Sewing a bag with a wide opening is a lovely project for sewing beginners. Not only because the little bag is quick and easy to sew - it is also super practical!
For a long time, I have been looking for a method to sew a bag with a large opening. I love cosmetic bags where the zipper is nicely encased and looks neat. How to encase a zipper, I made a detailed tutorial on that some time ago.
By the way: Click here if you want to sew waaaay more cosmetic bags! :)
Quick & easy: Sewing a bag with a wide opening
I really like it when you open a bag and can immediately inspect the contents. I found a truly great tutorial for such a little bag from the inspiring Anna of Noodlehead.
I have adapted the whole thing to my needs and put it into a short tutorial.
Small tip: My outer fabric, by the way, consists of many fabric scraps that I joined together with the quilt-as-you-go technique . A truly ingenious method to use up beautiful fabric scraps!
In my guide to sewing with fabric scraps I show you how this technique works.
What you need for sewing
- 2 fabric cuts of 18 x 28 cm each for outer fabric, reinforced with Vlieseline H630 fusible interfacing
- 2 fabric cuts of 18 x 28 cm each for lining fabric (I used a sturdy twill)
- 11 x 5 cm fabric for the zipper tab
- approx. 35 cm zipper with slider* (you can use either a finished or a continuous zipper)
- optional: beads* and decorative cord* for decoration
- possibly ribbon or grosgrain ribbon for decoration (I ordered my beautiful measuring tape ribbon* online)
- color-matching or contrasting sewing thread
- fabric scissors
- pins
- rotary cutter
- marking pen
- patchwork ruler
- cutting mat
- iron and ironing board - for example, a practical DIY ironing board! ;)
Tutorial: Sewing a bag with a wide opening
Place the zipper flush against the upper edge of the first outer fabric piece.
If your zipper, like mine, has metal stops at the ends, they should be about 1.5 cm away from the side edge.
Place the first lining piece right-side down on the zipper and pin everything well.
Mark 3 cm before the end of the seam.
Sew up to the 3-centimeter mark.
Leave the needle in the fabric and guide the zipper away from the top edge downwards.
Now finish the seam and backstitch.
This is what it should look like now:
The zipper is between the lining and the outer fabric:
Open the zipper to repeat this step for the second zipper side.
This is what it should look like now.
Iron the outer fabric and lining away from the zipper.
Mark 3 cm from the sides on the zipper start and end of the topstitch.
Topstitch the zipper with a longer straight stitch along the edge.
This is what it should look like now.
Fold the end of the zipper inward a little and pin it in place.
This way you avoid catching the zipper in the subsequent seam.
Place lining on lining and outer fabric on outer fabric.
The zipper teeth are lying towards the lining fabric.
Open the zipper to the middle.
Pin everything well.
Sew around the bag with a straight stitch.
Leave an opening in the lining for turning.
Sew slowly over the center seam.
Several layers come together here - this can be a challenge for the sewing machine.
Put your hand into the turning opening and pull the corners of the bag apart so that the seam is in the middle.
Fold the seam allowances of the corners apart.
Mark 4 centimeters from the tip of the corner downwards and draw a line diagonally to the corner.
This is where the corner is sewn off.
Sew with a straight stitch, opening the seam allowances as you do so.
Backstitch well at the beginning and end of the seam.
This is what it should look like now:
Trim the seam allowances of the corner to 3 - 4 millimeters before the seam.
Repeat this step for the remaining three corners.
Trim the seam allowances at the transition between lining and outer fabric as well.
Turn the bag, shape the corners nicely and fold the seam allowances of the turning opening inward.
Close the turning opening with a straight stitch.
Trim the zipper to the desired length.
Iron the long sides of the zipper tab inwards until they have the width of the zipper.
Also iron the short sides 1 cm inward.
Fold the tab around the end of the zipper.
Pin everything in place with pins.
Sew around the tab with a straight stitch along the edge.
If you like, you can now decorate the zipper with color-matching beads.
Finished!
Pictures: This is what the bag looks like
Happy simple sewing,
your Sabine
Happy simple sewing,
your Sabine
Comments
Comments are loading …