the totoro bag

a sewing pattern by
 the totoro bag
sewing tutorial

the totoro
bag
This bag was inspired by the character Totoro from the movie
My Neighbor Totoro. It features an inner pocket, raw edge applique, a leaf
snap closure, and straps shaped like Totoro ears.

difficulty : makes :
The details take some time, but overall the process is one 11” x 14” x 3” bag
straightforward.

materials & tools

• 2/3 yd. of 60” wide or ¾ yd. of 45” twill, but cotton or felt is also
wide medium to heavyweight gray fine)
fabric for body and straps (denim or • 5” x 5” scrap of black fabric for
canvas would be good, I used twill) whiskers, nose, & pupils (I used
• 6” x 6” scrap of green medium more twill, but cotton or felt is
weight fabric for leaf (twill or light also fine)
canvas is good, I used interfaced • 5” x 5” scrap of gray fabric for
linen) stomach markings (I used the
• 2/3 yd. of lightweight fabric for lining same twill as from the main bag,
(I used quilting cotton) but cotton or felt is also fine)
• 3/8” Metal snap (sew-in variety • Fusible web (optional)
would be good, I used the • Matching sewing thread
hammer-installing variety) • Basic sewing tools (sewing machine,
• Appliqué supplies: scissors, iron, needles, pins, fabric
• 12” x 12” scrap of white fabric for marker, seam ripper)
belly, smile, & eyes (I used more

before you begin :

1. Print out the project pattern, pages 4. Mark the fabric pieces with the guide-
9-17 lines from the pattern
2. Assemble the printed pattern pieces
3. Lay out the pattern pieces on your
fabric and cut them out

2
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 the totoro bag
sewing tutorial

1 Appliqué your face and

body pieces to the bag
front. Arrange them
according to the guidelines
on the pattern piece. You can
iron them on with fusible web
if you desire, then sew them to
the bag with a zigzag or straight
stitch. I personally used a straight
stitch around the perimeter of
the appliqué pieces, then left the
edges raw. I though this added to
the organic feeling of the char-
acter that I always get with the
Miyazaki films. Also don’t forget
to stitch along the teeth lines – I
used a straight stitch here as
well.

2 Take one of your leaf

pieces and straight stitch
along the guidelines from
the pattern to give it the
decorative lines.

3
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 the totoro bag
sewing tutorial

Install your metal snaps on

the bag pieces. The socket
should be on the bag front
where the pattern indicates,
3
right above Totoro’s face. The
prong should be on your other
leaf piece, the one without the
decorative stitching you’ve just
done. I had to apply some inter-
facing because my linen wasn’t
very thick and resilient, so I
recommend the same if you have
thin fabric. I also recommend
using a smaller sew-in variety
of snap, which will make step 4
much easier for you.

Layer your leaf pieces

together with right sides
facing, and sew around the
perimeter. Leave the tip of
4
the leaf stem open for you to
turn the leaf right side out. Clip
and trim the seam allowances,
turn the leaf right side out, and
press.

4
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sewing tutorial

5 Now to make the straps!

Layer two of your strap
pieces together with right
sides facing and sew down
each side. Leave the ends free
for turning it right side out. Clip
and trim your seam allowances
and turn it right side out with
a safety pin. Be sure to use a
chopstick or something similar
to poke out the corners of the
ears afterwards to get the right
definition, then press the straps
flat.

6 Now baste the straps

to the top of your bag
pieces. Follow the pattern
guidelines to attach them at
an angle. This is so that when
they’re flipped upward they’re
perfectly vertical. Repeat this
with the back of your bag as
well.

5
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 the totoro bag
sewing tutorial

Also on the back of your

bag, baste your leaf in
place towards the middle
following your pattern
7
guidelines.

Now to attach the bottom

of the bag, or the gusset.
Start by lining up the
short edge of one side of
8
your gusset with the square
marking on the bag front. Start
lining it up towards the bottom,
where the notches should match
up. Finally as you keep wrapping
it around, the other edge of your
gusset should match up with
the other square marking. Sew
along this curve, clipping the
seam allowances in the gusset
by about ½” or so to make the
curving easier. Repeat this with
the other side of the gusset and
the back of your bag.

6
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sewing tutorial

9 Now we’re making the

inner pocket! Place
your two pocket pieces
together, aligning all the
edges and putting right sides
together. Sew along the bottom
curved edge, and leave the top
straight edge open for turning
the pocket right side out. Notch
and trim the seam allowances,
turn the pocket right side out,
and press it flat.

10 To go with the raw-edge

look I already had, I just
hemmed the top of the
pocket without turning
under the raw edge. You could
turn yours under, but this way is
easy (^-~) and cute.

7
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 the totoro bag
sewing tutorial

Line up your pocket with

one of your lining pieces
according to the pattern
guidelines. Sew along the
11
bottom curved edge and leave
the top straight edge open so
you can put stuff in it! Your
pocket is now complete :B! Now
you’ll need to go back to step 8,
and repeat the same procedure
of sewing in the gusset with your
lining pieces, but be sure to leave
an opening in the bottom as the
pattern indicates so you can turn
the whole bag right side out later.

Nestle your main bag into

your lining with right sides
facing, and line up the top
edges. This includes the
12
curved edge and both the
front of the bag and the back,
and also the little spots on the
side. Sew along this entire perim-
eter. Clip and trim your seam
allowances, especially in that
corner area with the gusset, and
turn the bag right side out from
the opening in the lining. Iron
the top seam of your bag really
nicely, then sew the opening
in the lining closed. Either way,
rejoice, because you are DONE!

8
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 NOSE APPLIQUE
Cut 1 of black

EYE APPLIQUE
Cut 2 from white

A1 A2

SMILE APPLIQUE
Cut 1 of white
B1 B2
 Totoro Bag
P A T T E R N
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A1 A2 POCKET
Cut 2 from lining
3/8” seam allowance
A3 A4
B3 B4
A3 A4
B5 B6
B1 B2
Pg. 4/9

Totoro Bag
P A T T E R N
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STOMACH APPLIQUE
Cut 1 from white

C1 C2

leaf placement

p t
t ra en
s em
ac
pl
snap
placement

applique placement
D1 D2
 B3 B4
/9 Pg. 5/9

WHISKER APPLIQUE
Cut 6 of black

PUPIL APPLIQUE C3 C4
Cut 2 of black

C1 C2

MARKING APPLIQUE
Cut 7 of gray
ment

pla str
ce ap
m
en
t
p
ment
D3 D4
 B5 B6
9 Pg. 6/9

C3 C4 Totoro Bag
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Cut 4 from main fabric
5/8” seam allowance

GUSSET
HANDLES

Cut 1 from main fabric

Cut 1 from lining
5/8” seam allowance
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Totoro Bag
P A T T E R N

D5 D6
D1 D2
Pg. 7/9

Totoro Bag
P A T T E R N
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FRONT & BACK
Cut 2 from main fabric
Cut 2 from lining
5/8” seam allowance

opening for turning

(lining only)
 D3 D4
9 Pg. 8/9

E1 E2

snap
placement

E3 E4
 D5 D6
/9 Pg. 9/9

LEAF
Cut 2 from contrast fabric
E3 E4 3/8” seam allowance