Make a bold statement as you stroll the open air markets of France – or perhaps simply while shopping the aisles of your local grocer. This bag is a lovely blend of unique trim, dramatic fabric, precise fussy cutting, and appliqué.
A single broad strap at the back makes this bag easy to sling over your shoulder and very comfortable to carry. There’s a drawcord top plus two exterior zippered pockets, so you’ll have plenty of room for all your summer supplies.
If you’re brand new to bags, this is a super quick and easy project to kick off your experience. It starts as one long panel, then folds up with finished seams inside and out. Dive into your scrap stash for your best bold prints.
This project is excellent for young kids or anyone just learning to sew. Classic bandanas on the outside, denim on the inside, layered webbing handles, and bound all around. Add a mini pom tassel for extra fun.
It’s a generously sized tote with an open top to make it easy to pack and unpack. The 5” boxed corners have a cool reverse, riveted style. And, we added a horizontal strap at the back to slip over the handle of rolling luggage.
We used barkcloth in bold tropical prints for our dramatic totes, but other mid-to-heavyweight substrates would work too. The generous size makes it perfect as a market shopper, everyday carryall or even a diaper bag alternative.
The 70s hippie style didn’t go away, it just came back as “boho.” Rich color, mixed-media, wonderful textures, and a loose, unstructured feel are hallmarks of “bohemian fashion.” Our little shoulder bags fit right in.
We used a cool metal closure for this pretty shoulder bag design. There’s a curving side gusset to add structure and a unique curved flap with accent piping. All done with standard weight cottons! So fun, we made two samples!
Make a classic messenger brief in a slightly smaller size: 15″ x 10″ x 2″. There’s an inset zipper top, a front zippered pocket, and standard pockets along the back and in the lining. One of our most popular bags!
With its casual style and small size, this double-zip pouch is great for kids or adults when extra-cute is exactly what you need. Clever side loops act as channels for the thin, adjustable-with-knots straps.
Fast and easy construction, but without sacrificing any style! You can make this beautiful bag in an afternoon while practicing your straight seams, topstitching, and boxed corners. Mix a bold solid with a pretty print.
Our soft shoulder bag is beginner friendly but with a very stylish finish. The cool strap-and-tassel closure is a look we spotted on some of the trendiest designer bags. To get the signature slouch, look for a very fine wale corduroy.
With clever cutting and careful stitching, this ribbon-accented bag is super cute and super easy. No complicated corners or closures, and the main body of the bag is a heavy wool felt, one of the most forgiving fabrics for new sewers.
If you’re sewin’ and you know it… clap your hands. Honor your favorite hobby with our fun machine embroidery patches. Free downloads are included in 6 popular formats. We used Sulky 30wt cotton for a perfect matte finish.
High-tech accents; like snaps, hooks, and locks provide functionality as closures as well as pro style. This slim shoulder bag uses SIX different fasteners, including a pair of mitten clips to tether a matching inner pouch.
A quilted top with a plain base. Mixing large and small motifs as well as textures is a great way to balance your design and bring in variety. Finish the look with sleek piping accents and pretty over-the-shoulder straps.
A crisp, cute bag with a bucket shape and cinched top – it’s a silhouette popular season after season. We created our sample in a modern canvas with polished nickel hardware and a twisted cord for the signature drawstring closure.
We used a modern batik for the exterior, but it’s just a small fabric cut; you may already have something perfect in your stash. Braided yarn straps are secured with side loop channels. And a triple tier tassel accents the zipper.
Hardware is usually categorized on the functional side of sewing. For this project, we moved it into the fashionable category; grommets/eyelets and rivets create a striking starburst design on the bag’s solid color front.
It’s a fabulous fifties flashback – retro cool but with modern features that make it easier to construct. We love the bold chevron accent on the front and back, reminiscent of the two-tone tail fins of the ’50s era cars.
A classic leather elbow patch – it can transform a rumpled guy in a tacky corduroy jacket into a suave, crush-worthy academician. What else can it do? It can become a unique corner accent for a slim style canvas bag.
Plenty o’ pockets to stash all your stuff! There are four big outside pockets that wrap front and back plus a deep inside compartment. We offer a free set of pattern downloads for the tote body as well as all the pockets.
Generous in size and style thanks to a perfect combination of bold fabric and striking embroidery. Use our free machine embroidery design download or the free printable template for hand embroidery.
Decorative stitching against a neutral canvas gives this slouchy bucket bag great style. We also incorporated long, soft tassels at the sides and front. They’re made from the belted cording! We include all the steps.
You’ll need to read more to see why this bag is named after Winnie The Pooh’s pal, Christopher Robin. In the meantime, you can see the bag’s exterior is done in quilted corduroy and the front flap has very cool closures.
It has a clean, modern design with double tuck locks as the flap’s closure. Our detailed tutorial shows how easy it is to add this cool hardware finish. The bag’s slim structure comes from a hidden layer of foam.
Tightly spaced, straight line quilting goes right across the appliqué for an unbroken pattern that wraps from front to back. We designed the modern “skyscraper” appliqué on the front and back to feature jelly roll strips.
Bags come in all shapes and sizes, but this round canteen style is one of our favorites. It has such a great retro feel. You can pretend you’re a Scout on a special outdoor expedition. Download the free pattern.
The step-by-step instructions for this unique bag are packed with lots of great S4H tips and tricks for working with faux leather and vinyl, including cutting, stitching, and how to keep layers to a minimum.
It has all the traits needed to rocket to the top of the totes. Precision cutting – both straight and on the bias, piping accents, and corded handles are just a few of the styling particulars that give this bag its iconic appeal.
Two coordinated pouches designed to clip together. Use one or both. Turn them into a mini shoulder bag or ditch the strap and toss one or both into a larger tote. Stash money and cards in one, make-up and extras in the other.
Tall, thin and elegant, this bag could be a runway model. Or maybe at least be carried by one of those long-legged beauties. Soft faux leather is the perfect background for the beautiful jacquard ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons.
This tote is designed in a shopper style, which means it’s a generous size that opens wide at the top and can be slung over your shoulder or carried by hand. We recommend easy-to-sew faux leather and vinyl for the sleek look.
When the light outside dims, it’s the perfect time for a bag with built-in reflective capabilities. Although designed with kids in mind, there’s no reason it couldn’t be used for adults as well. Just lengthen the crossbody strap.
Fussy cutting of multiple motifs is the name of the game in creating this bag’s special look. The front features a fabric flower, and decorative metal rivets help hold the strap ends in place for a subtle dash of dimension.
This soft and slouchy bag blends 5 different fabrics from within one collection plus an accent solid and a row of perky poms along the top, Color, pattern, and texture combine from all sides for a unique, whimsical finish.
A relaxed style, subtle hand embroidery, and rich ruffling are just some of the features we love on this soft shoulder bag. Mix and match four different quilting cottons to create vintage boho chic. A bit o’ batting adds just the right slouch.
Three rich substrates blend together into one beautiful, beginner-friendly bag: faux fur for the exterior, shantung silk for the lining, and faux suede for the strap. We also give you the easy steps to create your own faux fur poms.
For this unique crossbody bag, we created “ribbon fabric,” taking one ⅝” wide ribbon and stacking it to create matching accents of varying widths: single, triple and quadruple. An amazing embellishment that adds great texture.
Our fun and casual bag features two generous pleated pockets bound with fold-over elastic. It not only looks great, it’s also super functional; expandable pocket tops make dropping in items easy, even one-handed.
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