Sewing a cosmetic bag with a diagonal zipper: With this tutorial and the free pattern, even beginners can successfully make this bag with a slanted zipper.
At a Glance
- In this post, I will show you how to sew a cosmetic bag with a diagonal zipper
- You will learn which fabrics are suitable and which fusible interfacing you can use
- The bag is sewn using a turned-seam technique, meaning there are no visible seams on the inside
- You can download the free pattern in 2 sizes here on the blog
- The DELIS pattern for the cosmetic bag is designed for woven fabrics
- Sewing level: intermediate
- Sewing time: 1 afternoon
The highlight of this bag: The diagonal zipper, which runs across the top edge of the bag toward the other side. This looks incredibly cool and is also useful: the wide opening of the zipper gives you a great overview of the bag's contents.
I sewed one of the bags using Birgit's improv quilting technique and think it is stunning. You can find a detailed tutorial here: Free Cutting – Patchwork tutorial for improv quilting
If you like, you can also use our patchwork techniques to sew the bag. This way, you don't just use up your fabric scraps – you even elevate them! 🙂 And if you wish, browse through our sewing tutorials to find another suitable project and sew your way to happiness.
YouTube Video Sewing a cosmetic bag with a diagonal zipper
How difficult is it to sew the DELIS cosmetic bag?
Not quite sure if your sewing superpowers are enough for this bag? Don't panic. The only part that is a bit fiddly is sewing the side seams. But so you can see how it works, I have explained everything step-by-step in the picture tutorial and the video.
Very important: The pattern pieces for the bag are not cut in reverse (i.e., mirrored)!
READING TIP: Sewing bags: My top 25 tips (by the way, we also have a worth-listening podcast on the topic of bags!)
What do I need to know as a beginner before I start?
It is best to buy a sturdy, non-stretch cotton fabric and a medium-weight fleece, such as Vlieseline H630. Wash and iron your fabric and gather your sewing supplies. You will need a size 80 universal needle and a continuous zipper.
If you haven't worked with sturdy fabrics (woven fabrics) yet, you should take a look at my blog post on sewing with cotton fabric. It covers everything you need to know about working with woven fabrics.
What does my sewing machine need to be able to do to sew a cosmetic bag with a diagonal zipper?
A completely normal household sewing machine is absolutely sufficient for this project. It should be able to sew forwards and backwards. This is important for locking the seams.
You can use your walking foot to topstitch the seams onto the foam interfacing. And a zipper foot is very suitable for sewing in the zipper.
Reading tip: Sewing machine feet and their uses
Which stitches are suitable for sewing bags?
Because we reinforce the back of all the fabrics used for this bag, the raw edges are protected from fraying. They do not need to be finished. This means you only really need to use a straight stitch.
For the stitch length, you can experiment to see what looks best. I use a stitch length of 2.5 mm for "normal" construction seams. For topstitching, I increase the stitch length to 3.5 – 4 mm, because it gives the seam a nice, uniform look.
A longer straight stitch is also perfect for topstitching Style-Vil.
Which needle is suitable for this bag project?
For woven fabric, a size 80 or 90 universal needle is particularly suitable. You should sew a test seam beforehand to see if the needle creates beautiful stitches. Otherwise, insert a new needle before you start sewing.
For the topstitching, you can also use a topstitch needle; it creates particularly even topstitching.
If you want to use heavy canvas, I recommend a size 110 denim needle. If you have a denim foot* for your sewing machine, you should use it. It makes working with thick fabrics much easier. I bought such a denim foot for my Bernina 770 QE and I am really thrilled because it ensures such great fabric feed.
Reading tip: Everything about sewing machine needles
Which sewing feet to use for sewing a zippered bag?
For this sewing project, you need a zigzag or straight stitch foot. If you also want to sew a zipper panel into your bag, you will need a zipper foot. For the version with piping, I recommend using a piping foot. Read more about sewing piping here.
READING TIP: If you would like a little bit of tutoring regarding sewing feet, you are in the right place in my blog post Sewing machine feet and their uses. 🙂
Which fabrics can be used to sew the zippered bag?
The DELIS cosmetic bag is perfect for simple, not-too-thick woven fabrics. Poplin, flag cloth, linen, patchwork fabrics – they are all great to sew and very well suited for this project.
Where can I find the fabrics used?
All the fabrics I used to sew my bags can be ordered directly from Simone*. Here are a few examples of great fabrics that are well-suited for the bag.
How do I pre-treat the fabric?
To ensure the bag doesn't shrink during the first wash and the colors don't bleed, you should wash the fabric before sewing and iron it thoroughly afterward. If your fabric is very soft, you can also stabilize it with a little spray starch, which makes it easier to work with.
Reading tip: Wash fabrics before sewing?
DELIS bag fabric requirements
You can sew the bag with the diagonal zipper from many different fabric scraps. Or you can sew it inside and out using just one fabric color. The special shape of the bag comes across particularly well if you use two contrasting outer fabric cuts.
With a fabric width of 140 cm, you need
Small version – 1 outer fabric
- 30 x 45 cm outer fabric
- 30 x 45 cm lining fabric
- 30 x 90 cm Vlieseline H630
- 28 cm continuous zipper
Small version – 2 outer fabrics
- 30 x 23 cm outer fabric 1
- 30 x 23 cm outer fabric 2
- 30 x 45 cm lining fabric
- 30 x 90 cm Vlieseline H630
- 28 cm continuous zipper
Large version – 1 outer fabric
- 40 x 65 cm outer fabric
- 40 x 65 cm lining fabric
- 40 x 65 cm Vlieseline H640
- 43 cm continuous zipper
Large version – 2 outer fabrics
- 40 x 33 cm outer fabric 1
- 40 x 33 cm outer fabric 2
- 40 x 65 cm lining fabric
- 40 x 65 cm Vlieseline H640
- 43 cm continuous zipper
How big is the DELIS bag?
The cosmetic bag with a diagonal zipper has the following dimensions
Small version:
- Height: approx. 14 cm
- Width: approx. 20 cm
- Depth (measured at the base): approx. 9 cm
Large version:
- Height: 21 cm
- Width: 30 cm
- Depth (measured at the base): approx. 12 cm
To make the bags smaller or larger, you can also print the pattern at a smaller or larger percentage.
DELIS cosmetic bag free pattern
You can download the pattern for the original zipper bag for free in our freebook section.
Sharing the pattern is prohibited, as is commercial use.
Print the pattern at 100% without page scaling. The printer should be set to "Print document and all markups" so that the labels are also transferred to the pattern.
A seam allowance of 1 cm is already included in the pattern.
How can I get the free pattern?
Would you like to sew the bag with a diagonal zipper? Great! To access this and many other exclusive freebooks and free patterns, it is best to proceed as follows:
- Sign up for the SewSimple newsletter
- Click the newsletter sign-up in the confirmation email: Yes, I want...
- After receiving the SewSimple welcome email, you are officially a subscriber
- Create a customer account with the same email address*
- Log in
- Click the download link or go to the pattern via the freebook section of your customer account.
It may also help to clear cookies and cache, use a different browser or incognito mode, or use a different device. It often works on a PC or laptop if it doesn't work on your mobile phone.
It is also always a good idea to check if your browser is up to date or if your browser settings are preventing a download. :)
- Please understand that I cannot send the pattern by email. Unfortunately, I cannot answer requests for this. It is all the more important that you follow the instructions above for downloading correctly.
- For questions about your customer account, definitely take a look at the FAQs!
- If the freebook section is not displayed on mobile, it helps to open the page on a PC. However, you can also swipe left in the mobile view to see the download link. 🙂
- If you have received the newsletter before but forgot to confirm your subscription (this can happen for technical reasons), it helps to unsubscribe using the "Unsubscribe link" at the bottom of the newsletter, sign up again, and then confirm your subscription.
Comments
Comments are loading …