How to Make a DIY Leather Tote Bag — Step-by-Step Tutorial

Whether you're new to leathercraft or a seasoned maker, this tutorial walks you through the complete process of creating a stylish everyday leather tote bag — from cutting the pieces to the finished bag with lining.

About This Bag

This minimalist leather daily bag is designed for everyday use — clean lines, a comfortable shoulder strap, and a functional interior make it equally at home at work, on a shopping trip, or while travelling.

Finished dimensions: 24 cm wide × 18 cm high × 8 cm deep

What You'll Need

Materials

• Vegetable-tanned or chrome-tanned leather, 1.6 mm (4 oz)
• Lining fabric of your choice
• Shoulder strap hardware (rings, buckle)
• Thread

Tools

• Stitching pricking iron / hole punch — 5 mm pitch
• Skiver or edge beveler
• Stitching needles and waxed thread
• Cutting mat and rotary cutter or swivel knife
• Wing divider for stitch line marking
• Bone folder or edge slicker

The Pattern

All pieces used in this tutorial come from the PDF & DXF Leather Tote Bag Pattern — available with two versions for the side panels, so you can choose the look that suits you best.

Files included:

• PDF — ready-to-print in A4, A1, and US Letter formats (print at "Actual Size" in Adobe Acrobat Reader)
• DXF — precision files for CNC machines and laser cutters

Step-by-Step Process

The video above shows the full assembly without narration — pure process, easy to follow at your own pace. Here's a quick overview of the stages:

1. Cut all pieces

Print or cut your pattern pieces and transfer them to leather. The pattern includes the front/back panels, side panels (two versions), bottom, strap, and lining pieces.

2. Prepare the edges

Skive edges where pieces will be glued together. Bevel and burnish all visible edges before assembly — it's much easier before the bag is sewn.

3. Attach the lining

Glue the lining to the main panels before assembly. This keeps the interior clean and professional-looking.

4. Assemble the body

Glue and clamp the side panels to the front and back panels. Mark your stitch line with a wing divider, punch holes with a 5 mm pricking iron, and saddle stitch throughout.

5. Attach the bottom

Glue and stitch the bottom panel to the assembled body. Take your time at the corners.

6. Make and attach the strap

Fold, glue, and stitch the shoulder strap. Attach hardware rings and thread the strap through.

7. Finish the edges

Burnish all remaining edges with an edge slicker or tokonole. Your bag is ready.

Tips for Best Results

• Beginners: use the PDF version and cut pieces by hand — no special equipment needed
• Laser/CNC users: the DXF files are production-ready with clean, precise lines
• Lining tip: a thin cotton canvas or suede lining works best for this bag size
• Stitching: saddle stitch with two needles gives the strongest, most professional result

Get the Pattern

👉 Download the PDF & DXF Leather Tote Bag Pattern

Available instantly after purchase. If you need a different file format, just message — custom formats are available on request.

Questions about the pattern or files? Reach out anytime — happy to help.