Projects

Duffle Bag

Created By:

Laurel Ryan

Skill Level: Intermediate
Fabric and Notions Required

1 1/2 Yards Cotton or Canvas for the main fabric

1 1/2 Yards Cotton or Other fabric for lining.

1 1/2 Yards Interfacing

Matching Thread

22” Heavy Duty Zipper

Leather strapping, Nylon Straps or fabric from the lining for the straps. 1 1/2“ x 42”

Scissors

Rotary Cutter, ruler, and cutting mat

Zipper foot

Pins and binder clips

2D rings

2 Swivel hooks

Iron and pressing mat or ironing board

Sewing machine

Instructions

Before starting, prewash and press all fabrics.

Seam Allowances is 1/2” unless otherwise stated.

 

1. Cut and prepare all materials.

  • Main fabric :: (2) 24” x 20” , This is the outter fabric of the bag. Pay extra attention to directional prints.
  • Pocket fabric ::(2) 6 1/2” x 6 1/2”
  • Lining fabric :: (2) 24” x 20” , (2) 12” x 13” , (1) 11” x 8”
  • Strap fabric:: (1) 1 1/2" x 42”
  • Interfacing :: (2) 24” x 20” , (1) 3 1/2“ x 2 3/4”
  • Leather or fabric zipper tabs :: (4) 2 1/2” x 4” (2) 3 1/2“ x 2 3/4”
  • Side leather or fabric straps :: 2” x 16”

 

2. Apply interfacing to main and one of the pocket fabrics.

  • Follow directions on interfacing

 

3. Sew Pockets to Lining

  • Place pocket pieces right sides together, lining up any directional prints with the top of the print towards the top of the pocket. Sew around all four sides, leaving a small 2" opening along the bottom edge.
  • Backstitch at the beginning and end of the opening and pivot at the corners.
  • Trim corner seam allowances to 1/8" to help reduce bulk.
  • Turn pocket right sides out, gently poking out corners with a dull pencil or chopstick. Press well.
  • Add a line of top stitching to the top edge of your pocket for a little extra detail.
  • Center the pocket onto the lining piece, with the top of the pocket about 3 ½” from the top of the lining piece. Pin into place.
  • Sew the pocket into place by sewing down one side, across the bottom and then up the other side, leavingthe top side open.
  • Be sure to back stitch to secure it into place.

 

4. Prepare the bag zipper.

  • Fold rectangle in half, lenghthwise, marking a crease.
  • With the fabric wrong side up, fold each half towards the crease and press 
  • Turn the strip to the other side and fold in half, widthwise. Sew the raw edges together. Press the seam open. 
  • Turn the little tube right sides out and with the seam in the middle, press.
  • Insert the zipper in the tube.
  • With the tab seam side down, insert the zipper into the tab, aligning the bottom end of the tab with
  • a mark ( or the end) on the zipper.
  • The zipper teeth should be in the right side of the zipper tab, seam should be on the wrong or back side  of the zipper. 
  • Stitch the top of the tab
  • Repeat fo rthe other zipper end.  Making sure to pull the zipper out of the way . 
  • Sandwhich the ends of the zipper in between two tabs and clip into place. Making sure the zipper still has 22” of zipper tape exposed. 
  • Sew around the zipper tab.
  • If using leather, change your needle to a leather needle, stitch slowly and lengthen your stitch

 

 

5. Sew main and lining fabric to zipper.

  • Place lining piece right side facing up. Lay zipper tape across the top of the lining piece. With the right sides of the zipper teeth facing up. - Lay main bag piece on top and clip all layers together with quilting or binder clips.
  • Using a zipper foot, sew all layers together, with a ½ seam allowance. Leaving about ¾” un - sewn at each end of the fabric.
  • Fold lining and main fabric pieces over, exposing the zipper. Press along the zipper/ fabric seam with a hot press.
  • Do not touch the iron to the zipper teeth. 
  • Repeat with the remaining lining and main fabric pieces.  

 

6 Install Straps.

  • Decide on placement of smaller straps. The bottoms of the straps should be 3-4” from the top of the bag spacing the ends about 4-5” apart.
  • Mark your placement with a Pencil or washable pen.
  • Sew the straps to place. Sew a ½ long rectangle at the end of each of the straps. Sew and X in that rectangle to add strength.

* Make sure you are only sewing the straps onto the main bag pieces and not throught the lining.

 

7. Sew the bag together.

  • Pin the main and lining pieces together. Right sides facing. Flip the ends of the zipper up and towards the main fabric pieces. Open the Zipper a few inches before sewing.
  • Sew all the way around the sides and bottoms of the main and lining pieces. Leaving a 4” opening at the bottom of the lining.

 

8. Sew corners.

  • Fold each corner so that the seams line up, creating a triangle that is 3 ½” x 7”.
  • Pin corner in place, 3 ½” from the tip of the corner, draw the 7” line.
  • Sew along the drawn line trim off the excess fabric, leaving ½” seam allowance.
  • Repeat for all 4 corners.

 

9. Turn bag right side out.

  • Turn bag right sides out through the opening and the open zipper.
  • Fold the lining opening so that the edges are clean and even with the rest of the bottom seam pin closed and sew along the bottom edge of the lining bag.
  • Push ining bag into the main bag.
  • Finish the top of the bag by top stitching around the zipper opening, along the zipper/ fabric seam.

 

10. Sew Should strap.

  • Fold small 3 ½” x 2 ¾” main fabric pieces in half and sew.
  • Turn right sides out, press flat and with seam centered to the back and the ends folded inward about ½”
  • Slide and fold onto ring. Place on the side of the bag, about 2” below the top. Sew in place by sewing a square onto the ends of the small strip of fabric and then sew and X through the square to add strength.
  • Fold each end of the long strap piece under about 1 ½”
  • Cut a small rectangle at the bottom of each fold, reducing the width of the bottom of the fold by ½.
  • Unfold the strap ends and slide swivel hooks onto the narrowed folds.
  • Fold the strap ends over again and secure with clips.
  • Sew the strap ends closed with a rectangle and an X through the middle.

Everyone is Talking about Duffle Bag
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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