estimated reading time: 5 min

Sewing a shoe bag: Simple illustrated instructions (with appliqué)

02.02.2020 by Sabine Schmidt

Schuhbeutel nähen: Einfache bebilderte Anleitung (mit Applikation)

Sew a shoe bag: The high heel appliqué makes it immediately clear what the drawstring bag is intended for. You can download the pattern for the appliqué for free.

Sew a bag for shoes: With a great appliqué!

Do you know that feeling? The suitcases are packed. But where to put the shoes? Plastic is out. There must be something else for packing shoes properly, right?

Of course there is!

With my tutorial, you can easily sew beautiful shoe bags yourself. And with the stylish high heel appliqué, they are not just practical but real eye-catchers!

By the way, you can also use this tutorial to easily sew laundry bags for travel. You can find the measurements in the tutorial.

The special thing about this appliqué is that you don't have to stitch it down separately. You can do so if you like (or if you want to highlight the appliqué particularly well). But it's not strictly necessary because Heat'n'Bond is specifically made for sew-free appliqués.

The template for the appliqué is available for download in 3 sizes. You can find it at the end of the materials list.

By the way, you can also use the appliqué to embellish clothing and bags! :)

What fabrics can you use to sew the shoe bag?

All non-elastic fabrics are suitable, such as:

Woven cotton^* (e.g., chambray fabrics^* or Kokka fabrics^*)
Linen fabrics^*
Canvas^*
Decorative fabrics^*

If you love Kokka fabrics as much as I do, I highly recommend checking out Etsy^*. They have a huge selection of the most delicious and rare Japanese fabrics!

If you have never sewn with Kokka fabrics before: give it a try! They are incredibly easy to work with and look great. :)

For the appliqué, you can work wonderfully with fabric scraps. Contrasting fabrics look very nice. Especially dark cotton fabrics create a strong 3D effect!

These materials you will need for sewing

Non-elastic fabrics like cotton, decorative fabrics, or linen
Bias tape in twice the width of the bag + 15 cm
Bias tape for the bag's drawstring
White cotton^* as a background fabric for the appliqué
Heat'n'Bond Ultra Hold^*
Optional: Glitter fabric^*
Sewing thread^*
Marking pen^*
Fabric clips^*
Pins^*
Sewing machine^*
Cutting mat^*
Rotary cutter^*
Scissors^*
High heel appliqué template in 3 sizes

Extra tip: Sew a bag with a shoe appliqué

How cool is THAT?

The high heel appliqué also looks magical on bags and pouches!

For my bag, I used the pattern from my confetti bag.

Gosh, I am so in love with this sewing idea!

Do you like it too?

Then feel free to leave me a comment!

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.

Instruction 1 / 2

Prepare the appliqué (optional)

Optional step: prepare a shoe appliqué from fabric scraps and iron/sew it onto the outer fabric. You can skip this if you want to sew the bag without an appliqué.

Step

Cut out the three shoe pieces. For the shoe and laundry bags I chose the large appliqué template.
Step

Using the pattern, cut the Heat'n'Bond a little larger than the actual pattern piece.
Step

Iron the Heat'n'Bond onto the back of the appliqué fabrics without steam.
Step

Let the fabric cool down completely. Then cut out the appliqué.
To avoid a gap between the pieces, you can cut the heel at the top edge approx. 2 millimetres higher.
Peel off the backing paper.
Step

Place the appliqué on a large enough piece of background fabric.
If, like me, you use a plain white fabric, you can also use two layers of fabric. This makes the colours of the appliqué look brighter.
Iron the appliqué on.
Step

This is how it should look now:
Step

Cut the background fabric to the right size. I left a 5 cm margin all the way around the shoe.

Instruction 2 / 2

Sew a shoe bag

Handy bag for shoes or laundry, with drawstring casing and cord. Also great as a laundry bag for travelling.

Step

To finish the bag you need bias binding or an approx. 6 cm wide fabric strip for the topstitched drawstring casing, as well as a ribbon (e.g. stitched bias binding or woven ribbon) to thread through the drawstring casing.
Step

Measurements of the finished bag

To frame the appliqué, you now need strips of a contrasting fabric.
The width of the strips depends on how big you want the bag to be.
Step

Bag with mint shoe

Finished size: 36 x 43 cm
Side strips: 7 cm
Top and bottom strips: 10 cm
Step

Bag with golden shoe (perfect as a laundry bag for travelling!)

Finished size: 40 x 54 cm
Side strips: 6 cm
I found this great phone box fabric at Spoonflower by the way. It's a real treasure trove. Also for Dala horse-loving fans!
Step

Bag with pink shoe

Finished size: 33 x 44 cm
Bottom and side strips: 6 cm
Top strip: 20 cm
Step

Cut the border strips for the top and bottom to the width of the appliqué.
Pin the strips right sides together, flush with the edge of the appliqué.
Step

Stitch the strips in place with a straight stitch and a seam allowance of 1 cm.
Press the seam allowances towards the border strips.
Step

Now add the narrow border strips to the sides.
Trim the seam allowances a little after sewing.
Topstitch the seam allowances in place from the right side with a straight stitch, close to the edge.
Straighten the fabric edges.
Finish the top edge with a zigzag stitch or overlock.
Step

Cut the bias binding to the desired width of the drawstring casing. Add 1 cm seam allowance on each side.
I usually leave a gap of 5 - 6 cm on each side between the drawstring casing and the side seam.
Finish the short ends of the drawstring casing with the overlock or with a zigzag stitch.
Press the seam allowances to the wrong side.
Stitch the seam allowances in place with a straight stitch.
Step

Fold the long edges of the drawstring casing to the wrong side. The fabric edges meet in the middle.
Press the fabric edges.
Place the drawstring casing centred on the bag piece at the desired height.
Step

Edgestitch the long edges of the drawstring casing with a straight stitch. Make sure to backstitch well at the beginning and end of the seam.
Step

Use the finished bag piece as a template to cut out the back of the bag.
Stitch the drawstring casing onto the back at the same height as on the front.
Step

If you like, you can decorate the top edge of the bag pieces with ric rac or lace.
Close the side and bottom seams with the overlock or with an overlock stitch on your sewing machine.
Secure the thread chains.
Step

If you want to use bias binding (e.g. homemade bias binding) as a cord, stitch it closed along the open edge now.
Step

Use a safety pin to thread the cord through both drawstring casings, once from the right and once from the left.
Step

Press the top edge of the bag 2 x 1 cm to the inside and stitch it in place with a straight stitch.
Done! :)

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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.