Leather Tote Bag Pattern (Free PDF Template)

Download a free leather tote bag pattern designed for a clean, minimal everyday carry tote. This printable PDF pattern is for print use only and is intended for traditional leathercraft, including hand stitching or machine stitching. Laser-ready source files are available separately for makers who want to cut this design digitally.

Finished Tote Bag Examples

Template Options

• Source / “Laser Ready” Files – Tote Bag 01 Template Set

Usage Note: You are free to use this design to create and even sell the end product. However, you cannot re-distribute this template in any form.

If you need any general assistance with how our patterns work, check out our How To Use MAKESUPPLY Leather Templates Guide!

Assembling the Print PDF Pattern Instructions

If you are printing the PDF out on a standard home printer please choose Letter or A4 size. When printing MAKE SURE you are printing to 100% scale or the dimensions will be wrong. You will need to cut along the dashed lines and either tape or glue the corresponding pieces together to create the full size template. 1 matches with 1. 2 matches with 2. 3 matches with 3. After this step you can continue cutting everything out. If you plan on re-using the template multiple times I suggest glue to a piece of poster board for added rigidity.

Build & Assembly Walkthrough (Laser + Traditional Leathercraft)

This walkthrough video demonstrates the construction process for the leather tote bag, including panel layout, handle attachment, and overall assembly. The cutting portion of the video uses a laser cutter, but the build steps apply equally to printed patterns and traditional leathercraft methods. If you are using the free print-only PDF, you can follow along with the assembly sections and skip the laser-specific cutting steps.

Inventory of Tools

• Boss LS-1630
• 36″ x 24″ Self Healing Cutting Mat
• Masking Tape
• Scratch Awl
• No.2 X-ACTO Knife
• Dremel with Sanding Bit
• Wood Slicker
• Dremel Burnishing Bit
• Aquilim 315 Cement
• Glue Pot
• Plastic Spreaders
• Thread Nippers
• Bick 4 Leather Conditioner
• Wire Clips
• Mini Anvil
• Rivet Cutter
• C.S. Osborne Scratch Awl
• John James Stitching Needles – 002
• Generic Sandpaper – 320 Grit
• Waxed Thread (Black – .8mm)
• Tokonole Burnishing Gum
• #10 Copper Rivets
• Rivet Setter
• Rotary Punch

Leather Selection

In our example tote bag we used 2 different colors of Horween Essex leather in 5-6oz weight. We recommend this weight range (maybe a tad heavier or a tad lighter) for this style tote bag. More importantly, we recommend using a leather with a medium to medium-soft hand. The stiffer the leather, the tougher the last flip out step will be and it will look more rigid and wrinkly.

Leather like Horween Essex are GREAT for this type of project.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the finished dimensions of the leather tote bag?

The finished leather tote bag measures approximately 13″× 10″ × 3″ once assembled. These dimensions reflect the completed bag after stitching and shaping. Minor variation can occur depending on leather thickness and construction method.

Is this leather tote bag pattern free?

Yes. The printable PDF pattern is completely free and intended for print-only use. Laser-ready source files are available for purchase separately for makers who prefer a digital cutting workflow.

Is this tote bag pattern suitable for beginners?

Yes. This pattern uses a straightforward construction with minimal components, making it approachable for beginners with basic leathercraft tools. The assembly process is demonstrated in the walkthrough video. The trickiest part is boxing the corners but we cover it in the video.

Can this pattern be used with a laser cutter?

The free PDF is designed for printing and traditional leathercraft. If you plan to use a laser cutter, laser-ready source files are available separately optimized for laser cutting. It comes in several formats including .svg which is the most universal among laser software (Lightburn, xTool Studio, etc…)

Guidelines of Template Usage

We put a lot of time and effort into producing these templates, videos, and blog posts. Please do not distribute the template you have purchased from Makesupply. It’s not cool and hurts our feelings (CRY EMOJI). However, you are free to do whatever you want with the end product you create using the template design. Even sell them on Etsy!