Measurements you need
Without shoes, back to the wall: heels, buttocks and shoulder blades touching the wall, head straight. Mark the crown on the wall and measure from the floor.Without shoes, back to the wall: heels, buttocks and shoulder blades touching the wall, head straight. Mark the crown on the wall and measure from the floor.
From height, the pattern maker estimates children's measurements that are hard to take: crotch length, hip depth, upper arm circumference and sleeve length.From height, the pattern maker estimates children's measurements that are hard to take: crotch length, hip depth, upper arm circumference and sleeve length.At the side of the head: from the line above the eyebrows (where you took the head circumference) up to the crown. You can leave 0 — we'll estimate from the head circumference.At the side of the head: from the line above the eyebrows (where you took the head circumference) up to the crown. You can leave 0 — we'll estimate from the head circumference.
Usually 7⅛–9 in for adults.Usually 18–23 cm for adults.How the tote is drafted
The panel width is the bag width plus the base depth, and the height is the bag height plus half the depth. Squares of half the depth are cut out at the bottom corners: once the corners are sewn, the bag width, height and base come out exactly as specified. The handle is a strip four times its own width: the edges are folded to the middle and the strip is folded in half, so the raw edges are hidden inside. The handle attachment points sit a quarter of the width in from the side seams.
The tool checks the draft for you: the width, height and depth of the finished bag along the panel outline, matching corner edges, handle length and pocket size. The results appear in the "Draft check" section.
How to print and tape
Download the PDF on Letter or A4 sheets and print at 100% scale, without "fit to page". The first sheet has the test square: measure it with a ruler. Tape the sheets together with an overlap along the strips ⅜ in1 cm; sheet numbers and the assembly diagram are on the first page. For a copy shop or plotter, choose "One-sheet PDF".
What you get
The bag panel with corners and handle notches, the handle with fold lines, and the pocket at full size. Grainline and seam allowances. For the large panel, it's easier to print the "One-sheet PDF" or transfer the dimensions from the section below the drawing onto your fabric.
FAQ
How does the tote get its base?
Squares of half the base depth are cut out at the bottom corners of the panel. Once the panel is sewn along the sides and bottom, each cutout is folded so the side seam meets the bottom seam and sewn across — this gives a three-dimensional base. If the depth is 0, the bag is flat and there are no cutouts.
What handle length should I choose?
To carry it in your hand — 15¾–19⅝ in40–50 cm, on your shoulder — 23⅝–27½ in60–70 cm, crossbody — 43¼–51⅛ in110–130 cm. The length in the tool is the finished length between the attachment points; 1⅛ in3 cm has already been added to the piece for each end.
What fabric should I use?
Sturdy fabrics work well for a tote: cotton canvas, denim, linen-cotton blends, basket weave, twill. Thin fabric is best interfaced or lined. Cut the handles from the same fabric or use ready-made webbing of the right width.
How do I sew it with a lining?
Sew the outer bag and an identical lining bag separately, leaving an opening 3⅞–4¾ in10–12 cm in one of the bottom seams. Baste the handles to the top of the outer bag at the notches. Place the bag inside the lining right sides together, sew along the top, turn it through the opening and stitch the opening closed. Topstitch the top edge.