Sew a carrying bag for a cake pan

Sew a cake tin carrier: With our tutorial, you can sew a beautiful cake bag yourself in no time – including a free formula sheet for download.

The most important things at a glance

• Easy sewing tutorial for cake bags in the most common sizes and shapes
• Dimensions as a freebie to download for newsletter subscribers
• Carrier for round cake tins, such as springform, bundt or tart tins aaaand loaf tins
• Material list & practical helpers
• Sewing tips for beginners 🧵
• Specifics when sewing with cotton & coated fabrics
• Avoid mistakes & sew with fun 😊
• Motivating conclusion – sewing makes you happy!
• Sewing level: easy
• Sewing time: 1 afternoon

Video Tutorial: Sew a cake tin carrier

🍰 Why sew a cake bag? Practical, pretty & individual

Do you know the feeling? You’ve baked a delicious cake 🎂 – but how do you transport it safely to a coffee party, work, or a picnic? A self-sewn cake bag is THE solution. Why?

• Safe & stable
• Beautiful & individual
• Sustainable & reusable

And the best part: Even as a beginner, you can easily do it! 💪

Which fabrics can I use to sew a cake bag?

Because of their stability and tear resistance, tightly woven cotton fabrics like poplin, patchwork fabrics, or even coated cotton fabrics are particularly well-suited for sewing a carrier for cake tins.
If you think your fabric is too thin, you can reinforce it with an iron-on interfacing.

We found our dreamlike fabrics at Simone’s at the Nähcafé am Wasserturm:

These non-elastic fabrics are very well-suited:

• Woven cotton^* 
• Linen fabrics/Linen-mix^*
• Denim fabrics (even used!)
• Canvas^*
• Decorative fabrics^*
• Coated cotton/Oilskin^*

Typical challenges when sewing with cotton fabrics

Cotton is one of the most popular types of fabric for sewing projects – especially for beginners. It is readily available, usually easy to work with, and feels pleasant. Nevertheless, there are a few pitfalls you should know about before you get started.

Pre-washing cotton fabrics – why it’s important

A common mistake: the fabric isn't pre-washed. Cotton can shrink by up to 5–10% during the first wash. If you sew the fabric directly, the finished bag could later be distorted or too small. Therefore, you should always wash and iron cotton fabrics before cutting – this ensures accuracy and a clean result.

Avoiding fraying – finishing fabric edges correctly

Cotton frays easily at the cut edges. Anyone who doesn’t finish these edges risks unstable seams and a shorter lifespan for the sewn piece. Even for projects without a lining, it is therefore recommended to secure the edges – either with a zigzag stitch, overlock, or bias tape – especially for high-stress seams like the handles of a carrier.

Adjusting the sewing machine – stitch length & needles

Many underestimate how important the correct machine settings are. A medium stitch length (approx. 2.5–3 mm) is ideal for cotton. Use a universal needle in size 80 or 90. Check beforehand on a scrap piece whether the thread tension and feed are working well – this will save you time and nerves later.

In short:

✅ Pre-wash & iron – prevents later shrinkage
✅ Clips instead of pins, especially for several layers
✅ Sewing needle 80/12 – perfect for cotton
✅ Sew slowly, especially at corners & curves
✅ Cut cleanly – a good pair of scissors makes the difference!

Reading tip: Sewing cotton fabric

Problems when sewing with coated cotton & oilcloth

Coated fabrics like oilcloth or laminated cotton are particularly practical for kitchen projects, as they are wipeable and water-repellent. However, they behave quite differently from regular cotton – and present many beginners with challenges.

The fabric sticks to the presser foot – what to do?

A typical problem: the fabric gets “stuck” on the presser foot or feeds haltingly through the machine. This is due to the coated surface. Here are some tricks that help:

• Use a Teflon presser foot or non-stick foot: These glide better over the surface.
• Parchment paper as a lubricant: A piece of parchment paper between the fabric and the presser foot helps if a special foot isn’t at hand. Simply sew over it and tear it off later.
• Washi Tape: A narrow strip of Washi Tape can help the fabric glide better under the presser foot. Simply stick the tape just next to the seam allowance; the presser foot doesn’t need to sit completely on the tape.
• Increase stitch length: A longer stitch length (e.g., 3.0–3.5 mm) reduces the risk of the needle damaging the surface or creating too many perforations.

Pins leave holes – what are the alternatives?

Unlike cotton, oilcloth doesn’t forgive needle holes – they remain permanently visible. Therefore, instead of pins, you should rather use:

• Fabric clips (Wonder Clips)
• Paper clips or hair clips as substitutes
• Double-sided tape for fabrics (solvent-free) to temporarily fix small sections

Sewing without slipping – but gently, please

Since oilcloth is less stretchy and hardly gives at all, precise cutting is especially important. The edges should fit exactly; otherwise, wrinkles will form while sewing. It is also recommended to sew slowly and avoid planning for tight curves – the fabric is difficult to shape.

In short:

✅ Clips instead of pins, especially for several layers
✅ Sewing needle size 80 Super Black Universal Needle or Microtex needle
✅ Sew slowly, especially at corners & curves
✅ Cut cleanly – a good pair of scissors makes the difference!

Reading tip: Sewing oilcloth

Cotton vs. coated cotton – summarized

You can sew a cake carrier using both woven cotton and oilcloth & Co.

Whether you work with cotton or coated fabric – with the right knowledge, your project will succeed even as a beginner. Cotton is ideal for starting out, while oilcloth or laminated fabrics represent a practical addition when it comes to wipeable, robust results.

If you take the above-mentioned tips into account, you can approach your sewing project with peace of mind – without any frustration. Take your time, feel free to try a few test stitches, and enjoy creating something practical with your own hands.

MEGA tip: Use coated fabrics on the inside and outside – then you can wipe the bag clean with a damp cloth, with or without detergent, at any time.

What dimensions should my fabric have for the cake bag?

You want to sew a cake carrier, but own a cake tin of a special size? Then you can easily calculate a perfectly fitting cake bag yourself using Petra’s magical formula sheet.

Download cake bag measurements

You can download the free formula sheet with examples for the cake bag (which, by the way, looks enchanting) here in PDF format as A4 and A0. The 1 cm seam allowance is already included.

We have stored the magic formula for calculating the size of your cake bag in a downloadable PDF. In it, you will find, in addition to the formula for round and square cake tins, examples with already calculated measurements.

Click here for the free measurement sheet for the cake bag:

To download our freebies, you should:

• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Confirm newsletter receipt (important!)
• Create a SewSimple customer account (top right)

For all questions about these topics, take a look at our FAQs for more info. 
Please understand that we cannot send our free downloads via email.
Unfortunately, we cannot answer such requests.

🧵 Materials for both cake bags (round & rectangular)

If you want to sew a cake carrier, you above all need a little time – and a favorite fabric. Preferably, of course, a wipeable or washable fabric that can be easily cleaned after use.

If you want to transport your cake chilled, you can also incorporate a layer of insulating batting like Thermolam^* or Insul Bright^*. Both are very easy to work with, insulate heat and cold, and give the transport bag additional stability. In this case, I would consider an additional 1-2 cm of seam allowance and plan the turning opening a bit larger.

Basic materials:

• Cotton fabric^* (e.g., Canvas^*, poplin, oilcloth)
• Fusible interfacing^* as needed (if your fabric is especially soft)
• matching sewing thread^*
• Webbing^* or cotton tape for handles
• Pins^* or Wonderclips^*
• Sewing machine with universal or microtex needle
• Measuring tape^* or ruler^*
• Marking pen^*
• Craft scissors^* and fabric scissors^*
• Optional: Seam ripper^*

Sewing a cake carrier is a super good idea. And it's soooo quick to make.
By the waaaay, a baking bag like this (or a set of cake bags) makes a fantastic gift for friends who love to bake.
And maybe not an entirely selfless idea either, if your friends then bring delicious homemade cake to your place in the bag when they visit, right? 😃

Optional: sew a small pocket for napkins or a cake server into or onto the bag.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

❌ Incorrect cutting: Always measure twice!
❌ Forgetting the turning opening or making it too small: Plan it out clearly.
❌ Distorted fabric layers: Secure well with clips or pins.
❌ Handles too short: It's better to cut them longer – you can always shorten them.

Conclusion: Sewing cake carriers is super easy & really fun!

As you can see: with a little patience, creativity, and the right fabric, you can conjure up 🧙‍♀️ your own personal cake carrier in no time – whether round or square.

Even if you're a beginner: Go for it! You'll see how much fun sewing can be. And how proud you'll be when you present your homemade cake in your self-sewn bag 🍓🍰. Between us: Petra couldn't stop baking because she loved showing her loved ones all her beautifully designed cake carriers. 😍 In any case, Petra and I agree:

👉 Show us your result! Share your cake carrier on social media or let us know in the comments how your personal carrying bag for cake tins turned out – we look forward to hearing from you!

Happy simple sewing, Petra & Sabine