Crafty Grandma DIY Tote Bag

Need more DIY tote bags? We've got a whole bunch of them in our Free Tote Bag Pattern Party: 18 How to Make a Tote Bag Ideas!

The Origin of the Tote Bag

We all love the DIY tote bag because they're super easy to make and very handy for everyday use. However, do you know the origins of the tote bag? What separates the tote bag from the rest of the purses and bags? There are answers for these questions and more if you're curious.

A tote bag is a large bag with parallel handles on either side of the opening that doesn't usually have any fastener like a zipper. The original ideal tote was made out of a sturdy fabric with leather handles and even a leather bottom. Heavy canvas and jute are common fabrics used to make a DIY tote bag. Synthetic fabrics are more common today as well as recycled matter for cheap totes you'd see in a grocery store to discourage using plastic bags.

The word "tote" can be traced back to the 1600s, which means "to carry" as in "to tote around." This term wasn't used to refer to bags until the 20th century. L.L. Bean's Boat Bag released in 1944 started the tote bag craze in the United States. Tote bags were easier to carry than luggage, which increased their popularity throughout the last half of the 20th century.