https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/toiletry-bag • Posted by Nicole D.
This cute toiletry bag helps you travel in style. This was part of a series I did making a travel set (toiletry bag, makeup bag, and brush roll) out of a set of 5 fat quarters. Fusible vinyl was added to the interior fabric to help keep it clean and prevent leaks from any unfortunate spills.
This cute toiletry bag helps you travel in style. This was part of a series I did making a travel set (toiletry bag, makeup bag, and brush roll) out of a set of 5 fat quarters. Fusible vinyl was added to the interior fabric to help keep it clean and prevent leaks from any unfortunate spills.
CUT THE FABRIC Cut the two fat quarters to be 14" x 21"
PREPARE THE LINING Cut a piece of fusible vinyl that is the same size as your interior lining fabric piece. Fuse to the right side of the lining fabric following manufacturer's directions.
PREPARE THE EXTERIOR Cut a piece of fusible fleece slightly smaller than your exterior fabric. Fuse to the wrong side of your exterior fabric following manufacturer's directions.
SEW THE ZIPPER Lay the lining piece right side up on work surface with a 14" edge on top. Center the zipper right side up on top of the fabric, aligning the top of the zipper tape with the top edge of the lining fabric.
Lay the exterior fabric wrong side up on top, aligning the top edge of the fabric with top edge of the zipper tape. Pin in place. Using the zipper foot on your sewing machine, sew along the edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.
Press exterior fabric away from your zipper teeth. Do not touch your iron to the vinyl!
Using a lower heat setting and paper between the vinyl and your iron, lightly press the interior fabric away from your zipper teeth.
Topstitch close to the edge. This will keep your fabric from getting caught in the zipper. Tip: Put clear tape on your sewing on the metal area next to the feed dogs. It helps the vinyl to not stick while sewing. Make sure you do not tape over your feed dogs!
Now it's time to sew the fabric to the other side of the zipper. Lay the pieces exterior side up on your work surface. Lift up the zipper and fold up the interior fabric, aligning the edge of your interior with the edge of the zipper tape.
Now fold up the exterior fabric, aligning the edge of the exterior with the edge of your zipper tape. Pin along the edge. Sew along the edge with a 1/4" seam allowance.
Turn the exterior fabric right side out.
Unzip the zipper. Using your iron, press the exterior away from the zipper teeth. Flip over and repeat with the interior side. Remember to use a lower iron setting and paper to protect the vinyl.
Topstitch along edge.
MAKE THE ZIPPER TAB Cut off two 3" pieces of bias tape. Open up the bias tape along the folds, and place them right sides together. It helps to lightly iron it flat. Pin and sew along folds. Using a safety pin to help, turn the bias tape right side out. Press. Edgestitch along the top and bottom seams.
Fold the zipper tab in half. Center it on end of your zipper, where the zipper pull is when closed. Align the raw edge of the zipper tab with the raw edge of the fabric. Sew in place over the zipper.
FINISHING THE INTERIOR Turn your bag so that the interior vinyl is facing out. Cut off any zipper or zipper tape that sticks out past the raw edge. Using a clear ruler, center your zipper in the middle. Make sure your zipper is halfway unzipped, and leave it like that the rest of the project. Pin a strip of double-folded bias tape over the raw edges. Make sure to only pin along the bias tape (you don't want holes showing on your lining).
Sew along the inner edge of the bias tape.
BOX THE CORNERS Now it's time to give our cosmetic bag the boxy shape. In each corner, draw boxes that are 2.5" away from the edges. Cut out the corners.
SEW THE HANDLE Cut two 6" strips of bias tape and two 6" strips of piping. Unfold one piece of bias tape. Align the raw edge of the bias tape, wrong side up, on top of the raw edge of the piping. Using your zipper foot, sew along the fold crease, just under the piping. Repeat on the opposite side with the other piece of bias tape. Re-fold the bias tape and press the piping outward. Lay the piece of bias tape with the piping wrong side up. Lay the other piece of bias tape right side up on top, in between the piping. Edgestitch the bias tape in place, close to the piping. Tip: If you want to assemble the handle without piping, I recommend using a piece of interfacing to stabilize the bias tape. Then sew and assemble the two pieces the same way as the zipper tab. Set aside.
Turn your bag so that the exterior fabric if facing out. Find the end of your zipper that does not have your zipper tab.
Pin the handle in place right below the zipper, aligning the top right below the side seam and matching the raw edges. Sew handle in place close to the edge.
FINISH THE CORNERS Turn your bag so that the interior is facing out. Now it's time to box the corners. Pinch the two cut corners in, like shown, aligning the bias tape finished edge in the middle.
Hand baste the seam closed a 1/4" from the edge, sewing the bias tape finished seam pointing down away from the zipper. Be sure all exterior and interior edges are lined up at the edge. Hand basting helps prevent the layers from slipping while sewing.
Place bias tape over the basted edge. Pin in place in the seam allowance. Sew along the edge and up the ends of the bias tape.
Repeat for all 4 corners. Turn your toiletry bag right side out and you're done!
OPTIONAL: ADD A ZIPPER PULL Take an 1/8" piece of ribbon of twill tape that is 4-5" and fold it in half. Pull the loop end halfway through the eye of the zipper pull. Now insert the ends through the loop and pull tight. I tied my ends in a knot, but you can leave them loose. You can finish the edges of the ribbon with Fray Check or another fabric sealant. But I just use a dab of clear nail polish on the ends to prevent fraying.