Sotak Handmade Basic Tote

There are a lot of free tote bag tutorials out there, but we love this one from Sotak Handmade for its generous size and creative use of materials. It’s simple, stylish, and endlessly customizable — perfect for everyday use or as a handmade gift.

You can follow the tutorial exactly, or make it your own by choosing different fabrics. Try interfaced quilting cottons, or go with heavier-weight fabrics like canvas or linen/cotton blends for a more structured look. You can even make your own fabric handles for a fully custom finish.

Sotak Handmade is one of our favorite sources of sewing inspiration. I admire her clean, modern design style and the fact that she’s entirely self-taught — it makes her work feel both approachable and aspirational.

Find the Basic Tote tutorial here, along with many more free and paid patterns on her site.