Sew a bag with Turkish corners: Here are instructions and a free pattern for sewing your own beautiful cosmetic bag with cleverly folded corners!
The most important things at a glance
- With these instructions, you can sew a stunning zippered bag using the SewSimple AZRA pattern
- You can download the pattern for the bag with Turkish corners for free in this post
- In this post, you will also learn everything about materials and variations
- Sewing level: Intermediate
- Sewing time: 1 afternoon
For many people, a cosmetic bag is an essential everyday companion. Whether as a toiletry bag in your luggage or a practical storage spot for makeup and other beauty supplies at home – cosmetic bags make it easier to store and carry lipsticks, blush, and more.
And not just for practical reasons: They are also a gorgeous accessory to highlight your personal style. But zippered bags in various sizes are also a hit for storing handicraft supplies, as handbag organizers, and much more. So what could be better than simply sewing these fabric companions yourself? In this tutorial, I will show you a particularly beautiful version.
This wonderful zippered bag is a joy to sew. Once you have figured out how to sew the Turkish corners, you will never want to make other bag corners again.
To ensure you can reinterpret the bag over and over and even create it from the smallest fabric scraps (keyword: sustainable sewing!), we have designed the pattern template with classic segments. Classic here means: The golden ratio. Since antiquity, the golden ratio has served architects and artists in determining the proportions of buildings, paintings, and much more.
So why not make a cosmetic bag with segments based on the golden ratio? We have laid out the sections so that the bag looks balanced and harmonious, no matter where you divide the pattern.
But of course, the bag with the folded corners is also eye-catching if you sew it from a single fabric or from fabric scraps joined together using the quilt-as-you-go method. AZRA also looks great in dry oilskin, for example—take a look:

YouTube video: Sewing a bag with Turkish corners
What do I need to sew the bag?
Basically, you need all the materials you should have on hand for other bag projects:
- Ruler*
- Marking pen*
- Sewing thread*
- Measuring tape*
- Pins*
- Fabric scissors*
- Thread scissors*
- Iron* and ironing mat
- Fabric clips*
- Fabric marker*
Where can I get the SewSimple pattern for AZRA?
And of course, you need the SewSimple pattern for the AZRA bag 🙂
How does the free pattern work?
Important: This pattern is exclusive to newsletter subscribers.
Would you like to sew it? Here's how:
1. Sign up for the SewSimple newsletter
2. Confirm your registration by clicking the link in the confirmation email
3. Create a customer account using the same email address (top right)
4. Log in to your customer account
5. Click on Download or go to the pattern via the "Freebook" area of your account.
Now you can print it out on your home printer. Use the printer setting "100% without page scaling."
If your browser settings block downloads, check your settings. Try again with a different browser or device if necessary. That usually works. :)
Please understand that we cannot send the pattern by email or as a printed copy by mail. We cannot process such requests. Thank you. 🙂
Which fabrics are suitable for sewing the bag?
You can sew this zippered bag out of any sturdy fabric you like. Is the fabric a bit thin? Interface it and use it anyway! There are no limits to your imagination here. By the way, the option of using your beloved fabric scraps for this bag is also wonderful. A mix of different materials, textures, patterns, and colors is ALWAYS a head-turner.
The bag has segments that you can use however you like. If possible, you should use similar fabric thicknesses and qualities for the different segments. This stabilizes the shape of the bag.
Let's take a look at what other fabrics are suitable and what you should watch out for when working with them.

| Fabric type | Info | Good to know | Tips & hints | Source |
| Canvas | – Woven from strong yarns – Doesn't necessarily need to be reinforced with interfacing |
– Makes the bag a bit firmer and heavier; it holds its shape better – Seam intersections and multiple layers of fabric are slightly harder to sew for sewing machines and beginners |
– Heavy-duty fabric scissors are very useful for working with this – Jeans needle or size 90–105 universal needle |
Order canvas* |
| Cotton Poplin | – Sturdy weave - Produced from fine yarns – "All-rounder" – Suitable for bag projects |
– Poplin should be reinforced for this project (Vlieseline H200, H250, Decovil light, or bag interfacing) | – 70–80 universal needle | Order poplin* |
| Cotton Batiste | – Fine and firm fabric that doesn't wrinkle easily | – Back of the fabric should be reinforced, otherwise the bag will be too thin and won't maintain the desired shape | – 70–90 universal needle | Order cotton batiste* |
| Coated Cotton | - Water-repellent, - Wipeable, - Robust |
– Ironing is not possible due to the coating. – Sticks to the sewing foot |
– 70–90 universal needle - Does not need to be reinforced |
Order coated cotton fabrics* |
| Linen/Linen-blend | – Made from natural flax fiber - Looks sophisticated – More robust than cotton |
– Fabric edges fray easily – Fabric tends to warp |
– Reinforcing with interfacing reduces fraying and prevents warping – 70–90 universal needle |
Order linen* |
| Denim | – Firm, strong, and robust | – Multiple layers of denim are harder to sew | – Use strong scissors – Jeans needle or 90–100 universal needle – Denim thread for topstitching is advantageous – Does not necessarily need to be reinforced |
Order denim fabrics* |
| Fine Corduroy | – Velvet-like ridges and surface – Robust fabric |
– Observe the nap (parallel to the selvage) when cutting: The nap must feel rough downwards | – 80–90 universal needle | Order corduroy* |
Can you sew the bag from faux leather or cork fabric?
If you want to sew the bag from firm materials like vinyl, faux leather, SnapPap, or cork, you should keep in mind that the partition seams and folded corners can become very bulky.
The more layers of fabric that come together in such a bag, the more carefully you should choose your materials. I recommend sticking to woven fabrics so that the corners really look the way they are supposed to.
Which interfacings are suitable for the bag?
If you use a strong bag canvas or faux leather, the outer fabric does not need to be reinforced. Patchwork fabrics or rather thin cotton woven fabrics should be reinforced beforehand. Vlieseline H250 and Vlieseline S320 are good options for reinforcement.*
When using thin fabrics, you should reinforce both the outer fabric and the lining. This prevents the fabric edges from stretching, for example, when sewing in the zipper.
A nice alternative is this slightly thinner, firm adhesive fleece.* It can be stuck directly onto the fabric and sewn. The intermediate step of ironing is then skipped.
If you want the brand-name fleece: Pellon Fusible Fleece.* The classic from the USA. Not always easy to get here, but worth every cent. It is ironed on, giving the bag structure and just a little bit of volume.
How big is the bag with Turkish corners?
The free pattern includes two bag sizes.
- The finished small bag measures (D/H/W) 7.5 x 15 x 19.5 cm
- The finished large bag measures (D/H/W) 12 x 22 x 29 cm
Conclusion: A bag with a happiness factor of 10
I had so much fun making this bag again! Not only do I love the panels phenomenally well – the magical Turkish corners also give the bag a great structure, completely without the boxy look of classic sewn-in corners. A real highlight, I think.
By the way, the bag also looks fabulous when sewn from a single fabric. To do this, simply use the undivided pattern for both the lining and the outer side.
I couldn't stop sewing AZRAs. And while doing so, I imagined how happy my girls will be when they receive the bags as gifts. Maybe I'll fill them with a few little things...
Do you feel like sewing such a magical cosmetic bag with Turkish corners now, too? Then download the pattern and get started. Of course, I'd also be happy if you tell me in the comments how the sewing went. :) I hope you have a lot of fun creating.
Happy simple sewing
Yours, Sabine

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