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Sew a bag with a bamboo handle – free pattern DOILIE

20.04.2025 by Petra Bond

Tasche mit Bambusgriff nähen – gratis Schnittmuster DOILIE

Sew a bag with bamboo handles: A cute sewing idea that you can easily turn into an upcycling project with our free DOILIE pattern and this tutorial.

The most important things at a glance

  • Sew a stylish bag with bamboo handles yourself – simple and sustainable!
  • Perfect for upcycling deluxe: Use old jeans, jackets, or lace doilies 👖
  • Free pattern DOILIE: Available by signing up for the SewSimple newsletter
  • Step-by-step tutorial suitable for sewing beginners
  • Helpful tips for sewing with cotton fabrics and denim
  • ✂️ Sewing level: easy
  • ⏰ Sewing time: 1 afternoon

Why you should sew a bag with a bamboo handle

A self-sewn bag with a bamboo handle is not only sustainable but also a real eye-catcher. By using upcycling materials like old jeans or lace doilies, you can create a unique bag that will make you happy while you sew it. And the bamboo handles turn the bag into an eye-catcher with a natural look that goes perfectly with many outfits.

You can give your DOILIE bag a special splash of color by painting the handles. The bamboo handles are lightly sanded, painted with water-based acrylic paint, and then varnished. Plus, sewing this bag is a great DIY project that is also suitable for beginners. With this bag, you are making a statement for eco-friendly fashion and can be proud of having created something extremely cool and unique.

Video tutorial: Sewing a bag with a bamboo handle

What do I need to know as a beginner to sew a bag with bamboo handles?

If you know how your machine works and have basic sewing skills, this project shouldn't be a big hurdle for you. The bag is sewn from sturdy fabrics using a straight stitch on the sewing machine. If you want to upcycle and stitch on a lace doily, like I did, you'll need a straight stitch.

Tip: You can find all the information you need to get started with sewing in our online course The SewSimple Sewing License

What does my sewing machine need to be able to do to sew a bag with a bamboo handle?

Your machine doesn't need any special features, but in general, you will get good results whether you sew on a budget or a high-end machine, provided you use a new needle and good thread.

  • Thread: A color-matching all-purpose thread, for example, Seralon from Mettler* is very suitable.
  • Needle: Use a new sewing machine needle, for example, a Super-Universal* in size 80 to 90 from Schmetz
  • Sewing machine maintenance: You should clean and oil your sewing machine regularly.
  • Stitch selection: Straight stitch and zigzag stitch are perfectly sufficient. A medium stitch length of 2.5 to 3 mm is optimal.
  • Sewing foot: A straight stitch or zigzag foot is perfectly fine; for difficult materials, a Teflon foot might be an advantage.

How are the bamboo handles attached to the bag?

You can attach the beautiful bamboo handles to the bag using different methods. Choose the solution that you like best:

  • Sewing on: You can attach the handles with a straight stitch from your sewing machine
  • Rivets: The rivets firmly connect the loops through which the handles are pulled to the bag and look stylish; read everything about attaching rivets here
  • Snap fasteners: By using snap fasteners, you can remove the handles and wash the bag; Anorak snaps or camping snaps are particularly suitable for this because they are very sturdy; click here for our guide on attaching snap fasteners
  • Flexible handles: There are also bamboo handles connected at the ends by a small metal pin. The ends can be pushed apart, allowing you to open the handle and slide it over the loop

Materials and fabric choice: Perfect for upcycling projects

Before we start sewing, let's choose the right fabric. You have a lot of options here. Particularly suitable are:

  • Old jeans – robust, durable, and perfect for upcycling
  • Old jackets - denim, leather, rain, or thin quilted jackets
  • Lace doilies – white: for a romantic vintage look; colored: an absolute eye-catcher as an appliqué
  • Cotton fabrics – easy to work with and available in many colors
  • Canvas or linen – sturdy and ideal for a long-lasting bag

To reinforce the fabrics, you should use iron-on interfacing:

Tip: If you want a particularly individual look, combine different fabrics – it looks great!

How much fabric do I need for the DOILIE bag?

To get you started right away, we have prepared the required fabric quantities and finished dimensions in a table. And of course, there is also an assembly plan so you can perfectly piece together the pattern.

Free pattern DOILIE: How to get it

You can download the free pattern for the DOILIE bag here in PDF format as A4 and A0. A seam allowance of 1 cm is already included.

Click here for the free bag pattern:

To download our free books, you should:

For all questions related to these topics, you can find more information in our FAQs.
Please understand that we cannot send our free patterns via email. Unfortunately, we cannot answer such inquiries.

What you need for sewing

Sewing tips for cotton and denim

If you don't have much experience sewing with woven fabrics, here are a few helpful tips to make working with poplin, patchwork fabrics, denim, etc. easier:

  • Cotton fabrics should be pre-washed, as they often shrink.
  • Denim fabric can be thick – use a denim needle and a longer stitch length.
  • Finish the edges with a zigzag stitch or an overlock to prevent fraying.

Reading tip: Sewing cotton fabric

Further helpful sewing tips

  • Reinforcing fabrics: If your fabric is very soft, you can iron on interfacing to get more stability.
  • Shaping corners neatly: Use a chopstick or blunt scissors to shape the corners of the bag nicely after turning.
  • Even seams: Mark your seam lines with chalk or a fabric marker before sewing to achieve clean results.
  • Fixing slippery fabrics: If you are working with slippery materials, Wonder Clips or pins will help keep everything in place.
  • Mastering thick fabric layers: If your machine has problems with multiple layers, use a Teflon foot or adjust the presser foot pressure.

Reading tip: Reinforcing fabrics

Conclusion: Your new favorite bag made from upcycled fabrics

Congratulations! You have sewn an individual and sustainable bag with bamboo handles yourself. This project is ideal for upgrading old fabric scraps or jeans and turning them into a real one-of-a-kind piece. Are you in the mood for more sustainable sewing ideas where you can upcycle old jeans? Then take a look at these tutorials:

We definitely had a lot of fun with this sewing project and would love to marvel at your very own personal DOILIE on Facebook or Instagram. Feel free to tag us with @sewsimple.de so we can like your creations.

And now: Have fun sewing and wearing your new bag 💕

Happy simple sewing, Petra & Sabine

Sew bag bamboo handles, bag with bamboo handle free pattern<!--nl-->

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

Sew a bag with a bamboo handle

  1. Step

    For my bag project, I'm using

    ➡️ 1 x old pair of jeans for the outside

    ➡️ 1 x scrap of quilted fabric as lining

    ➡️ lace doily as decoration

  2. Step

    Lace doily as decoration

    In my example, I decorate my DOILIE with a painted lace doily.

    I fix a sheet of plastic to the table, place the doily on it and paint it with fabric paint.
    Important: read the instructions on your paint packaging for fixing the paint.
    You can also do this step right at the start so that your doily has enough time to dry.

  3. Step

    Sanding and painting the handles

    I fancied colourful handles, so I sanded them lightly, painted them with acrylic paint and then brushed them with clear varnish.

  4. Step

    Cutting

    If you're using old jeans, cut the fabric pieces from the trouser legs. In my example, the side seam of the trousers runs through the middle of the circles.

    • 2x front/back from main fabric
    • 2x front/back from lining
    • 1x side panel from main fabric
    • 1x side panel from lining
    • 1x inner pocket from cotton fabric
    • 2x loops
    • possibly all pieces from fusible interfacing
    • possibly just the loops from interfacing
    Cutting
  5. Step

    Reinforce the loops

    Depending on the material, you should reinforce your loops with fusible interfacing.
    The loops will have to carry the weight of the bag later, so reinforcing them is a good idea

  6. Step

    Reinforce the cut pieces

    You may want to reinforce your material; it doesn't matter whether you reinforce the main fabric or the lining.

    In my example, the jeans are quite thin and a little stretchy, so I reinforced all the pieces cut from the jeans.

  7. Step

    Prepare the inner pocket

    Fold the inner pocket along the long edge, flush and right sides together.

    Close the open edges with a straight stitch and a 1 cm seam allowance.

    Leave about 4 cm open on the long edge as a turning gap.

  8. Step

    Sew the inner pocket

    Trim the seam allowance at the corners diagonally to just before the seam so that the pocket lies nice and flat after turning.

  9. Step

    Turn the inner pocket

    Turn the inner pocket right side out.

    Carefully shape the corners with a point turner or a chopstick.

    Then press the pocket.
    Make sure the seam allowance of the turning gap lies neatly to the inside when pressing.

  10. Step

    Pin on the inner pocket

    Pin the inner pocket centred on one of your lining pieces

    You're welcome to pin the inner pocket a little lower than in my example.

  11. Step

    Sew on the inner pocket

    Edgestitch the inner pocket to the lining piece. This automatically closes the turning gap of the inner pocket.
    An edgestitch foot is helpful for this step.

    Tip: In my example, though, the guide pushed the foil-like material a little, so I stopped more often and raised the presser foot to let the material settle again.

  12. Step

    The inner pocket is finished

    This is what your lining piece with the inner pocket should look like now.

  13. Step

    Optional: Sew on the lace doily

    If you like, you can now decorate the main fabric with a lace doily, an appliqué, a vinyl design or embroidery.

    In my example, I first sewed the doily to the main fabric along the edge, then in a spiral.

  14. Step

    Sewing loops from thinner material

    Fold the loop in half lengthwise, edges flush.
    Close one short side and the long side with a straight stitch and a 1 cm seam allowance.

    Trim the seam allowance at the corner diagonally to just before the seam.

    Repeat these steps for the second loop.

  15. Step

    Turn the loops

    Turn the loops right side out and finish the open short edge, e.g. with a zigzag stitch.

  16. Step

    Sewing loops from thicker material

    Fold in the seam allowance on the long sides and close the long side with an edgestitch. In this case, leave the short edges open.

  17. Step

    Pin the bag pieces together

    Pin the bottom flush, right sides together, to the first outer piece.

    Make sure the markings meet.
    Pin the second outer piece right sides together to the free edge of the bottom.

    Repeat this step for the lining.

  18. Step

    Sew the bag pieces together

    Sew the pinned bags together with a 1 cm seam allowance.
    In the lining bag, leave about 10 cm open in one seam for turning the bag later.

  19. Step

    Two finished bag pieces

    In my example, you can see the main fabric from the wrong side and the lining bag from the right side

  20. Step

    Slide the lining and outer bag together

    Slide the lining into the outer bag, right sides together.
    Make sure the small inner pocket lies right sides together against the back of the main fabric.

  21. Step

    Pin the two bags together

    When pinning, the bag openings of the main fabric and lining should meet flush.

    It's best to use clips; with so many layers of fabric, that's often easier.

  22. Step

    Trim the seam allowance

    Trim the seam allowance either now or after you've joined the bags.

    You can also use pinking shears for trimming, or cut small notches all along the seam allowance.

  23. Step

    Join the bag opening

    Sew the two bags together at the top opening with a straight stitch and a 1 cm seam allowance.

  24. Step

    Clipping the corners

    Clip into the corners to just before the seam. Also cut away the little corners of seam allowance this creates, so that the bags lie flat on top of each other later.

  25. Step

    Iron on the reinforcements

    The loops will be attached with rivets later, so I also iron Power Dots onto my lining as reinforcement.

  26. Step

    Iron on the reinforcing circles

    Tip: If you don't have any Power Dots to hand, you can also use small pieces of interfacing.

  27. Step

    Turning the bag

    Turn the bag right side out through the turning gap.

    Then shape the seams well and press the bag.

  28. Step

    Topstitching the bag opening

    If you can't press your materials, as in my example, use your fingertips to push the two fabrics so that the seam sits right between them.

    Now topstitch the bag opening so that your lining stays in place.

  29. Step

    The bag body is finished

    I also pushed the seams along the edge apart with my fingers.

  30. Step

    Alternative

    Alternatively, before sewing the two prepared bag pieces together, you can topstitch the seam allowance of the outer bag onto the bottom piece.

  31. Step

    Prepare the loops

    Stick small strips of Wondertape to the lower part of the loops.
    Then fold the loops over so that the finished seam is covered by the nice side.

  32. Step

    Loops from thicker material

    Stick small strips of Wondertape to the lower part of the loops.
    Then fold the loops over so that the shorter part lies over the longer folded part.

  33. Step

    Position the loops on the bag

    Stick a small strip of Wondertape to the back lower part of your loop.

    When positioning, make sure the loop isn't too close to the edge, but also that the handle will have enough room later.

  34. Step

    Punch holes

    Punch two holes for the hollow rivets through one side of the bag and through all fabric layers of the loop.

    A hole punch plier works very well for this, but you can also use an awl.

  35. Step

    Open the loops

    Carefully detach the front part of the loop again.

    But make sure the loop doesn't shift. You could also secure the loop with a hollow rivet at this point.

  36. Step

    Attach the bamboo handle

    Place the handle in the loop, fold the loop over the handle and now attach the loop with 2 hollow rivets.
    I attached the rivets with the Vario tool from Prym.

  37. Step

    Closing the turning gap

    Oops, I almost forgot to close the turning gap. Fold the seam allowance 1 cm to the inside and edgestitch the seam closed with the machine, or sew the opening closed by hand with a ladder stitch.

    Reading tip: Sewing a ladder stitch

    Your cool upcycled bag with bamboo handle and lace doily is finished. A real eye-catcher!

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About the author

Petra

I'm a designer, illustrator, upcycling expert and lecturer who specialises in breathing new life into old materials. I support sewing enthusiasts with their upcycling projects by encouraging them and offering creative design suggestions.

I love repurposing things and turning them into new favourite pieces – whether fashion, jewellery or decoration.