Small Bag with Zipper – The 3^rd in the Easy, Small Projects Series

Just recently, most of us were notified we will be confined to our homes because of the Corona Virus (Covid-19) for at least another month.  If you haven’t started sewing yet, this is a good time to start.  We all need something to take our minds off our situation for a little while.  This third project is a small bag with a zipper.  It is quick and easy to make. 

In addition to a sewing machine, thread, rotary cutter, and scissors, you will need the following supplies:

2 rectangles of fabric for outside of bag -  7 ½” x 10 ½”

2 rectangles of fabric for lining of bag -  7 ½” x 10 ½”

1 zipper 12” or longer  (The zipper can be cut off after it is installed, so it is okay if it is longer than the width of the bag.)

I used 100% cotton for both the bag and the lining.  You can use other fabric, but 100% cotton is easier to sew than some other fabrics.  I used the print for the outside of the bag and the red for the inside.

Zipper Installation

Place the zipper right side down on the right side of one of the outside pieces of fabric.  Align the end of the zipper to one of the longer edges of fabric.  Let any excess zipper hang off at the end with the tab on it.   Stitch close to the zipper teeth.  You can use your zipper foot for this or you can use a regular foot if your machine allows you to move your needle position to the left and right.

Stitch the other edge of the zipper to the other piece of the outside fabric in the same manner as described in the preceding paragraph.

Attached each piece of lining to the edges of the zipper in almost the same manner as above.  Place the wrong side of the lining to the wrong side of the bag fabric on the zipper with the tab of the zipper facing up.  Sew the lining close to the zipper teeth.  Sew the second piece of the lining in the same manner to the other outside fabric piece and zipper.

Lay the bag right side up with the zipper in the middle and a lining piece under each of the outside pieces on both edges of the zipper as shown below.  Top stitch along both edges of the zipper.  Unzip the zipper about three quarters of the way.

Fold the bag so the outside pieces of the bag are right sides together and the right sides of the two lining pieces are together.  Make sure the ends of your zipper are together.  Sew around all sides using a ¼” seam leaving a three to four inch opening in the bottom of the lining.

Before you turn the bag to the right side through the opening in the bottom of the lining, you have a choice to make.  Do  you want to square the corners so the bag stands up or do you want to leave them and have a flat bag?  If you choose to square the corners, you can do that as follows. 

Place a see-through ruler on one of the four corners as shown in the picture below.  Pull the edges apart on the side seam and the bottom seam.  Press them open with your fingers and align the two seams together.  Check to make sure they line up by pushing a pin through one side to the other.  Then lay the ruler on the point where the seams meet and move the ruler until it shows you have one inch on both sides of the seam and one inch from the point.  Then draw a line with your chalk marker and pin the fabric in place.  Sew across the chalk line. 

Repeat the above procedure for all four corners because you need to square the corners of the lining as well as the corners of the bag.  Pull the bag through the hole in the lining and sew the opening closed at the bottom of the lining.  You can do this by hand or with your machine because it will not be seen on the inside of the bottom of your bag.  

After you sew the opening in the bottom of the lining together, push the lining down into the bag and your bag is complete!

Now you have the skills to make a lot of different bags.  You can make pencil bags, change purses, cosmetic bags and purses.  You just need to change the size of the bag and lining pieces.

You could make the pieces larger and quilt them together.  Add some pockets and a strap and you have a purse like the one below.  This one doesn't have a separate lining because the lining was quilted to the outside pieces before the bag was sewn.

Have fun sewing.  Please do all you can to keep safe and healthy!

Judy