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Instructions: Patchwork-look cosmetic bag

10.12.2016 by Sabine Schmidt

Anleitung: Kosmetiktasche im Patchwork-Look

We simply love it, the versatile "Alsterprinzessin"! No matter what outfit she comes in, whether elegant in linen, in a cool metallic look or with patchwork elements: she always looks absolutely delicious! That's why we have developed a new version for you: the patchwork-look cosmetic bag.

Patchwork-look cosmetic bag

So close to the holidays, of course, the question arises at SewSimple as well whether all the gifts are already ready.

And it certainly won't surprise you when I tell you that the Christkind (in our little region, it really is the original Christkind, not Santa Claus!) is bringing gold and silver to our family and friends this year: a very special cosmetic bag.

We simply find it stunning and absolutely versatile, the Alsterprinzessin.

You might already know it in this version:

Cosmetic bag with faux leather

The highlight of the patchwork version is, of course, the interplay of cool faux leather and cozy patchwork. Sophisticated meets homey, so to speak.

The cosmetic bag (or whatever you want to use or give it as a gift) looks especially beautiful when you match the fabrics to the faux leather. For the golden Alsterprinzessin, we used fabrics with warm color tones and added a few splashes of blue, red, and pink.

In the silver version, cooler colors and strong contrasts determine the look. As the icing on the cake, both bags have stylish metallic zippers*, which are perfectly color-coordinated with the faux leather.

If you, like us with the silver bag, decide on an extra-wide zipper, you don't have to worry about the processing. You can sew over metallic zippers just as easily with the sewing machine as with normal plastic zippers. Even the XXL version was easily handled by our Brother machine. And the result can really be shown off - exactly such details make the difference between handmade and homemade. ;)

Materials needed

  • Fabric strips for the outside, e.g. a fabric pack from Tilda*
  • Silver faux leather* or Gold*
  • Thermolam* for the patchwork part
  • Interfacing H 630* to reinforce the faux leather
  • Cotton fabric for the lining
  • Continuous zipper with zipper* - you can also use a ready-made zipper and sew it in according to the instructions
  • Straight pins*
  • Fabric clips*
  • Scissors*
  • Tape to stick the pattern together
  • Pen for marking (e.g. fabric marker)
  • Ruler, rotary cutter
  • Color-coordinated sewing thread
  • Sewing machine, zipper foot

    The pattern: The 19-page instructions for our cosmetic bag "Alsterprinzessin" are also suitable for beginners.

    It contains the patterns for mini, midi, and maxi.

Faux leather* can also be obtained from Stoffe.de - there you will find a considerable selection of vegan leather and faux leather. I used faux leather in silver and gold. Swafing also currently produces the faux leather "Rex", which is very easy to work with and affordable.

My video tutorial "Cosmetic bag with faux leather" is available here:

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.

Step-by-step instructions

Tutorial: Sew a cosmetic bag with a patchwork look

The patchwork version of the „Alsterprinzessin“ cosmetic bag combines cool faux leather with cosy patchwork. Here's how to sew it step by step – including a metallic zipper.

  1. Step

    Prepare the pattern

    Print the pattern twice and tape it together at the mark. Cut one of the patterns along the marked line – you use this one for the outside. Use the second pattern to cut the lining fabric. Then separate a strip of about 10–15 cm, depending on how wide you want the patchwork strip to be.

    Prepare the pattern
  2. Step

    Cut and reinforce the faux leather

    Cut the bag pieces from faux leather: you need two right and two left pieces. Reinforce the faux leather pieces with fusible fleece. When ironing it on, place a damp tea towel over it – the iron must not touch the faux leather directly. Also cut two strips about 5 cm long, as wide as the zipper, for finishing the ends.

    Cut and reinforce the faux leather
  3. Step

    Quilt the patchwork piece

    Cut two pieces of Thermolam to the size you want and add about 1 cm all round. At the shorter edge, place two fabric strips right sides together and sew them onto the Thermolam. Press the strip over, add the next strip – and so on until the Thermolam is completely covered. You can also add decorative stitches if you like.

    Quilt the patchwork piece
  4. Step

    Assemble the outside

    Cut the two patchwork pieces to the size you want (silver bag: 15 cm, gold: 13 cm) and sew them right sides together to the reinforced faux leather sides. Then fold the seam allowances towards the centre of the patchwork and topstitch them with a longer straight stitch – this adds extra stability.

    Assemble the outside
  5. Step

    Cut the lining

    Using a finished bag piece as a pattern, cut two fabric pieces for the lining and two strips, each 3 × 10 cm, from the outer fabric. Fold the fabric pieces wrong sides together and press the edge.

    Cut the lining
  6. Step

    Mark the zipper

    At the top edge of the outer fabric, mark 3 cm on both sides – this is where the zipper ends will go later. Make sure the marks are symmetrical and transfer them to the zipper.

    Mark the zipper
  7. Step

    Bind the zipper ends with faux leather

    Place the short edge of a 5 cm piece of faux leather right sides together at the left mark and sew it on with a straight stitch. Then fold the faux leather to the right over the seam and edgestitch it. Thread the zipper pull on from the other side of the zipper and bind the other end in the same way. Trim any excess flush with the edge of the bag fabric.

    Bind the zipper ends with faux leather
  8. Step

    Sew the zipper to the outside

    Place the zipper right sides together on the top edge of the bag piece, hold it with wonder clips and sew it on with the zipper foot. When you get to the zipper pull: leave the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot, turn the fabric, pull the zipper pull past the presser foot, then carry on sewing.

    Sew the zipper to the outside
  9. Step

    Sew the lining to the zipper

    Place the bag lining right side to wrong side on the sewn-on zipper and pin it. Turn the bag piece over and sew on the lining by stitching a second seam on top of the previous seam. Repeat this step for the second side.

    Sew the lining to the zipper
  10. Step

    Press and topstitch the zipper

    Carefully press the bag pieces away from the zipper (cover the faux leather with a tea towel). Then edgestitch along the zipper – this stops the fabric from getting caught in the zipper pull when you open and close it.

    Press and topstitch the zipper
  11. Step

    Sew the bag together

    Open the zipper part of the way. Fold the lining pieces in one direction and the outer pieces in the other – the zipper now sits in the middle. Mark a turning gap on the bottom edge of the lining. Pin the inner and outer pieces right sides together and sew a presser foot's width from the edge. Leave the corners open, as well as the turning gap in the lining. For more volume, sew across all four corners a presser foot's width from the edge and carefully trim the seam allowance.

    Sew the bag together
  12. Step

    Turn and close the turning gap

    Shape the corners neatly, turn the bag right side out through the turning gap and edgestitch the gap closed. Done!

    Turn and close the turning gap

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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.