Sew a wet bag: Sew a practical wet bag yourself in a flash!

Sew a wet bag: You'll want to have this cool bag with you everywhere from now on, want to bet? Here is the beginner-friendly sewing tutorial for the legendary stuff sack!

The most important things at a glance

• You can use a wet bag for anything that needs to be transported while wet, dirty, or organized
• That's why the wet bag is great as a swim bag, beach bag, or for traveling
• You can sew wet bags and stuff sacks out of any sturdy fabric
• Coated fabrics are particularly well-suited for wet bags
• For stuff sacks, you can use regular cotton woven fabric
• Sewing level: Beginner
• Sewing time: 1 hour

The wonderful and creative Eve shows the beautiful things she sews and photographs on her website and on Instagram. But that's not all: she is also the inventor of the legendary stuff sack! With Eve's instructions for the stuff sack, we want to sew a practical wet bag today.

And specifically, out of a coated cotton fabric. A wet bag made of wipeable fabric is perfect for the beach, the swimming pool, the gym, kindergarten, for cloth diapers, and much more.

I am very pleased that I was able to get Eve to write a tutorial for SewSimple, so that you too can discover the magic of stuff sacks and wet bags for yourself from now on. ;)

Maybe you've just started sewing, have booked my online sewing course (click here for the SewSimple sewing license), and are now looking for a suitable project? Congratulations, you've found it!

Let's get started and sew a versatile wet bag. Let's go!

What is a stuff sack?

Stuff sacks provide order and space in any bag and have their roots in the outdoor sector. Because of their closure method, you can compress clothing and store it in your travel bag to save space. At the same time, the click buckle serves as a handle to carry your stuff sack comfortably.

So the closure is also a handle. How cool is that? ;)

Of course, these practical yet very simple stuff sacks can also be colorful if every gram doesn't count. In larger sizes, they even have their own place at my house for storing pillows or winter clothes. A small stuff sack made of coated cotton is a good storage solution for fruit. Their functionality is so extensive that there are no limits to your imagination.

What is a wet bag?

A wet bag is a bag in which wet or dirty clothing items can be stored hygienically. The special feature is that the inside of the wet bag is sewn with coated fabrics. This allows it to dry quickly and makes it easy to wipe down.

I like to sew such great wet bags as laundry bags for longer trips. This way, I can store everything perfectly. Of course, you can also use a wet bag perfectly as a diaper bag.

As you can see: The difference between a wet bag and a stuff sack lies actually only in the choice of fabric. If you choose a coated fabric, you can also easily pack wet "contents" inside.

Which fabric is suitable for sewing a stuff sack or wet bag?

It is best to sew the wet bag out of sturdy fabrics. Coated cotton, for example, is very easy to work with and practically indestructible. Furthermore, you can not only wipe it down quickly, but you can also wash it in the washing machine.

If you don't want to sew a wet bag but a completely normal stuff sack, simple cotton woven fabric is also sufficient.

Here are my fabric recommendations for you:

• Coated cotton^* or PUL fabrics
• Cotton poplin^*
• Linen or linen blend^*
• Canvas^* (for really strong, robust stuff sacks, e.g., for camping)
• thin faux leather^*
• Denim scraps

What is PUL fabric?

PUL fabrics are simultaneously thin, robust, and water-repellent. They usually consist of approx. 80% cotton and 20% of a thin, water-resistant, and breathable polyurethane coating.

PUL fabrics are ideal for wet bags, changing mats, diaper bags, seat covers, rain pants, diaper covers, and much more.

Due to the PUL coating, the fabric does not fray. This makes it an ideal material for sewing beginners.

What is oilcloth?

Oilcloth is a generic term for coated fabrics that are robust and washable. The properties of oilcloth depend on the composition of the layers. The base is usually a cotton, flax, or jute fabric that has been finished with a coating.

• PUR/PUL coating: you can recognize this by the fact that the fabric is still soft and flexible and the surface has a matte shimmer; the fabric structure is still recognizable through the coating
• PVC coating: you can recognize this by the fact that the fabric feels somewhat hard. The surface is shiny and smooth, the structure of the fabric is sealed by the coating
• Teflon or acrylic coating: here the fabric is somewhat firmer, but remains easy to work with

You can order oilcloth here^*.

How do I sew PUL fabrics?

PUL fabrics are very easy to work with on a sewing machine. A universal needle with a size of 70 to 80 is ideal. Since the fabric does not fray due to the coating, you can usually forgo finishing the seam allowances.

A medium stitch length of 2.5 mm for straight stitches is ideal. For topstitching, you should use a stitch length of 3–3.5 mm. This ensures an even, professional stitch pattern.

How is the best way to sew oilcloth?

Oilcloth is also easy to work with on a sewing machine. For PUL-based oilcloth, you can use a universal needle with a size of 70 to 80. Thicker oilcloth should be processed with a size 90 universal needle. When choosing the stitch, make sure not to select a stitch length that is too short: The fabric is perforated at the seams and can tear over time. A stitch length of 2.5 to 3 mm is ideal.

How do I sew coated cotton?

Coated cotton is absolutely uncomplicated to work with. It can be cut with both scissors and a rotary cutter and sewn with any stitch on the sewing machine. A universal needle or a Microtex needle with a size of 70 to 80 are best suited for coated cotton.

Can beginners also sew a wet bag?

The wet bag (and also the stuff sack, of course!) is a perfect beginner project because you only have to sew straight lines (and a bit of zigzag). Furthermore, sturdy fabrics are easy to work with. This is especially important for beginners.

It is best to watch the sewing video for the wet bag before you start sewing. This is a tip that, in my experience, helps to understand the work steps step-by-step. And once you have understood it, it is much easier to implement in practice, I promise. :)

What do I need to sew a wet bag?

First and foremost, fabric. You need an outer and an inner fabric. I recommend using non-stretchy fabrics like cotton, coated cotton, canvas, thin faux leather, etc. How you combine these is entirely up to you and the type of use for which you want them.

Furthermore, you need:

• Webbing 2 cm wide^*
• Side-release buckle 2 cm wide^*
• matching sewing thread^*
• Pins^* or fabric clips^*
• Fabric scissors^*
• Thread snips^*
• Sewing machine
• Bodkin for the webbing^*

If your strap should be wider, simply adjust the width of the side-release buckle. And sew the drawstring wider as well. Our drawstring is wide enough for webbing 2 cm wide.

One more word on the bodkin: I use the threading tool from Clover^* and am very satisfied with it. The larger of the two needles can also hold wide ribbons (the end of the ribbon is clamped as if with tweezers and then fixed with the small ring). By the way, also great for hoodies and drawstrings of all kinds.

Which webbing to use to sew a wet bag?

It is best to use webbing made of cotton if you can find one. It is just as durable as one made of plastic but much better for the environment. The less we burden our planet with plastic & Co, the better, right?

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find 2 cm wide cotton webbing. But I'm not giving up on the search.

By the way: A good possibility is also to sew a sturdy strap yourself. Simply reinforce a roughly 8 cm wide fabric strip of poplin with Vlieseline H250, fold it inward twice, and topstitch it. :)

Are you interested in the topic of sustainable sewing? Behind the link, you will find many instructions for sustainable sewing ideas. Feel free to click through them. :)

How big is my finished wet bag?

Standard: approx. 22 x 40 x 8 cm

I use the size to pack my children's underwear, or also their swimsuits. This size is a real all-rounder. Of course, you can also feel free to experiment here.

Tip: The aspect ratio should always be approx. 2:3 in portrait format. And really large sacks should be reinforced with Decovil light. This makes packing easier. Furthermore, you should use thicker webbing and a matching side-release buckle.

How much fabric do I need to sew a wet bag?

For the standard stuff sack, you need the following fabric quantities:

• Outer fabric: 70 x 60 cm
• Inner fabric: 70 x 50 cm
• Webbing approx. 60 x 2 cm + matching side-release buckle

All information includes seam allowances of 0.8 cm (sewing foot width) plus some “wiggle room”

My tip: If you have 70 cm cut off the bolt, you will get two stuff sacks out of it, since most bolts run at 140 - 150 cm.

Wet bag pattern free

Maybe you don't need a pattern for the wet bag at all because you cut your pattern pieces quickly with a ruler. I have to confess to you: I myself prefer to cut with a pattern. Therefore (and because I love the instructions for the wet bags so much), we have created a free PDF pattern for our wet bag.

If you would like to use the pattern commercially, you can download the license for it in my shop.

Download wet bag pattern

What does my sewing machine need to be able to do to sew a wet bag?

You need the straight stitch and the zigzag stitch. Use a universal needle. I prefer a size 70. If you use coated fabrics or faux leather, an even feed foot (walking foot) could be helpful. Maybe your machine is already equipped with it. One example is the IDT system from Pfaff.

Read my tips here on sewing thick fabrics and on sewing with the even feed foot.

Let's go!

YouTube video sew a wet bag

How many wet bags do you need?

Even if the wet bag is wipeable, it should go into the washing machine more often, depending on the intended use. If you sew the wet bag with coated fabrics inside and out, it dries quickly.

I recommend that you sew at least 2 wet bags so that you always have one in reserve while the other is hanging on the clothesline.

How often do you have to wash the wet bag?

If the wet bag is used as a swim bag, it should be washed at least after every second or third use. If it is used as a diaper bag, I recommend washing it briefly after every use.

If the wet bag is used for transporting fruit or vegetables, you should wipe it down with a damp cloth after each use.

Conclusion: Easier than you think!

Such a wet bag is conjured up ultra fast and is really fun. The most difficult part (I found) was once again the choice of fabric. I could have searched for combinations endlessly if I hadn't been so keen on sewing! Sewing a wet bag is really fun. :)

Eve's dry bag tutorial is truly fantastic for a quick sewing project in between tasks. The fact that it also creates something highly practical is almost secondary.
Well, not quite. I now use the dry bag in all sorts of sizes to keep things tidy around the house and in the car. Anything that shouldn't be flying around (like self-sewn XXL muslin scarves) disappears securely packed into the dry bag.

Happy simple sewing,

your Sabine

Frequently Asked Questions