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    Home » Sewing

    Laminated Toiletry Bag Tutorial

    Updated: Apr 24, 2020 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 1 Comment

    Whether you call it a Wash Bag, a Toiletry Bag or a Dopp Bag, I think you’re going to love today’s tutorial. Sarah is teaching us how to make a Laminated Toiletry Bag. Stitch one up to take with you on your next adventure.

    Laminated toiletry bag on bathroom counter

    School’s out and for many of us, we are on our travels. So I thought it would be fun to make something quick and easy and useful to take on your vacation.

    As it happens, I have recently acquired some matte laminated cottons, which are essentially like oilcloth in that they are wipeable, but they are also very soft and much easier to manipulate and sew with.

    Laminated toiletry bag on bathroom counter

    So it got me thinking that they would be perfect to make a wash bag for all those bathroom essentials…toothbrush, toothpaste, flannel, etc. It would also make the perfect makeup bag, in fact, it would be great for sewing stuff too!

    Tips for Sewing with Laminated Fabrics:

    Note from Melissa: If you’ve never sewn with Laminated fabrics (sometimes called coated fabrics before) you can check out THIS post full of tips for sewing with Laminates.

    A lot of people ask me where I like to buy Laminated fabric. My favorite place is the Laminates Shop on Etsy.

    Inside of the laminated toiletry bag on bathroom counter

    How to Make a Laminated Toiletry Bag; a Free Sewing Tutorial

    sewing supplies for toiletry bag on white background

    Supplies Needed to Make the Toiletry Bag:

    • 11” x 9” exterior laminated cotton, 2 pieces
    • 11” x 9” lining laminated cotton, 2 pieces
    • 12″ -14″ Polyester Zipper
    • Usual sewing supplies (rotary cutter, mat, sewing machine etc.) 

    Time needed: 1 hour and 30 minutes.

    How to Make a Laminated Toiletry Bag

    1. Attach the Zipper

      Take one exterior panel and place right side up. Place the zipper right side down with the zipper to the left, and then place the lining piece right side down, ensuring that they all line-up.

      Hold together with binding clips. Stitch across the top close to the zipper. A zipper foot is useful for this if you have one.

    2. Top Stitch the Fabric Along the Zipper

      Flip the fabrics so that both sides are right sides out. Finger press well and topstitch in place.

      Take care with this bit, because you can’t iron the top side of the fabric you need to ensure when you stitch that everything is lying nice and flat.

    3. Attach the Fabric to the Other Side of the Zipper

      Now for the other side.
      Lay the remaining exterior piece right side up. Next, lay your completed section right side down (so the exterior pieces are right sides together) then place the lining piece right side down on top of the zip. Use the binding clips to hold in place.

      Stitch along the top close to the zip, as before.

    4. Topstitch

      Topstitch on the other side in the same way.

    5. Sew the Bag Front & Linings

      Flip the layers around so that the lining pieces are touching and the external pieces are touching, both right sides together. At this point open the zip halfway.

      This is very important, otherwise, you won’t be able to turn your pouch fully right side out!! Clip in place with the binding clips, leaving a 3 in gap in the lining for turning

    6. Stitch Around the Outside Edge

      Stitch all the way around with a generous ¼” inch seam, reinforcing the zip sections and at the beginning and end of the opening.

    7. Box the Corners

      Next, we are going to box the corners. Take the exterior fabric corners and pull apart and lie flat.

      A top tip to ensure that the seams are lined up is to take a pin and push it through to check that it also goes through the seam.

      Use a ruler to draw a line at the 2” position, starting from the ‘v’ edge of the seam. Clip in place to secure.

    8. Stitch down this line and trim to a ¼” seam. Repeat for all four sides of the pouch.

      Turn the pouch right sides out and stitch up the gap in the lining. It’s a little tricker to hand stitch as its the cotton laminate, but totally doable!



    close up photo of the corner of the toiletry bag

    I’ve added a charm on my zipper, for that extra finishing touch. But that’s optional of course.

    And ta-da, your pouch is ready for your travels! All you need to do now is fill it with your vacation essentials!

    About The Maker:

    Sarah Ashford is a British Quilter and embroiderer and founder of the GreatBritishQuilter challenge on Instagram. Sarah regularly contributes projects to magazines and loves to spread the joy of quilting everywhere she goes. Follow her on Instagram at @sarahashfordstudio and be sure to check out her beautiful sewing room decals in her Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/sarahashfordstudio

    More Free Bag Tutorials:

    How to Make a Metal Frame Clutch

    How to Make a Makeup Bag

    Simple Tote Bag Tutorial

    Learn to Sew a Flat Bottom Zip Bag

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    • 25 Free Patchwork Quilted Pillow Patterns

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gloria K says

      December 08, 2020 at 11:42 am

      Thanks for the great tutorial! This looks fairly straight-forward to make. Can you tell me what the finished bag size is? Thanks!

      Reply

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    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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