estimated reading time: 11 mins

Sewing a foldable bag: utility pouch with free pattern

18.01.2021 by Sabine Schmidt

Falttasche nähen: Kramtasche mit kostenlosem Schnittmuster

What do I need for that?

Sew a folded bag

Freebook · PDF
To the sewing pattern →

Materials & Details

Disappearing marker^*

Fabric scissors^*

Sewing scissors^*

Canvas^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Interfacing:: Vlieseline H200

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Thread:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Canvas is a very sturdy, densely woven fabric that feels really stable. It's usually made of cotton or a cotton blend and is made to withstand quite a lot.

The surface is rather firm and sometimes slightly rough, but can be a little smoother depending on the finish. Canvas has hardly any stretch, but keeps its shape nicely.

Sewing it can take some effort because it's thick and stable – but in return you get a very long-lasting result. Fraying is easy to keep under control with the right technique.

Canvas is perfect for bags, backpacks, seat cushions, decor or even sturdy jackets.

In short: strong, long-lasting and ideal for anything that needs to be really stable.

Cotton poplin^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Interfacing:: Vlieseline H250

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Thread:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Poplin is a fine, densely woven cotton with a smooth, slightly cool surface. The fabric feels pleasantly soft, yet it is nicely stable and has no stretch.

Typical of poplin: it is fairly lightweight but still drapes neatly, so it looks clean and a little smarter than regular cotton.

Poplin is super easy to sew – it cuts well, hardly shifts and is great for beginners too.

It is perfect for blouses, shirts, dresses, skirts, bags, cushions or summer trousers.

In short: smooth, light and an easy fabric for lots of lovely everyday pieces.

Woven cotton

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Interfacing:: Vlieseline H630

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*

Woven cotton is a classic, non-stretch cotton fabric. It's comfortable to wear, relatively lightweight and at the same time nicely stable.

The surface is usually smooth or slightly matte and feels natural and soft. Depending on the quality, it can be thinner for light clothing or a little firmer for sturdier projects.

Woven cotton is really easy to sew: it hardly slips, is easy to cut and is great for beginners too.

It's perfect for blouses, shirts, dresses, skirts or for decor such as cushions, pouches and patchwork.

In short: simple, versatile and a true all-rounder for lots of sewing ideas

coated cotton^*

Machine:: Backstitch functionStraight stitch
Interfacing:: Vlieseline H640

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*

Coated cotton is a cotton fabric with a smooth, water-repellent surface. It feels a bit like oilcloth but is often softer and more flexible.

The fabric is pretty sturdy and wipes clean easily – perfect for when something gets spilled. On the inside you have the pleasant cotton, on the outside the coating protects against moisture and dirt.

Sewing it sometimes takes a little patience because the surface can stick slightly. With the right tricks, though, it works well.

Coated cotton is ideal for bags, backpacks, tablecloths or anything that has to withstand everyday use.

In short: practical, easy care and perfect for projects that can take a beating.

Linen^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Thread:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Linen is a natural fabric with a slightly firm, textured feel. At first it often feels a bit rough, but it gets softer with every wash and becomes really lovely on the skin.

Typical of linen: it is super airy and breathable – perfect for warm days. The fabric looks rather loose and relaxed, often has a slightly irregular appearance, and that is exactly what gives it its charm.

Linen creases pretty quickly, but that is simply part of it and even looks intentional. It is ideal for airy clothing such as dresses, blouses, trousers or shirts.

In short: natural, cooling and wonderfully easy-going with a casual look.

Jeans fabrics/denim^*

Machine:: Overlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Interfacing:: Vlieseline G770

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Thread:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Denim is basically the classic jeans fabric – sturdy, tightly woven and really hard-wearing. Its slightly diagonal texture is typical, often with the blue-dyed look that everyone instantly associates with jeans.

The fabric is rather firm and a bit stiff at first, but softens over time and moulds itself better and better. That is exactly what makes denim so durable and popular.

It needs a bit more power when sewing – a strong needle and a sturdy machine help here. In return, the result can really take a lot.

Denim is perfect for jeans, jackets, bags or anything that has to stand up to everyday life.

In short: strong, timeless and a true everyday hero on the fabric shelf.

Corduroy fabrics^*

Machine:: Zigzag stitchOverlock seamBackstitch functionStraight stitch
Interfacing:: Vlieseline H200

More info

Needle:: Universal needle^*
Thread:: All-purpose sewing thread^*

Corduroy is a sturdy fabric with a very typical ribbed texture. These fine or wider stripes give it its unmistakable, slightly retro look.

The fabric feels soft and textured at the same time. It is warm, comfortable to wear and really durable.

Depending on the type, corduroy comes fine (needlecord) or coarse with wide ribs – both have their own charm.

Corduroy is usually easy to sew; just keep an eye on the nap direction of the ribs.

It is perfect for trousers, skirts, jackets, dresses or bags.

In short: cosy, sturdy and a true classic with vintage flair.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Sewing a folding pouch: My beginner-friendly guide for this pouch with folded-in corners includes not only the free sewing pattern but also helpful tips & tricks.

The most important points at a glance

In this post, I will show you how you can easily sew a quick folding pouch
The special feature of this pouch is the folded-in corners
The corners allow the pouch to expand when filled
The pouch is sewn from simple, non-reinforced cotton fabric
You can download the sewing pattern for the folding pouch for free here in the post
Sewing time: approx. 40 min.

Are you looking to sew another gorgeous little pouch? Then my tutorial comes just at the right time! This wonderful pouch idea with sophisticated corners originally comes from Svetlana Sotak, a great and very creative sewing enthusiast.

I just love simple yet sophisticated bag shapes. You are surely already familiar with this from my Furoshiki bag, the Japanese rice bag, or the many cosmetic bags here on the blog.

Because I find the bag shape, which is somewhat reminiscent of my popcorn bag, so cool, I designed a sewing pattern for it. From experience, however, I know that what I like often makes you happy too. For this reason, I am sharing my free sewing pattern with you here and hope you enjoy it. :)

Perhaps you feel like sewing a quick junk pouch for your handbag? Then the simple zipper pouch in 3 sizes is just the right thing. By the way, the three sizes also fit perfectly inside one another!

Why you should sew a folding pouch

This pouch not only looks incredibly great, it also scores with inner values: the long zipper allows it to open nice and wide. The folded-in corners are also easy to sew for beginners and ensure that the pouch is easy to fill.

In addition, this beautiful folding pouch is sewn in no time at all. So, you will have a sense of achievement in a jiffy.

You can also use the folding pouch perfectly as a bag organizer in your shopping bag because it is truly feather-light. You can naturally also find the matching sewing tutorial for a great Japanese shopping bag here at SewSimple.

Which fabric is suitable for the folding pouch?

A sturdy cotton fabric that does not necessarily need to be reinforced is ideal. The entire pouch is rather soft and flexible. The corners keep it in shape well.

If you are working with very fine fabrics, you can reinforce them beforehand with lightweight iron-on interfacing. I would avoid that if possible and prefer using a sturdy fabric, because the seams can otherwise be a real challenge for the sewing machine.

There are so many incredibly great fabrics from which one can sew bags and pouches for shopping. Therefore, I am giving you a small overview here in the form of a table. You can also combine different types of fabric with each other, for example, canvas and poplin, or faux leather and linen.

Fabric type	Advantages	Disadvantages	Notes & Tips	Source
Canvas	strong, robust fabric, practically indestructible	– makes the bag somewhat heavier – seam transitions or multiple layers of fabric can be a challenge for the sewing machine (and for beginners)	– sew with a jeans needle or 90 – 100 universal needle	Order canvas^*
Cotton poplin	practical all-rounder fabric, robust, easy to process, particularly suitable for beginners	– should be reinforced beforehand (Vlieseline H200 or H250), otherwise the bag will be too soft	– process with 70 – 80 universal needle	Order poplin^*
Kokka fabrics	firm and robust, easy to process, particularly high-quality and aesthetic	– sometimes fray a little – multiple layers of fabric are a challenge for some sewing machines	– sew with a jeans needle or 80 – 90 universal needle – does not need to be reinforced	Order Kokka fabrics^*
Cotton batiste	fine yet firm fabric that does not wrinkle easily	– the reverse side of the fabric should definitely be reinforced beforehand, otherwise the bag will be too soft and lose its shape – perfect for reinforcement: Style-vil, Style-vil fix, or Thermolam	– process with heavy, sharp scissors – sew with a jeans needle or 90 – 100 universal needle	Order cotton batiste^*
Coated cotton	water-repellent, wipeable, robust	– can be a challenge for beginners because the presser foot sticks to the material	– process with 70 – 90 universal needle -does not need to be reinforced	Order coated cotton fabrics^*
Linen/Linen blends	elegant, sustainable, natural, with a beautiful wrinkled look	– fabric edges fray easily – fabric is not as firm and often woven somewhat irregularly – for reinforcement, e.g., Thermolam, Style-vil, Vlieseline H630, H640, or S320 are suitable	– reinforcing with Vlieseline reduces fraying of the fabric edges – process with 70 – 90 universal needle	Order lin en^*
Denim	firm, strong, and robust	– multiple layers of denim are often difficult to sew – light to medium reinforcement is sufficient, e.g., Vlieseline G770 or H250	– sew with a jeans needle or 90 – 100 universal needle – jeans thread for the topstitching is a good option	Order denim fabrics^*
Fine corduroy/Corduroy	beautiful, velvety surface, robust fabric, ages very nicely	– observe the direction of the nap when cutting: the nap must feel rough downwards e.g., Vlieseline G770 or H250	– processing with 80 – 90 universal needle	Order corduroy fabric^*

My tip: You can always sew small pouches, whether flat or with a wide, stable bottom, from fabric scraps. Discarded jeans are very suitable, with which you can turn the little pouch into a jeans upcycling project.

Dimensions & requirements of the folding pouch

Size 1

finished size: approx. 9.5 x 16 cm
fabric requirement: per fabric type 20 x 25 cm
zipper length required: 20 cm (incl. allowance for inserting the zipper pull)
marking of the folded-in corner: 3.5 cm
fabric panel for binding: 2 fabric pieces of 12 x 4 cm each

Size 2

finished size: 11.5 x 21 cm
fabric requirement: per fabric type 25 x 33 cm
zipper length required: 24 cm (incl. allowance for inserting the zipper pull)
marking of the folded-in corner: 4.5 cm
fabric panel for binding: 2x 4x 15 cm

Size 3

finished size: 14 x 26 cm
fabric requirement: per fabric type 30 x 40 cm
zipper length required: 30 cm (incl. allowance for inserting the zipper pull)
marking of the folded-in corner: 5.5 cm
fabric panel for binding: 2 x 18 x 4 cm

Here you can see all 3 sizes at a glance:

Where can I download the free sewing pattern for the folding pouch?

You can download the free sewing pattern in PDF format for printing yourself here in 3 sizes:

Download folding pouch sewing pattern
1 cm seam allowance is already included in the sewing pattern.

Print the sewing pattern at 100% without page scaling. Tape the pattern pieces together for the respectively matching sizes. Pay attention to the arrow for the fabric grain.

Sewing a folding pouch: These materials are required

1 x pattern piece from outer fabric
1 x pattern piece from lining fabric
2 x 10 cm webbing 2 cm wide
2 fabric pieces for the panel

matching sewing thread^*
possibly Vlieseline S 320^* or H200^* for reinforcing the lining
Continuous zipper with pull^*
possibly label^*
matching sewing machine needle
pins^*
fabric clips^*
ruler^*
marking pen^*
fabric scissors^*
thread scissors^*
sewing machine

I will show you how to correctly tie the beautiful pull aid for the zipper at the very end of this blog post.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to sew a folding bag?

With a little practice, even as a beginner, you can sew the bag in about forty minutes.

How do I sew a folding bag as a beginner?

The bag is finished with raw edges on the inside. Before turning the bag, the edges are bound with fabric binding. By the way, sewing in the zipper is also super easy because it is sewn openly to the edge.

Which fabrics are suitable for the folding bag?

Beautiful, sturdy woven fabrics like cotton poplin, canvas, or Kokka fabrics are perfect. Fabrics with a linen blend or pure linen are also great for the bag.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Instruction 1 / 2

Sew a folded bag

We start by separating the zipper.

Now pin one half, right side of the fabric facing, flush with the short edge of the outer fabric.

The teeth point away from the fabric edge.

Step

This is what it should look like now:
Step

Next, pin the lining fabric piece flush onto the zipper, right side to wrong side.
All three pieces are now lying flush on top of each other.
Step
Step

Sew along the edge with the zipper foot and a straight stitch.
Step

Make sure the three layers don't shift.
Step

Before turning, mark the centre of the long fabric edges with a snip or the fabric marker.
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Turn the bag piece so that the two wrong sides of the fabric lie on top of each other.
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Now you can shape the zipper and give the fabric piece a quick press.
Step

Edgestitch the zipper with the zipper foot a few millimetres from the fabric edge. In the post Sewing a topstitch seam I'll show you again in detail what matters here.
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Fold the loops so that the short sides meet and sew them with the open edges to the centre marking on the long side of the fabric.
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It's fine to sew through both layers of fabric.
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This is what it should look like now.
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Prepare for threading on the zipper pull by cutting away approx. 1 cm of teeth on one side of the zipper.
The fabric edges should now be flush at the same height.
Thread the zipper pull on the long side first and then on the short side.
Step

Secure the zipper ends by sewing over them several times with a wide zigzag at the height of the fabric edge.
Set the stitch width to maximum and the stitch length to zero.
Step

Alternatively, you can sew forwards and backwards several times with a straight stitch.
Step

On the open zipper side, simply press the teeth together a little while sewing.
Step

This is how it should look now:
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Turn the bag inside out.
Step

The centre of the webbing, the centre marking and the centre of the zipper lie exactly on top of each other.
Step

The next step is optional, but I find it helpful to keep the fabric layers from shifting.
Sew along the short edges with a straight stitch within the seam allowance.
Step

Trim the zipper to the fabric edge.
Step

Draw the marking for the corner next to the zipper.
I've noted how far the marking should be from the corner for each bag size under Measurements & Requirements.
Step

Fold the corners towards the marking and pin them in place.
Step

This is how it should look now:
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Secure the folds with a straight stitch within the seam allowance.
Step

Now you need the binding pieces to enclose the seam.
Position the binding piece so that it's centred on the short edge.
Step

Place the long edge of the binding piece right side down against the open edge of the bag piece. The zipper faces down.
Sew the binding piece to the open edge with a straight stitch and a seam allowance of 1 cm.
Step

Fold the short sides around the fabric edge.
Step

Fold the long edge of the binding double to the inside and pin it well.
Step
Step

Edgestitch the binding in place with a straight stitch. Because of the many fabric layers, you can use a jeans or leather needle for this, for example.
I like to sew this seam with a Super Universal. It's not only coated but also nice and sturdy.
Step

Sew the second side the same way. This is what it should look like now:
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Once the second side is bound the same way, you can turn, press and fill your chic new folded pouch! :)
It's important to shape the corners well and press the pouch with steam so that it finds its shape.
Step
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A real gem, isn't it?
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I think the combination of a patterned outer fabric and a rich solid colour for the inside is stunning!
Step
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If you're not yet very experienced with woven fabrics, you might also like to look at my post on sewing cotton fabric sometime.
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By the way, the pouch grows with its tasks: the folded-in corners take care of that. :)
Here are a few more sewing examples:
Step
Step

Together with a matching lanyard, it's also a brilliant and very classy gift idea.
I'll show you how to sew the lanyard from a zipper in a separate tutorial.
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By the way, I have so much fun with this pouch because it's so quick to sew and looks so fantastic. Plus you can really use it for anything. As a make-up bag, to store bits and bobs, masks or sewing supplies. Or as a pretty pencil case that holds more than just a few pens. ;)

Instruction 2 / 2

Bonus: knot a zipper pull

Do you also love decorating the zipper pull with a pretty ribbon or charm? It doesn't just look great, it's also super practical because you don't have to fiddle around to grab the zipper pull.

Sure, you can buy them. Even pretty ones, no question.

But how much cooler is it when you can simply make the zipper pull yourself. From lovely fabric scraps, no less.

For this I like simple fabric strips from the main fabric (but also something contrasting or a nice solid fabric that picks up the colours of the main fabric) (go ahead, call me a sewing nerd...) ;)

Step

But how do you actually get nice flat knots for the zipper pull extension to work? No problem at all, I'll show you.
You'll need a fabric strip about 10 - 12 cm long, with the ends folded 1/2 cm to the inside. Press the long sides double to the inside like bias binding. To make everything nice and sturdy, edgestitch the fabric strip on both sides. Now you can get started.
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Push one end of the fabric strip through the hole of the zipper slider.
Leave the upper end almost twice as long as the lower one. The upper end is the one we work with.
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Place the long upper end over the short one.
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Then fold the long end under the short one through to the other side.
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You can already see that a small loop has formed. We'll now use it to secure the knot.
Fold the long end towards this loop and insert it from above.
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Pull the long end through the loop.
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As long as the knot is loose, you can pull it nicely into shape. After that it sits rock solid. And looks great, I think.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sabine (@sewsimple.de)
And now I wish you lots of fun sewing your own.
If you have a moment, feel free to leave me a comment. It really makes me very happy.
Happy simple sewing, your Sabine

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.