Sew a puffer bag: With our free instructions and the matching pattern, you can sew yourself a trendy puffer bag.
The most important things at a glance
- With this guide, you can conjure up a beautiful, trendy everyday companion in the form of a puffer bag using the SewSimple banana bag pattern
- You can get patterns for suitable bags in the SewSimple shop
- In this article, you will learn everything about suitable materials and techniques
- ✂️ Sewing level: easy
- ⏰ Sewing time: 1 afternoon
THE sewing idea: Sew a quilted bag. Our quilted banana bag is not only practical but also absolutely on trend. In this article, I want to show you how you can sew the SewSimple banana bag as a puffer bag, turning a classic pattern into a modern DIY trend bag.
With the padded look, you give your bag a great, individual style without much effort.
Do you like it simple but don't want to miss that certain something, or do you want to give your unusual fabric design even more expression? Then the puffer technique is just right for you.
You have surely already seen the brilliant examples from Christiane @hey_lui_bags on Instagram and won't be surprised that I was blown away. Together with Christiane, we have prepared this tutorial for you. Because we believe: Everyone deserves a great puffer bag.
Video tutorial: Sewing a puffer bag
What is a puffer bag?
The puffer bag – also known as a pillow bag, cloud bag, padded bag, or quilted bag – is a modern bag with a padded, quilted surface that visually resembles a puffer jacket. Characteristic features are its voluminous design, soft feel, and comfortably lightweight material. In the meantime, the puffer bag has become a true staple and is an indispensable part of the fashion world. So what could be better than simply sewing this stylish puffer bag yourself?
Whether in summer with bright colors, eye-catching labels, and patches, or in winter made of water-repellent fabrics: The puffer bag combines functionality and style like almost no other bag model. Thanks to its comfortable carrying feel and its trendy look, it is a versatile accessory for everyday life, travel, and leisure – with plenty of room for everything you need on the go.
Hi, I'm Julia and I live with my husband and our three children in Baden-Württemberg.
In 2019, I was looking for a hobby that could be easily combined with family and work while offering me a creative balance to often stressful everyday life. That's when my first sewing machine moved in with me – I started with children's clothes, but it quickly became clear: Sewing is here to stay.
Since 2021, my heart has especially beaten for bags, pouches, backpacks, and accessories.
I love well-thought-out details, clean topstitching, and high-quality materials. Gabardine is clearly one of my favorite fabrics. Professionally, I work in the insurance industry, but for me, sewing has long been much more than just a hobby. With a lot of passion, I test new techniques, materials, and patterns and enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with you. I am all the more pleased to be able to bring this enthusiasm and creativity to SewSimple as well.
Why should I sew a puffer bag?
Sewing a puffer bag yourself is the perfect DIY project if you're in the mood for creativity and a quick sense of achievement. Instead of buying a trendy bag, you design your own unique piece that matches your style exactly.
The "puffer banana" is also great for beginners as the pattern is kept deliberately simple, and you are gradually familiarized with the puffer technique step by step.
Another plus point: You can sew sustainably. Discarded clothing, recycled materials, or sustainably produced fabrics (e.g., from Lebenskleidung) are excellently suited for a puffer bag and make your project part of a slow-fashion routine.
In the end, you won't just hold a practical bag in your hands, but a true favorite piece that you can wear with pride or give away as a gift.
A self-sewn puffer bag combines creativity, functionality, and modern design. Exactly what makes a good DIY project.
What do I need to know as a beginner if I want to sew a pillow bag?
Even as a sewing beginner, you can easily sew the banana bag. You only need to master the straight stitch. The banana bag is closed with a zipper, so it would be an advantage if you already have some practice with inserting zippers. If not, no problem; I will show you exactly what to look out for in the instructions. This project is great for gaining first experiences in the field of bag sewing.
And the most important thing: Calmness and joy in the project!
Perfection is not necessary. Small irregularities give your bag its unmistakable DIY character, and that is what matters.
If you take your time and work step by step, this sewing project is achievable for every sewing level.
If you are still unsure, I recommend the SewSimple online sewing course "The SewSimple Sewing License". Here, everything you need to know to get started is explained to you.
What does my sewing machine need to be able to do to sew a puffer bag?
To sew a puffer bag or banana bag, a standard household sewing machine is completely sufficient. You only need the straight stitch. For sewing together your quilted bag, I recommend a stitch length of about 2.5 mm; for topstitching, 3–3.5 mm are suitable.
It is also important that your sewing machine can sew forward and backward so that you can reliably secure your seams.
To insert the zipper cleanly, you need a zipper foot. Depending on the material, other sewing feet can be helpful. If you are working with oilcloth, faux leather, or other coated fabrics, it is best to use a Teflon foot or roller foot. A walking foot is also an advantage here, as it transports multiple layers evenly.
Also, adapt your sewing machine needle to the fabric. For typical bag fabrics like canvas or gabardine, a 90 universal needle is suitable. For oilcloth or faux leather, a 90 Microtex needle is the better choice.
Which fabrics can be used to sew a puffer bag?
For a puffer bag, you can generally use all non-stretchy fabrics – so there are hardly any limits to your creativity.
However, note: The thinner the outer fabric, the stronger the puffer effect will be.
Water-repellent, robust materials are particularly practical because they reliably protect the polyester hollow fiber balls from moisture. Although the filling fibers are washable, the bag would become very heavy when worn if exposed to moisture, and there is a risk that it will not return to its original shape after drying.
The following fabrics are very suitable
To sew a quilted bag, you should rely on lightweight, robust, and if possible, waterproof fabrics. Here is a small selection where we
Oxford
- Very robust and durable
- Water-repellent to waterproof (depending on coating)
- Shape-retaining and ideal for bags
- Easy to sew and frays very little
Oilcloth
- Water-repellent and wipeable
- Gives the puffer bag a smooth, stable surface
- Perfect for low-maintenance bags
- A bit slippery when sewing → Teflon or roller foot recommended
➡️ You can order oilcloth here*
Rain jacket fabric
- Light, thin, and water-repellent
- Enhances the puffer effect because the fabric has little volume of its own
- Flexible and pleasant to work with
- Ideal for lightweight puffer bags
➡️ You can order rain jacket fabric here*
Softshell
- Water-repellent, windproof, and durable
- Soft fleece inside provides additional volume
- A bit thicker, therefore good for structured puffer bags
- Very durable and suitable for outdoors
➡️ You can order softshell here*
Faux leather
- Stable, shaping, and visually high-quality
- Water-repellent and robust
- Perfect for elegant or sophisticated puffer bags
- Bag becomes a bit heavier
- Slippery when sewing → Teflon or roller foot helpful
➡️ You can order faux leather here*
Ripstop
- Extremely tear-resistant due to woven-in reinforcement threads
- Very light and thin
- Water-repellent (depending on finish)
- Ideal for sporty, ultralight quilted bags with a strong puffer effect
Oilskin (waxed canvas)
- Water-repellent
- Robust and durable
- Windproof
- Shape-retaining, very sturdy depending on quality
➡️ You can order Oilskin here*
Nylon (e.g., Taslan, Cordura Light)
- Very light and water-repellent
- Tear-resistant and suitable for outdoors
- Perfect for sporty puffer bags
➡️ You can order nylon fabric here*
✂️ And here you can also find great outdoor fabric in many colors*
Polyester fabrics (e.g., outdoor fabric, tent fabric)
- Robust, weather-resistant, and low-maintenance
- Ideal for bags that need to withstand a lot
- Support the puffer effect well
➡️ You can order polyester fabrics here*
Canvas
- Very robust and durable, not waterproof
- Gives the bag a stable shape
- Not water-repellent
- Available in many thicknesses
- Perfect for structured puffer bags
Gabardine
- Finely woven and shape-retaining
- Slightly water-repellent
- Pleasant to sew
- Ideal for elegant or simple designs
➡️ You can order gabardine here*
Jeans/Denim
- Stable and shaping, not waterproof
- Perfect for upcycling projects
- Gives the puffer bag a cool, casual look
➡️ You can order denim fabrics here*
For a puffer bag, you can completely forgo additional interfacing. Only very thin lining fabrics should be stabilized with G700 so that they are easier to process during sewing and have sufficient hold later on.
Where can I find the pattern for the SewSimple banana bag?
The pattern for the banana bag from SewSimple is available in the SewSimple shop. There, you can easily purchase the pattern and download it directly as a PDF. After downloading, print it at 100% scale, glue the pages together, and you can start your puffer bag right away.
The seam allowance of 1 cm is included in the pattern.
Material requirements: What you need for sewing
- SewSimple Ebook Banana bag (Size M)
- Outer fabric
- Middle layer fabric (not visible, e.g., poplin)
- Lining fabric (cotton weave, canvas, ...)
- Polyester hollow fiber balls*, alternatively filling wadding*
- Continuous zipper, 6.5 mm teeth width* with 1-2 zipper pulls
- 2 D-rings matching the webbing*
- 2 carabiners*
- 1 ladder lock buckle*
- 2-2.50 m webbing (width 3-4 cm)*, depending on desired length
- optional label/patch
- Color-matching sewing thread* (Mettler Seralon/Mettler Perfect Quilting Thread)
- Water-soluble marking pen* alternatively masking tape or Frogtape
- Prym turning tool, alternatively a wooden spoon
- Basic sewing accessories
Was that all too fast for you? Feel free to take a look at our basic sewing instructions for the banana bag, where we show you everything step by step again.
And these heavenly, beautiful examples were conjured up by Christiane @hey_lui_bags. Did you notice the small quilted labels that round off the look of Christiane's bags?
Which Sewsimple patterns are also suitable for a puffer bag?
The puffer technique works really well not just for the banana bag, but for many other SewSimple patterns as well. Generally, the rule is: the larger and flatter the pattern pieces, the better the quilting will stand out. This allows you to turn simple bag patterns into modern, trendy bags in no time at all.
Elektra – the versatile crossbody bag
Elektra offers generous, smooth surfaces that are perfect for quilting. With the puffer technique, it gets a modern, sporty-urban look and immediately feels like a designer bag. Ideal if you want to sew a lightweight, voluminous crossbody bag.
Pallas – the elegant shoulder bag
Pallas has a clean, minimalist shape that is wonderfully enhanced by the puffy look. The quilting gives it structure and makes it a real eye-catcher – whether made from nylon, oilskin, or recycled fabrics. Perfect for those who want to sew a simple yet special bag.
Gretel phone pouch – small, but perfect for puffy effects
Gretel is excellent for trying out the puffer technique in a mini format. The small area can be quilted quickly, and the result is a super-modern, padded phone pouch that both protects and looks stylish. Ideal for fabric scraps and quick projects.
Quattro fanny pack – sporty, modern, and puffer-friendly
Quattro has a clean shape with large pattern pieces that can be wonderfuly puffed. The quilting makes the fanny pack look trendy right away and gives it a cool street-style look. It looks especially beautiful made from nylon, softshell, or lightweight faux leather.
This beautifully puffed Quattro fanny pack also comes from Christiane of @hey_lui_bags
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