Day 10: Travel Zip Bag

Today is the 10th day of Christmas freebies, and we have a travel zip bag. This is great for anyone on your list! If they love to travel or if they need a bag for the gym or school. Pair it with our free jewelry roll or luggage tag patterns. Or add some of their favorite products and you have a fantastic gift!

SUPPLIES:

1/2 yard main fabric
1/2 yard lining fabric
1/2 yard medium weight fusible interfacing
14″ zipper
OPTIONAL: 1/2 yard of clear vinyl OR use a vinyl coated fabric for lining

LET’S GET STARTED!

1/2″ seam allowances included.

Step 1: PREPPING

Go grab the pattern here! The pattern is 100% free, but you do need to add it to your cart and checkout. Then, it will always be available to download from your account. The pattern is a no trim pattern; if you need help putting the pattern together, pop over to the faqs and troubleshooting page or ask in our Facebook group .

Print and assemble the pattern. Alternatively, you can use the projector file if you’re using a projector. Pattern layout below:

Bag cut 1 main, 1 lining, and 1 interfacing 17.5″ x 13.25″

Tabs cut 2: 3″ x 4″

Step 2: ATTACH INTERFACING

Attach interfacing to your main fabric piece.

OPTIONAL – Add interfacing to tab pieces. The fabric I used really didn’t need it, but if you use a flimsier woven, you may prefer to add it.

Step 3: CONSTRUCT TABS

To construct tabs, press long edges toward the middle.

Fold in half again, enclosing the same, and then press. Stitch along the open raw edge. You can also stitch along the long folded edge if you’d like.

Step 4: CONSTRUCT MAIN BAG

Place right side of zipper along right side, short raw edge of main fabric.

Pin in place, then stitch. Be sure not to stitch too close to the zipper teeth, or zipper will not close.

Press, and then topstitch on the right side.

Pin opposite side of zipper to opposite raw edge.

Stitch zipper in place. This will create a loop.

Press and topstitch opposite side of zipper.

Check to make sure zipper opens and closes.

Open the zipper halfway. Turn bag inside out.

Flatten the bag and find the center back. Place a clip at the center.

Fold one tab in half. Clip or pin tab to center back, Baste in place. Repeat for opposite side tab.

Pin or clip raw open edges on both sides.

Stitch with 1/2″ seam allowance.

Pinch bag to create “points” in each corner. Flatten each corner. Place pins 1 1/2″ in from the point.

Stitch at the 1 1/2″ mark.

Turn right side out to check corners.

Turn inside out again. Trim to reduce bulk. Repeat for other three points.

Turn right side out. Set to the side.

Step 5: CONSTRUCT LINING

OPTIONAL – Baste vinyl to right side of lining fabric is using. If you prefer, you can just use vinyl coated or other wipeable fabric.

Along the short edges, fold toward the wrong side 1/2″. Pin or clip in place, press, and then stitch. Fold both folded edges toward the middle. Pin or clip long the short edges to create a loop.

Stitch along both short edges.

Pinch the corners, just like the main fabric.

Place pins 1 1/2″ from the point.

Stitch at the 1 1/2″ mark. Trim to reduce bulk. Repeat for all other remaining corners.

Step 6: ATTACH LINING

Place lining inside main bag, with wrong sides together.

You can hand stitch the lining to the zipper tape, OR, if you’re using a textured fabric that will disguise your stitches a bit, you can machine stitch the majority of if, and then hand stitch at either end. I used white thread, but better thread matching would reduce visibility even more.