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Sewing a bag with a butterfly: Patchwork the easy way!

14.04.2021 by Sabine Schmidt

Tasche mit Schmetterling nähen: Patchwork auf die leichte Art!

Sew a bag with a butterfly? Sounds complicated, but it's super easy to do, even for beginners! The pattern and instructions for the bag are available for free here in the post.

The most important points at a glance

  • You can easily sew the bag using scraps of cotton fabric; woven fabric is best
  • The instructions are perfect for patchwork beginners
  • You can download the pattern for the bag for free in the post
  • Includes a sewing video
  • Level: Beginner
  • Sewing time: approx. 40 - 60 minutes

Sew a little spring into your life! With my quick instructions for a beautiful bag with a butterfly, it's done in no time. The bag looks so light and airy, as if it would practically fly on its own, don't you think?

The idea for the butterfly bag comes from patchwork. It's a great way to work with small and tiny fabric cuts. Very often, fabric scraps are used for this. Perhaps you are already familiar with my posts on sewing with fabric scraps or sewing a bag from fabric scraps?

Then you know that I never throw anything away and that I conjure up the most amazing unique pieces from tiny scraps. :) To show you that you can do it too, I'll show you in this post how easily you can get started. The little bag is perfect as a first patchwork project. You can find everything you need to know about patchwork tools in a separate post.

This is great because it takes the fear out of the intricate nature of patchwork ideas. And makes you want to tackle other projects using fabric scraps.

Sew a bag with a butterfly

How can I sew a bag with a butterfly as a beginner?

There are many ways to conjure up a cute bag with a butterfly. You can simply iron Vliesofix or Heat'n'Bond onto the back of a fabric scrap, cut out the butterfly (or any other motif of your choice), iron it on, and topstitch along the edge with a tight zigzag stitch. It's quick and looks cute.

My method is a bit more sophisticated. It doesn't use traditional appliqué: the butterfly is made of two fabric triangles joined at the seam.

Where can I download the free pattern for the bag?

You can get the free pattern for the Dae bag here:

Which fabrics are suitable for sewing the bag with a butterfly?

Contrasting cotton fabrics are perfect for making the butterfly stand out nicely. For my bags, I used a very beautiful cotton fabric from Buttinette* in a vibrant gray. At Buttinette, you will find some particularly appealing gray, graphite, and stone tones that can be wonderfully combined with colorful fabrics.

For the butterfly, the zipper binding, and the zipper pull extension, I chose my favorite fabrics from Liberty. Unfortunately, you can't find them everywhere. I order my Liberty fabrics on Etsy*. By the way, the legendary Liberty fabrics are also wonderful as

What accessories do I need for the butterfly bag?

Sewing video for the cosmetic bag with butterfly

Sew a bag with a butterfly
Sew a bag with a butterfly

Feel free to leave me a comment letting me know how you liked these instructions! I would be very happy to hear from you. :)

Happy simple sewing, your Sabine

Sew a bag with a butterfly

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to sew a bag with a butterfly?

You need fabric for the bag, a zipper, and a small scrap of fabric for the patchwork butterfly.

Why is this patchwork bag a good beginner project?

Because it is very easy to sew and yet very effective and beautiful. This gives you confidence and makes you want to tackle more patchwork projects.

How long does it take to sew the butterfly bag?

You need about 45 - 60 minutes to sew the bag; beginners may need a little more time. :)

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

tasche-mit-schmetterling-naehen

Sew a bag with a butterfly

Zipper cosmetic bag with a patchwork butterfly: four front pieces with sewn-in corner triangles are combined into the butterfly front, then the zipper and lining are sewn in.

You'll find the basic tutorial for the bag in the post Sewing a zipper pouch with a divided front. There I show the process again in smaller steps. So if you're a beginner, you should follow that tutorial once the front of the bag is finished. And that's where we'll start.

But first we bind the zipper (with the slider threaded on) with bias binding or double-folded fabric strips. My binding strips are usually 5 - 6 cm wide.

If you still have some fabric left over after that, you can set it aside and sew a handy zipper pull extension from it at the end.

Let's get started with the cutting.

  1. Step

    Cut the lining and back

    Cut 2 lining pieces and the back.

    If you like, you can reinforce the lining with thin fusible interfacing before cutting. You can also reinforce the back with Vlieseline before cutting (fusible fleece for a nice feel).

    Cut the lining and back
  2. Step

    Divide the sewing pattern

    We then cut the front pattern piece using the divided sewing pattern. That's why the fabric should be reinforced and 2 - 3 cm larger than the template all the way around.

    Divide the sewing pattern of the Dae cosmetic bag horizontally along the dividing line and vertically down the middle.

    Divide the sewing pattern
  3. Step

    Cut the front pieces as mirror images

    Pin the pattern pieces onto the fabric. Add 1 centimetre of seam allowance to each of the two inner edges.

    Make sure you really cut the pieces as mirror images, otherwise they will not make a complete front piece.

    I cut the extra seam allowance for the divisions directly using a patchwork ruler.

    Cut the front pieces as mirror images
  4. Step

    Mark the corners for the wings

    Mark two corners at the tips of two opposite pattern pieces. The butterflies look most natural if the corners differ by 0.5 to 1 cm (e.g. 4.5 and 4 cm from the outer tip). For the maxi size, e.g. 5 and 6 cm.

    The marking lines go through the tip at exactly a right angle.

    Mark the corners for the wings
  5. Step

    Cut fabric scraps for the butterfly corners

    Cut a fabric scrap so that it covers the marked corner well. Add a seam allowance of 0.5 - 1 cm. If you feel more confident, you can also transfer the corner marking directly onto the fabric — this is the line you will sew along.

    Cut fabric scraps for the butterfly corners
  6. Step

    Press the fabric pieces over and trim

    Press the fabric over towards the tip.

    Trim the fabric back to the edge.

    Press the fabric pieces over and trim
  7. Step

    Sew the upper and lower pieces together

    Pin the two upper pieces and the two lower pieces on top of each other, edges aligned.

    Sew the pieces together with a seam allowance of 1 cm.

    Sew the upper and lower pieces together
  8. Step

    Press the seam allowances open

    Press the seam allowances open.

    Press the seam allowances open
  9. Step

    Join the upper and lower parts

    Place the upper and lower parts right sides together so that the seams, with their seam allowances pressed open, meet exactly.

    Sew the upper and lower parts together with a 1 cm seam allowance and press the seam allowances open.

    Join the upper and lower parts
  10. Step

    Sew on the antennae

    Draw the antennae with a fabric marker.

    Sew on the antennae with black sewing thread and a short straight stitch. Secure the seam at the ends of the antennae with a backstitch.

    Sew on the antennae
  11. Step

    Baste the zipper to the front piece and lining

    Pin the zipper centred, right sides together, to the front piece.

    Pin the lining with the right side of the fabric onto the wrong side of the zipper.

    Baste the zipper to the front piece and lining
  12. Step

    Sew in the zipper with the zipper foot

    Now sew in the zipper along the edge with the zipper foot.

    Fold the fabric pieces away from the zipper.

    Sew in the zipper with the zipper foot
  13. Step

    Sew on the second side of the zipper

    Sew the two bag pieces for the other side to the zipper in the same way.

    Press the fabric pieces away from the zipper, smoothing the seam allowances as you go.

    Sew on the second side of the zipper
  14. Step

    Topstitch the zipper edge

    Edgestitch the edge next to the zipper with a longer straight stitch.

    Topstitch the zipper edge
  15. Step

    Stitch the darts

    Sew the darts with a seam allowance of 0.5 cm.

    Stitch the darts
  16. Step

    Sew the bag and lining together

    Open the zipper halfway.

    Place the lining pieces right sides together, and the outer pieces the same way.

    Mark a turning gap of 6 - 7 cm in the bottom of the lining. Sew the bag pieces together all the way around with a seam allowance of 1 cm. Leave the turning gap open.

    Sew the bag and lining together
  17. Step

    Trim the seam allowances

    Trim the seam allowance a little with pinking shears so that the seams lie flatter after turning.

    Trim the seam allowances
  18. Step

    Turn and close the turning gap

    Turn the bag right side out through the turning gap, shape the seams and press everything.

    Fold the seam allowances of the turning gap to the inside and close it with an edgestitched seam.

    Turn and close the turning gap
  19. Step

    Optional zipper pull extension

    Do you have some fabric left over? Cut a 5 - 6 cm wide strip and fold the short sides 1/2 cm to the inside. Fold the long sides in twice. Topstitch the long sides with a longer straight stitch and use the strip to tie a necktie knot on the zipper pull.

    I also show you how to tie the necktie knot in detail in the tutorial Sewing a folded bag.

    Done! You did a great job! :)

    If you only have a small fabric scrap, you can also simply lay the pulled-through fabric strip flush on top of itself and join it with a straight stitch.

    And now make more of them!

    Optional zipper pull extension

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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.