The Remote Tote has been a popular bag sewing pattern since its release and we wanted to keep offering up ideas for how to keep using the pattern. The finished bag measurements are 18” wide X 13” tall X 5” deep, which is a great little size for everyday moving around. However, there may be other uses for the tote bag which require it to be larger. Long weekend vacation, larger laptops, etc.

This tutorial shows you how to resize your Remote Tote pattern to any dimensions you need—without the hassle of repositioning countless notches and drilling new holes. We'll walk you through enlarging the pattern to create a generous 23" wide × 15" tall × 7½" deep tote, but you can easily adapt these techniques for any custom measurements.

You'll discover exactly which pattern pieces need modification and the precise adjustments required for each. While enlarging follows a straightforward process, scaling down may involve additional pattern pieces depending on your desired reduction—we'll cover those considerations in the final section.

Here Are The Steps:

While you could draft entirely new pattern pieces from scratch, we'll show you another approach: building onto your existing pieces. This method preserves most of the original notches and drill hole markings, saving you the tedious work of transferring every detail to new patterns.

Our target dimensions of 23" wide × 15" tall × 7½" deep work out to proportions that keep the strap positioning and external pieces perfectly intact—a happy bonus that simplifies the process even further.

Start by printing fresh copies of your Remote Tote pattern pieces. This preserves your original pattern for future projects while giving you the freedom to modify without worry.

Tools Needed:

-Paper (kraft of any large pieces leftover from A0 patterns you’ve had printed in the past)
-Paper scissors
-Scotch tape
-Pencil
-Ruler (clear gridded is most ideal)
-Pattern notcher (optional)

Remote Tote Pattern Pieces Needed:

-BODY
-BOTTOM
-INTERIOR POCKET
-ZIPPER EXTENSION (if using)

Body:

Draw a line horizontally across the center of the BODY pattern piece (from center notch to center notch).
Cut along that newly drawn line with paper scissors.

Place both cut BODY pattern pieces on a new piece of paper, adding 5” (12.7 cm) in between the line you just cut. Use the ruler to make sure the grainline remains one straight line. Draw a line, on both sides, connecting the two pieces.
Draw a 2 1/2” (6.35 cm) extension onto both sides of the BODY pattern piece.

Remark all notches along the side seams onto the new extended side seam.
Mark new center notches along the long sides of the BODY pattern piece.
The center notch along the short edge of the BODY pattern piece will stay in place, but the remaining notches along the short edges will need relocating toward the direction of the side seams. Mark a seam allowance notch 1/2” (1.27 cm) away from the side seam cut line and another notch to indicate where the zipper extension pieces begins which will be 2” (5.08 cm) away from the cut line. Repeat this on all four corners of the BODY pattern piece.
Draw a straight line connecting the grainline.

BOTTOM

Draw a line horizontally across the center of the BOTTOM pattern piece (from center notch to center notch).
Cut along that newly drawn line with paper scissors.

Place both cut BOTTOM pattern pieces on a new piece of paper, adding 5” (12.7 cm) in between the line you just cut. Use the ruler to make sure the grainline remains one straight line. Draw a line, on both sides, connecting the two pieces.

Draw a 2 1/2” (6.35 cm) extension onto both sides of the BOTTOM pattern piece.

Remark all notches along the side seams onto the new extended side seam.
Draw a straight line connecting the grainline.

INTERIOR POCKET

Draw a 2 1/2” (6.35 cm) extension onto both sides of the INTERIOR POCKET pattern piece.
Remark all notches along the side seams onto the new extended side seam.
Draw a straight line connecting the grainline.

ZIPPER EXTENSIONS

Draw a 2 1/2” (6.35 cm) extension onto both sides of the ZIPPER EXTENSION pattern piece.
Move all the seam allowance notches toward the side seams, 1/2” (1.27 cm) away from the cut line.
Draw a straight line connecting the grainline.

Scaling the Remote Tote Down

You could theoretically follow these same steps to make the Remote Tote smaller in size. However, you may need to adjust all of the exterior pieces as well if you are scaling the size down by a lot. Any scaling down of more than about 2” (5.08 cm) or so might require the following:

Moving the STRAPS more toward the center
Shortening the height of the LUGGAGE HANDLE STRAP and the EXTERIOR POCKET

The construction process remains identical regardless of your size adjustments—no new techniques to learn. Before you start sewing, take a moment to pattern check all your modified pattern pieces and double-check your measurements. This quick verification step will ensure smooth sailing when you're ready to stitch everything together.

Scaling Up The Remote Tote