A tote bag is one of the best first sewing projects. It uses only straight seams, needs very little fabric and gives you something useful at the end. This guide gives you exact measurements so you can cut, sew and finish a sturdy bag without a pattern.

What you need

• 70 cm (3/4 yard) of medium-weight cotton or canvas, 110 cm wide
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine with a universal needle (size 90/14 works well for canvas)
• Fabric scissors, pins or clips, a measuring tape and an iron

Step 1: Cut the fabric

Wash and iron the fabric first so it does not shrink after you sew. Then cut:

• 2 body pieces, each 40 cm wide and 45 cm tall (16 x 18 in)
• 2 handle strips, each 10 cm wide and 60 cm long (4 x 24 in)

Step 2: Make the handles

Fold each strip in half lengthwise and press. Open it, fold both long edges in to meet the center crease, then fold it in half again and press. You now have a strip about 2.5 cm wide with no raw edges. Topstitch along both long sides.

Step 3: Hem the top edges

On one short top edge of each body piece, fold 1 cm to the wrong side and press. Fold again by 3 cm, press and stitch close to the lower fold.

Step 4: Attach the handles

Pin the handle ends to the right side of each body piece, 10 cm in from the side edges, with the ends overlapping the hem. Stitch a small square through all layers, then sew an X inside the square. This reinforcement keeps the handles from tearing out when the bag is full.

Step 5: Sew the bag together

Place the two body pieces right sides together, with the handles tucked inside. Pin both sides and the bottom. Sew with a 1.5 cm (5/8 in) seam allowance, leaving the top open. Finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch to stop fraying, then turn the bag right side out and press.

Optional: box the corners

Before turning the bag, pinch each bottom corner so the side seam lines up with the bottom seam. Draw a line across the corner about 5 cm from the point and stitch along it. This gives the bag a flat base so it stands up on its own.

Tips for a neater result

• Press every fold before you stitch. It is the biggest difference between homemade and professional-looking work.
• Backstitch at the start and end of each seam so it does not open.
• Lengthen the stitch slightly when sewing through several layers.
• Add a lining or a pocket once you are comfortable with the basic version.

Try this bag once and you can change the measurements to make a bigger shopping bag or a smaller pouch. Share your finished bag in the comments and tell me which fabric you used.