Cosmetic Bag Sewing Pattern
Today I’m going to share with you a curved top cosmetic bag sewing pattern that would make a great gift for a teenager on your list (it would also be pretty fun to make for an adult too!)
I’m the mom of 3 teenagers who loves to sew, I will readily admit that the day they didn’t want me to make them dresses for church anymore was a sad one for me. I wasn’t quite ready to stop creating things for them and soon realized that instead of not sewing for them anymore I just needed to alter what I was making. Now I feel pretty passionately about the subject, why just give that newborn baby a handmade quilt? The teenagers in our life need our love just as much as that new baby.
Cosmetic Bag Sewing Pattern:
The pouch is made from wool, but you can also use cotton if you use wool just make sure it’s lightweight. For an extra bit of detail, I added a simple black bow to the front and a touch of leather to the bottom.
Here you can see the same pattern stitched up in brighter fabrics:
Supplies to Make the Cosmetic Bag:
If you’d like to make one too, here’s what you’ll need (includes affiliate links):
- 1/2 yard of fabric for the pouch outside
- 1/2 yard of fabric for the pouch lining
- 14″ zipper
- 1/2 yard of Pellon Flex Foam
- 1/2 yard of Pellon Shape Flex
- Scrap of Leather 1″ x 7″ (this step is optional)
- Leather Needle
- Glue Stick
- 1 yard of 1″ or 1 1/2″ wide ribbon
- The pattern piece for the pouch (you can download it for free here)
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise noted.
Cutting Directions for Cosmetic Bag:
From the pattern piece cut:
- For pouch front, cut 2 pieces
- For Pouch lining, cut 2 pieces
- 2 pieces of flex foam
- 2 pieces of shape flex
Construction Steps:
Press the shape flex onto the wrong side of the pouch outside pieces. If you’re using wool this will help keep the pouch from stretching out of shape as you sew it.
Place the cut foam piece behind the cut pouch outside piece. Pin the right side of the zipper to the right side of the pouch along the top arch. The zipper is longer than the pouch, that is okay.
Next, place the pouch lining piece on top so that the right side of the lining is facing the wrong side of the zipper. Pin in place. (You’ll have lots of pins).
Next, stitch through all the layers using your zipper foot, use the width of your zipper foot as a guide, your seam allowance should be between 1/4″ – 3/8″. Stitch with the foam side up so that the feed dogs on your machine will help to feed the lining piece through evenly.
Clip the curve.
Repeat for the other side of the zipper.
When you’re done you’ll have a piece that looks like this.
Take a second and zip it up to make sure that you’ve inserted the zipper correctly.
Unzip the zipper halfway.
Bring the pouch outside pieces together right sides facing and stitch along the bottom seam only. Press seam open
Optional Leather Bottom:
Take the leather piece and apply a bit of glue to the wrong side of it. Stick it onto the bottom seam of the pouch centered and covering the bottom seam. Secure it in place with binding clips if you have them.
Insert the leather needle into your machine. Very slowly stitch around the perimeter of the leather piece. Remove the leather needle from your machine and insert a standard needle.
Pin the right sides of the pouch outside piece together (including the foam) and pin the right sides of the pouch lining together.
Stitch around the perimeter of the pouch leaving a 3″ opening in the lining piece so that you can turn the pouch right side out. Leave the cut out square shapes in the corners unstitched. Be careful not to “catch” any of the pouch in the seam as you sew. You’ll have to stitch inward and pivot when you get to the point with the zipper.
Pinch all 4 corners of the pouch and stitch 1″ up from the cut raw edges. Cut off the extra part of the zipper. Turn the pouch right side out. Stitch the opening in the lining closed.
To make the bow for the front:
“Guesstimate” how large you’d like the bow on the front of your pouch. Cut a piece of ribbon twice that length. Fold raw ends of the ribbon to the center and using a needle and thread stitch together pulling slightly on the thread as you go. Fold a piece of ribbon in half and wrap it around the bow at the center point. Whip stitch in place. Cut a piece of ribbon slightly longer than your finished bow. Clip the edges. Stitch to the wrong side of the bow you made and then sew it to the front of the pouch.
and you’re DONE!
Here are a few other projects on my blog that you may like!
Quilted Christmas Pillow Tutorial
How to make a Pencil Pouch out of Oilcloth
This post first appeared on Skip to My Lou
Melissa, I don’t know how you do it, but they just keep getting cuter and cuter. This is adorable. I know my college and career girls will love it. Thank you for working so hard. Keep up the great work. We all appreciate it.
That’s so sweet! You always come up with such gift ideas! In an ideal world we’d make everything we could for our children but even slipping a few handmade items in their stocking will bring pleasure and make you happy too!
This is so adorable! Great tutorial as well! Thanks for offering such freebies so often! I’d love for you to submit this pattern to be featured on my blog! I have a submission option for freebies!
I love this pouch! Totally want to make one. Thanks for the tutorial.
I love this bag, its so pretty! I’ve linked to your post over at my blog as a terrific Christmas DIY gift.
G
How adorable – the bow makes this one bow-lishes! Most family live far away and I never see them enough. I too, love to sew. Our 12 grandchildren grow so fast it’s impractical to sew clothing for them, so totes and bags have become a staple to create and mail out. I’ve already made all their holiday gifts ( never finished early ~ ever) but this curved shaped top has to be included – maybe for a new years gift? Thank you for your generosity.