How to Make a Tote Bag from a Men's Shirt

Upcycling unwanted clothing into useful new items can be a very satisfying sewing project! I was inspired by a shirt that was given to me, I would put it to good use! I decided to upcycle a men’s shirt into a tote bag and the basic color immediately led me to design a sweet, patchwork bag that could be utilitarian and pretty and feminine.

This image shows the tote bag from a men's shirt entirely finished and hanging on a hanger to display the patches, and ruffles on the bag front.

Planning Out My Tote Bag

This is a picture of the man's beige button up shirt that is Going to be upcycled into a tote bag.

My tote bag started out as a size XL sand-colored chamois cloth shirt. What I liked about the shirt, to start with, were the size and the color. The size of the shirt would mean I would have plenty of fabric for my tote bag. The color would be fun to put pretty floral patches in the colors I love like pinks, blues and creams.

What I didn’t like was the color of the buttons, which I decided to keep as part of the design of my tote bag. But buttons would be easy to change, and I have a whole jar of collected vintage shell buttons I got second-hand and was excited to use.

This image shows the men's shirt laid out on a table being measured with a yard stick.

As I began to think about the dimensions of my tote bag, I decided that I wanted to keep the pockets as a design feature.

Cutting Apart My Men’s Shirt

Since I didn’t need the sleeves anymore, I cut those off first to get them out of the way. They are useful for other projects. They’re generously sized when the cuff is removed, and the sleeve is cut open.

This image shows a sleeve cut off of the men's shirt.

So, in order to have squared off corners for the tote bag and include the pockets, I measured and marked a 19-inch-long chalk line along the top of the shirt.

This image shows the sleeves cut off and a blue line drawn with chalk to indicate where the shirt will be cut to be made into a tote bag.

It’s difficult to see in the above picture but the mark extends to the sleeve seam on the right, making the width generous enough to include the pockets.

Next, using a yardstick, I traced a straight vertical line 21 inches from top to bottom on the right and left sides of the front of the tote bag, then cut them.

This image shows the bottom of the shirt with a blue line drawn to cut to make the men's shirt into a tote bag.

Following that, I traced a straight line across the bottom of the shirt and cut off the bottom edge. So the final size of the front and back pieces of the shirt for were 19 inches wide by 21 inches long. The size you cut will vary depending on the size of the men’s shirt you are using.

Pocket Flaps of the Tote Bag

Although I wanted to keep the shirt pockets intact on the tote bag, I decided to cut off the pocket flaps so that I could make them look a little more special with pretty patches. So, I carefully cut off the flaps and removed the brown buttons.

This image shows that one of the shirt pocket flaps were cut off and buttons removed.

Button Placket and Buttons

I wanted the buttons to be a prominent part of the design but I also needed the front to be secure. So, I sewed a vertical seam down both sides of the button on the front of the tote bag, to close it permanently.

This image shows a pink floral plate holding buttons from the shirt.

I removed the brown buttons with a seam ripper and hand-sewed the white buttons to the button placket.

This image shows the shirt cut into the front of the tote bag lying on a white table and showing new white buttons were sewn onto the front.

Time to Decorate the Front of the Tote Bag!

This is a fun upcycling project, so now it’s time to do the pretty and creative part. First, I gathered pretty fabric scraps to decorate the front of my tote bag. So, I separated the layers and set aside the back layer for later.

This image shows a blue and white plaid cotton fabric is being hand-sewn onto the pocket area with a needle and yellow embroidery thread.

I machine sewed the side parts of the pocket patch to the pocket on the tote bag. It required hand-sewing on the top and bottom edges, so it wouldn’t be sewn closed. To make it look entirely hand sewn, I sewed in a backstitch around the sides and top and bottom, as well. A helpful tip is to put a square of cardboard into the pocket so that you can push your needle through the fabric without sewing the layers together. I wanted the pocket to still be usable so sewing it on the machine would have entirely closed it up.

The yellow thread was a fun color combination with the dark blue.

This image shows a white and blue floral design on a pink background fabric has been pinned onto the top left corner of the tote bag.

This image shows that the pocket fabric is completely sewn on to the tote bag and various pretty fabric patches have been placed and the tote bag decorations are in the design process.

Moving the fabric patches around and trying them in different places helped me to find the placement that looked pretty to me.

This image shows that the front of the tote bag has been decorated with various white, pink, blue, lavender, and floral cotton and linen fabrics sewn onto it on various sizes of patches and the buttons are still visible.

Sewing on the Patches

So, then I began to pin on patches and sewed around them with a 1/4-1/2 inch seam. I have a few baskets that are stuffed with fabric scraps that I keep for projects such as this one. I try to be discerning and only allow the scraps I truly like to stay.

My goal was to cover a lot of it but allow some of the shirt to peek through.

This is an image of a floral patch with a lilac-colored monogrammed upcycled patch placed on top of the floral patch.

The monogram above was upcycled from a lovely lilac linen napkin from the thrift shop, where I found a set of four.

This is an image of floral patches with a patch of handmade cross-stitch cut from a vintage cloth napkin.

The above picture is another thrifted napkin find that I cut up; it has a hand cross-stitched flower featured on it!

This is an image of the front of the tote bag decorated in a variety of floral and checked cotton and linen patches sewn onto it with some of the shirt fabric visible around the patches as well.

I kept finding scraps I liked and trimmed them or ripped the edges straight, placing them here and there until it looked pretty to me.

A Bit of Plant Dyed Fabric!

The is an image of a light peach colored fabric ruffle sewn onto the front of the tote bag near the bottom.

Finally, I added a ruffle to the bottom I made from a natural dyed linen fabric. You can read more about the avocado dyeing process here. I started with a strip of fabric 4″ by 29″ for the ruffle. Sometimes I like to let hems and seams fray. Keeping with that idea, I left the top of the ruffle and hem unfinished so that they would fray. All of the patches I have added will fray, as well.

If you would like to add some lovely plant-dyed fabric that is ready made, this shop has some beautiful options to check out!

Now for the Back!

This is an image of the back of the tote bag, there is a light green pocket with a floral pink ruffle, as well as a light tan ruffle toward the bottom.

(This picture above shows the tote bag at the stage where I had already sewed the front and back pieces together)

I added a simple pocket to the back of the tote bag by cutting a 5-inch-wide by 6-inch-long piece of sage green cotton fabric. The top of the pocket was folded down 1/4 inch and pressed with my iron and folded down again 3/4 inch and pressed again. I sewed a hem across the top of the pocket close to the bottom of this pocket hem. In order to finish the sides and bottom edges, I pressed under a narrow 1/4 inch and it was ready to attach to the back of the tote bag. I sewed the pocket on the edge by starting at the top right corner and sewing very close to the edge around to the top left corner.

Adding the ruffles was a decorative addition to the back of the tote bag.

Sewing the Sides and Bottom Seams

With the right sides together, I pinned the side seams and bottom of the tote bag. Half inch seam allowance was sufficient, I backstitched at the beginning and end of sewing the long continuous seam. Finishing the edge of the hem wasn’t necessary since I would add a lining.

Adding Gussets

Adding gussets to a bag gives it a three-dimensional shape rather than it being completely flat. I added gussets to the shell of the tote bag and the lining. You can see instructions for making gussets here on another tote bag post.

This image shows the gussets formed on the tote bag bottom.

Lining the Tote Bag

This is an image showing a folded-up piece of white cotton fabric with pink flowers, this is going to be used for the lining of the tote bag.

I used this pretty white cotton poplin with pink flowers that I upcycled from a previously loved duvet cover. It was easy to make the lining, I cut two rectangles measuring 19″ by 21″ just like the cut size of the outside of the tote.

Then I sewed only the sides of the lining, keeping the bottom open and unsewn. I took some time to press the seams open for the lining and main fabric. Keep the lining inside out and set aside and we will move on to the straps.

Straps For the Tote Bag

I had a duck-egg blue linen, so I decided to use that for my straps.

This image shows the upcycled skirt that was used for the fabric of the straps of the tote bag lying on a table with other pink floral fabric, a yard stick, and a pincushion.

Measure and cut out two rectangles 12 inches long and 4 inches wide.

I pieced the fabric together to make it work.

This image shows the straps with a sewn seam and pressed open.

Next, fold the strap in half lengthwise and pin along the long side, keeping the fabric lined up. Then sew the length with a narrow 1/4-inch- 3/8-inch seam.

Turn the strap right side out and give it a thorough press. I topstitched along each long edge of the straps about 1/4-inch from the edge, then pressed again.

Now the straps and lining can be added to the tote bag.

Sewing on the Straps and Lining

Measure about 3 inches in from the side seam of the tote bag and pin a strap in place. Do that with the second strap. Next, drape the straps around to the back side of the bag without twisting the strap and pin into place. I recommend checking it a couple times to be certain that they are not twisted.

Place the tote bag, right side out inside the lining that is unsewn on the bottom. The lining will look like a “sleeve” of fabric around the tote bag.

This image shows the lining and tote bag lined up and ready to be pinned together. The straps of the tote bag are visibly pinned to the tote bag part.

The next step is to pin all the layers together. Remove the pins from the straps carefully as you come to them. Repin them to keep the layers from shifting.

This image shows all the layers being pinned together- the tote bag, the lining, and the straps. There is a hand holding the tote bag and showing the pins.

This image shows the completely pinned edge of the opening of the tote bag.

Sew the edge with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

Final Steps on the Lining

Pull the lining up off the tote bag and pin the bottom seam together. Stitch across the whole bottom with a 1/2-inch seam. Finish that seam so that it doesn’t fray, I used a zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine.

From there, I pressed the seam well and made two gussets in the bottom. I made them the same way that I made the outside tote bag gussets, referenced on my previous tote bag post. I zig-zagged the gussets, since they would be inside the bag and not hidden between layers.

Push the lining back into the tote bag and pull up and straighten the straps. Press all the layers well so that they are neat and to your liking.

This is an image of the top edge of the tote bag from a men's shirt showing the lining, the main fabric, and the strap.

When you have it pressed and neat, topstitch around the top of the tote bag. Try to keep all the layers from shifting. I usually pin before topstitching the top of a bag to keep it all in order. You may want to do that, as well. Give your tote bag a final press.

Now you have a lovely tote bag that you’ve upcycled from an unwanted men’s shirt!

This tote bag will be for sale over in The Rosemary Wreath Shop on Etsy!

Please let me know in the comments below your ideas for transforming and upcycling button up shirts. They are to be found in every thrift shop, abundantly available and inexpensive!