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Sewing pattern: Sew a Portobella cosmetic bag | Freebie

20.08.2017 by Sabine Schmidt

Schnittmuster: Kosmetiktasche Portobella nähen | Freebie

After all the feedback and messages, the many likes and shared posts, I would like to give something back to you: Here is our new sewing pattern Portobella Cosmetic Bag as a freebie for you!

Freebie: "Portobella" Cosmetic Bag

It is and remains simply my favorite project: Sewing great cosmetic bags is so much fun! My new sewing pattern Portobella Cosmetic Bag is something very special:

  • it has a wide base that gives it a firm stand
  • the top-mounted zipper provides a large bag opening
  • the curved shapes bring out every bag fabric beautifully
  • the zipper also plays a major role in this bag shape - ideal for my favorite zippers made of metallized plastic (HERE have we a review about the great parts that unfortunately can only rarely be obtained; I will tell you how they work and where you can get them!)

By the way: The cute Portobella is the first project that I have sewn with my new Janome sewing machine*!

Read now everything about the unboxing and the first experiences with the new jewel: Here you will find our review of the Janome.

The sewing pattern Portobella Cosmetic Bag is by the way related to our popular Versailles Bag Organizer.

And it is still an event in itself. For this reason we also gave it this feminine, warm, Mediterranean-looking name.

It not only looks bite-sized, the ravishingly beautiful Portobella, it is also quickly sewn.

You have never had such a cosmetic bag, bet?

Crazy how everyone we have gifted it with is crazy about it! :)

However, for Portobella you should already have a little practice in handling bias tape and no fear of curves.

Then the bag is sewn in 2 - 3 hours.

By the way: Of course you can also easily make bias tape yourself.

You can use either a special bag fabric for the inside or outside. I have sewn the Moscow fabric from Swafing - I have already recommended it several times for different projects. It sews incredibly smoothly and always just looks bite-sized!

Small extra tip: If you still have some fabric, interfacing and bias tape left over, you can sew another little bag for eyeliner, lipstick & Co. with it. Our Freebie Delia is super good for that!

An alternative to fabric for this bag can also be a beautiful felt* be, which is elegantly framed with colorful bias tape! Then you can do without reinforcement - and even without a separate lining!

I have beforehand given the outer fabric a thematically matching fabric print:

Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

How you can easily print fabric yourself, I will of course explain to you too!

For our sewing pattern Portobella Cosmetic Bag you need the following materials

  • Cotton fabric for the outside (reinforced with H250 interfacing*)
  • Cotton fabric for the lining (reinforced with H630 interfacing*), alternatively you can also use a special bag fabric
  • approx. 2 meters of bias tape, 3 cm wide
  • 35 cm continuous zipper with zipper puller (we really love using these elegant metallized zippers*, which you can get at Simone - you can find my review about it here)
  • Sewing thread*
  • Anatomical tweezers* 
  • Rotary cutter*
  • Scissors*
  • Cutting mat (Because I am often asked which one I can recommend: The cutting mat from Snaply* I find very good - and for under 40 euros there is a large patchwork ruler and an Olfa rotary cutter included)

    • Free Portobella sewing patternSewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    Cosmetic bag Portobella in pink

    A little more colorful - with many stars and a small Japanese accent.

    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag
    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag
    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag
    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag
    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    Materials used for Portobella in pink

    Unfortunately I can no longer find the identical star print. Instead I find this fabric* beautiful! The narrow bias tape unfortunately did not work quite as well as the 3 cm wide one. I will use navy-white-dotted bias tape for the next Portobella.
    As lining fabric and for the base I used the Moscow bag fabric in blue. You might know it from our Red Rocks bag.

    Golden Impala Portobella

    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    Materials used for the Golden Impala Portobella

    Again here: The narrow polyester bias tape does not really work satisfactorily. It is best to really use a 3 centimeter wide cotton bias tape! For the next attempt I will take this petrol-colored*.

    Dresden Portobella

    Here comes a special variant of the Portobella - with a colorful Dresden appliqué! How it works, I have already shown you in this post: Sewing Dresden plates

    How it works? Simply apply the appliqué to the outer fabric, then place the sewing pattern on top, completely as you like, and cut out!

    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag
    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    The back of the Dresden Portobella.

    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    Materials used for the Dresden Portobella

    Of course I have gathered many colorful fabric scraps above all else! Wonderful! No matter what color combination: It simply looks great!

    Unbeatable with it: The understated linen fabric in anthracite melange.

    Moscow bag fabric is also present in the Dresden Portobella. This time in a gray that harmonizes perfectly with the linen fabric. A small color accent is set by the lilac-white striped bias tape.

    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag
    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag
    Sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag

    Are you also in love with our new sewing pattern Portobella cosmetic bag?

    Feel free to leave me a comment :)

    Also feel free to share this post with your sewing friends! <3

    Happy simple sewing,

    your Sabine

    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

    Sew the Portobella make-up bag

    Portobella cosmetic bag with a zipper and bias-bound edges. With a free pattern to download.

    1. Step

      Cutting: Portobella make-up bag pattern

      • 2 pattern pieces for the outside
      • 2 pattern pieces for the inside
      • 1 pattern piece for the outer bag base
      • 1 pattern piece for the inner bag base
      • Two 8 x 10 cm fabric pieces for the zipper tabs
    2. Step

      How to prepare the bag base:

      • Pin the two long fabric pieces for the bag base (they are at the bottom in the picture) right sides together along the short edges.
      • Sew the two short sides together with a straight stitch, a presser foot's width from the edge; backstitch at the start and end of the seam.
      How to prepare the bag base:
    3. Step
      • Turn right side out and press.
      • Stitch along the edge with a straight stitch (you can also use a decorative stitch!).
    4. Step

      How to prepare the side pieces

      • Place one outer piece and one lining piece wrong sides together.
      • Pin both together.
      • Stitch them together all the way around with a straight stitch approx. 3 mm from the edge. hr>
      How to prepare the side pieces
    5. Step
      • Now mark the centre on all pattern pieces with a fabric marker or a small snip with the scissors:
      • On the base piece along the long sides, on the side pieces at the centre of the top and bottom edges: hr>
    6. Step

      How to sew our Portobella make-up bag together

      • We start sewing together at the centre mark on the bottom edge (between the two curves).
      • Place the wrong side of the bag base on the wrong side of the side piece.
      • The marks should line up exactly.
      • Sew the base piece to the side piece with a straight stitch (sew slowly!) 3 mm from the edge. hr>
      How to sew our Portobella make-up bag together
    7. Step
      • Then turn the piece over: the bag base is now at the bottom.
      • Starting from the centre, now sew the second half of the bag base to the side piece.
      • As you do this, the bag base stands up.
      • Repeat this step for the other side. hr>
    8. Step

      This is how it should look now

      • From the outside: hr>
      This is how it should look now
    9. Step
      • ...and from the inside. It's important to catch the lining fabric as you sew together! hr>
    10. Step

      How to finish the bag with bias binding

      • Start at the top edge.
      • Place the bias binding right sides together on the bag base
      • Take the bias binding all the way around the side of the bag, sewing along the fold.
      • Because the bag has several layers and every bias binding behaves differently, I recommend trying it out on a short piece first to see whether the bias binding wraps nicely around the edge and covers the seam. hr>
      How to finish the bag with bias binding
    11. Step

      A little detour: anatomical tweezers

      I've already mentioned that I used to be a nurse, haven't I? My old anatomical tweezers date from that time, and they come into play in every sewing project. I use them to pluck threads out of fabric, hold continuous zippers while threading on the pull, pick lint out of the inside of my sewing machine, turn bags and shape corners and, most importantly, to sew on bias binding.

      The tweezers are available cheaply on Amazon. This is what they look like: img src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00ONY77VE&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=DE&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=sews-21" border="0">img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="https://ir-de.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sews-21&l=li3&o=3&a=B00ONY77VE" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0">

      Careful: don't order the surgical tweezers! They have no ridges at the tip, and it's exactly these ridges that stop whatever you want to grip from slipping. ;)

      1. Fold the bias binding around the edge and topstitch it in place.
      2. Here you can see how I use the anatomical tweezers: with them I can pull the bias binding precisely over the 1st seam. Clever, right? ;) hr>
      A little detour: anatomical tweezers
    12. Step
      • Repeat this step on the other side.
      • Straighten the top edges: hr>
    13. Step

      Reading tip: if you're not so familiar with sewing on bias binding, feel free to read my detailed blog post with lots of tips and information.

    14. Step

      How to prepare the zipper

      • At one end of the zipper, cut away approx. 1 cm of teeth, but leave the tape in place.
      • Now thread the zipper pull, rounded side facing forwards, onto the other side of the zipper.
      • Once it's on, the side without teeth follows.
      • Thread it on and slide it all the way to the end once so that no dents remain in the zipper.
      • Now sew the teeth together at both ends with a few stitches (I do this by hand). hr>
      How to prepare the zipper
    15. Step

      How to sew in the zipper

      • Place the zipper wrong sides together on the bag lining.
      • Line it up with the centre marks here.
      • Starting at the centre mark, edgestitch it in place using a zipper foot.
      • Repeat on the other side. hr>
      How to sew in the zipper
    16. Step

      How to finish the zipper edges

      • Starting at the end of the zipper, pin the bias binding wrong sides together.
      • Make sure to catch all the layers.
      • Pay particular attention to the spot where the bias binding of the side piece meets the zipper.
      • Wrap the bias binding around the edge and topstitch it from the right side. The anatomical tweezers help out here again! ;) hr>
      How to finish the zipper edges
    17. Step
      • How to prepare the zipper tabs
      • Now the two small fabric pieces come into play!
      • Measure the width of the zipper. hr>
    18. Step
      • Fold the fabric piece right sides together.
      • On the wrong side, mark the width of the zipper and sew along the marking.
      • Leave one side open.
      • Trim the seam allowances a little.
      • This is how it should look: hr>
    19. Step
      • Turn the tab right side out (I use my tweezers again for this!).
      • Shape the corners and press the tab.
      • Fold the open edge approx. 1 - 12 cm inwards. You can vary this to suit your taste, depending on how long you want your tab to be.
      • Repeat this step for the second tab. hr>
    20. Step
      • Straighten the zipper ends a little and slide the tab over them.
      • You can sew it in place by machine or by hand.
    21. Step

      Et voilà! Your beautiful Portobella make-up bag is finished!

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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.