Estimated reading time: 8 min

Sewing a zippered pouch with a divider: Tutorial for "Dae" cosmetic bag

03.04.2021 by Sabine Schmidt

Reißverschlusstasche mit Teilung nähen: Anleitung für Kosmetiktasche "Dae"

Sewing a zippered pouch with a seam: With my instructions, it's absolutely easy even for beginners! You can download the free pattern directly here in the post and get started.

The most important things at a glance

Cosmetic bag Dae is a quick zippered pouch that you can easily sew with or without a seam
This offers you countless combination possibilities
However, you can also sew the zippered pouch completely without a seam
Sew using cotton woven fabric, linen, corduroy, denim, faux leather, or bag fabrics
The bag is suitable as a cosmetic bag, makeup pouch, clutch, or stylish pencil case
✂️ Level: easy
⏰ Sewing time: 1 afternoon

The good thing about simple patterns? That the fabric then takes center stage! Cosmetic bag Dae is a medium-sized zippered pouch with gorgeous curves. The highlight: the small darts give it shape and create space for 1001 little things. With this pouch, you can try out what you learned in the blog post binding and sewing in a zipper.

By the way: You can also sew bag Dae as a cute children's bag with our free add-on.

Where can I download the free pattern?

You can get the free pattern here:

How big is the finished cosmetic bag Dae?

Dae Mini: 12 x 23 cm

➡ Perfect as a pencil case, mobile phone case with space for cables and headphones, sewing accessories

Dae Midi: 16 x 23 cm

➡ Perfect as a makeup bag, handbag organizer

Dae Maxi: 19.5 x 28.5 cm

➡ Perfect as a wash bag or elegant pouch

What skills do I need to sew the zippered pouch?

This bag requires a few sewing skills, which even beginners can master very easily.

If you need more guidance on certain steps, you can check out my detailed tutorials for them:

Which fabrics are suitable for the zippered pouch?

The cosmetic bag is sewn from woven fabric: canvas, linen, cotton poplin, and many other firm fabrics are excellently suited for sewing Dae:

Cotton woven fabric^*
Chambray^*
Linen fabrics^*
Bag fabrics, e.g., the quilted bag fabrics^* from Swafing
Faux leather^*
Coated cotton^*
Oilskin^*

For lining, I used a simple, durable cotton cretonne in a batik look^*. This is an inexpensive, versatile fabric that can be used for many other sewing ideas. Plus, it looks good enough to eat, I think.

My Dala horse fabric comes from my personal favorite Etsy shop^*. It's called Nähcafé am Wasserturm. Simone from Nienburg an der Weser has an incredibly great eye for fabrics. She packs everything she ships lovingly by hand. I often find special fabric treasures there that are otherwise hard to find on the German market. So, a real insider tip that is worth saving, I think.

You can get all the info on sewing cotton fabric in my separate blog post on this topic.

What accessories do I need to sew the bag with a seam?

Bag pattern piece 1: 2 x outer fabric, reinforced with Vlieseline H630^*
Bag pattern piece 2: 2 x outer fabric, reinforced with Vlieseline H630^*
2 x lining fabric, possibly reinforced with Vlieseline H250^*
a piece of continuous zipper^* with zipper pull, trimmed 3 cm shorter than the upper bag edge
10 cm bias tape for binding the zipper
possibly 5 cm webbing^*, 2 - 3 cm wide
possibly mushroom^* or decoration to sew on
possibly velvet ribbon as a zipper pull extension
color-matched sewing thread^*
Fabric scissors^*
Thread scissors^*
Patchwork ruler^*
Rotary cutter (do you know my review of rotary cutters?)^*
Ironing ruler^*
Iron^*
Ironing board^*
Heat-resistant pins^*
possibly edge stitching foot (definitely check out my blog post about sewing feet!)^*
Fabric marker^*

How do I sew a zippered pouch with a seam as a beginner?

Between us: Very easily!

First, the lining is cut out for this bag, using the complete pattern. Then the pattern is divided along the line and used for the outer side.

A seam allowance is added to the dividing line on both the upper and lower part of the outer side. I used 1 cm.

Then both parts are joined along this line. The pattern piece is complete!

By the way, you can make it a little easier on yourself by using the complete pattern for the outer side as well. Then the bag is only made of one fabric on the outside, which, by the way, also looks amazing:

You can easily make such a cute applique yourself: just choose a nice motif, iron it onto a firm interfacing, and sew it on with a short, wide zigzag stitch (known as a satin stitch). Really makes an impression, right?

You can get the cat fabric^* at Hemmers.

YouTube video: Sewing a cosmetic bag

I hope you enjoy this free pattern. Hopefully, you love it as much as I do! Let me know how you like cosmetic bag Dae. And if you like, feel free to share the link to the post with your sewing friends. :)

Happy simple sewing, your Sabine

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to sew a zippered pouch with a seam?

You only need some cotton woven fabric, interfacing, and your basic sewing accessories.

Can I also sew the zippered pouch without a seam?

Of course! Simply use the complete pattern for it.

How long does it take to sew the zippered pouch with a seam?

Beginners sew this bag in 1-2 hours; experienced sewing fans sew it in under 1 hour.

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.

Sew a zipper pouch with a divided front

This pretty pouch is sewn in no time. The corners look especially nice because the zipper ends are neatly enclosed. This makes the corners easy to shape.

Step

Step 1: Prepare the zipper

We start with the zipper. Thread the zipper pull onto the zipper and bind the ends with a piece of bias binding.
You can look at the detailed instructions again in the blog post Binding zipper ends for a closer look.
In this tutorial, instead of bias binding I simply use a 5 cm wide strip of fabric folded in twice.
Step

Step 2: Cut the pattern pieces

Use the complete pattern piece to cut the lining. If you like, you can also reinforce the lining fabric with Vlieseline H250 beforehand. That way the fabric cannot distort and is easier to work with.
Then divide the sewing pattern along the horizontal line. Use it to cut the pattern pieces for the outside. You need two pattern pieces each from the upper and the lower pattern section.
Reinforce the fabric with Vlieseline H630 before cutting. Add a seam allowance of 0.75 to 1 cm at the cutting edge, depending on how wide the seam allowance on your sewing machine is set.
Mark the centre of the top edge on all pattern pieces and on the zipper.
Step

Step 3: Prepare the outside

Pin one upper and one lower outer fabric pattern piece right sides together, edges aligned, along the horizontal dividing line.
If you like, you can also catch a piece of webbing in this seam as decoration.
Sew the pattern pieces together with the added seam allowance. Press the seam allowance towards the bag opening and topstitch it in place from the right side of the fabric with a longer straight stitch.
Sew the second outer piece the same way.
Step

Step 4: Sew the darts

Fold the darts of all 4 pattern pieces right sides together so that the fabric edges are aligned. Sew the darts with a seam allowance of 0.5 cm.

My tip

Remember to lock the seam at the beginning and end by sewing forwards and backwards. When the bag is full, the seam will be under some tension — locking the stitches stops the seams from tearing.
Step

Step 5: Sew in the zipper

Pin the zipper right sides together, edges aligned, to the first outer piece. Pin the first lining piece right side to wrong side onto the zipper. Make sure the centre markings of all three pieces meet.
Sew on the zipper with a zipper foot and a seam allowance of 1 cm.
Fold both fabric pieces away from the zipper. Pin the free side of the zipper right sides together to the second outer piece. Pin the second lining piece right side to wrong side to the zipper and sew it on.
Press the fabric pieces away from the zipper and topstitch the zipper from bias binding to bias binding.

My tip

When you reach the zipper pull, leave the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot, turn the fabric and pull the zipper pull past the presser foot. Then you can line the presser foot up with the fabric edge again and keep sewing.
Step

Step 6: Sew the bag together

Open the zipper halfway. Pin the lining and outer pieces right sides together, edges aligned. Mark a turning gap about 6 cm wide in the bottom of the lining.
When pinning, make sure all seams with their seam allowances pressed open lie exactly on top of each other.
Sew the pattern pieces together all the way around. This works well with the zipper foot, for example. But you can also use a regular zigzag foot.
Trim the seam allowances a little with pinking shears. Do not trim the seam allowance of the turning gap.
Step

Turn and close the turning gap

Turn the bag right side out through the turning gap and shape it well. Fold the seam allowances of the turning gap 1 cm to the inside and close the turning gap with edgestitching.
Press the bag, working the seams out neatly as you go.

My tip

Extra tip for shaping the corners: Corners can often be shaped much more neatly if you push them inwards first. The seams along the curves are easy to shape with the handle of a wooden spoon — more on this in the post Sewing curves.

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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.