel, then the back panel, then the bottom gusset.

17. Sew the zipper tabs to the zipper for the pocket divider

18. Sandwich the pocket divider, zipper, and the second piece of the pocket divider, secure with some sewing clips then sew with 1/4" of seam allowance

19. Open the sandwich, press the seams, then topstitch.

20. Sandwich the 3rd pocket divider, zipper, and the last pocket divider piece, secure with some sewing clips then sew with 1/4" seam allowance

21. Open the sandwich, press the seams, then topstitch.

22. Fold the zipper in half, with the zipper now positioned on top.

23. Sandwich the side gusset strip, the pocket divider, and the side gusset strip, sew with 1/2" seam allowance. Press towards the side

24. Repeat the same with the other side.

25. Sandwich the bottom gusset strip, the pocket divider, the bottom gusset strip, (there should be 1/2" overlap on both sides for the seam allowance, then sew with 1/2" seam allowance. Do not sew the overlap.

26. Sew the bottom corner of the side gusset to the bottom corner of the bottom gusset with 1/2" seam allowance

27. Repeat the same for all other 3 corners

28. Prepare two of the slip pocket pieces, lay them right side together, then sew the top, and the bottom with 1/4" of seam allowance. Press the seams open, turn the pocket piece right side out, then topstitch along the upper edge.

29. Lay the pocket piece on the right side of the front lining piece, 3" down from the top. 

30. Draw a line on the center of the pocket, pin the pocket in place, then sew along the center line, and the bottom as well.

31. Repeat the same for the back slip pockets.
32. Apply the magnetic snap closures on both the front and back panels

33. Sew the front and back panel to the gussets with 1/2" of seam allowance.

34. Use left over fat quarters to make the straps by extracting 4" strips then join them together.

35. Apply the fusible woven interfacing to the straps, then press straps to make 1" wide straps.

36. Sew both edges of the straps with 1/8" seam allowance

37. Fold the raw edges of the exterior 1/2" towards the wrong side, press. Fold the raw edges of the lining 3/4" towards the wrong side, press.

39. Position the straps  to the exterior piece, 1/2" away from the side seams, secure in place with some sewing clips. 

40. Insert the interior piece in to the exterior piece, secure everything with some sewing clips, the sew with 1/4" of seam allowance.

Voila! The bag is done. If you are a bit lost with the instructions, you can always refer to the video tutorial, or reach out to me directly through comments below, contact form, or social media. Happy Sewing!