Patchwork Zipper Bag Tutorial
Our Zipper Bag tutorial is super popular. We’ve added many variations to this bag including the Heart Zipper Bag, Rainbow Zipper Bag, and First Aid Zipper Bag. The next bag in our series is the Patchwork Zipper Bag tutorial. This is a fun and creative pattern where we’ll guide you through making a beautiful patchwork zipper bag! Whether you're a seasoned sewer or a beginner looking to try something new, this project is perfect for adding a personal touch to your accessory collection. With a blend of colorful fabrics, a sturdy zipper, and a little sewing magic, you can craft a unique bag that’s both stylish and practical. So, grab your fabric scraps and let’s get started on this delightful sewing adventure!
General Patchwork Zipper Bag Project Information:
Finished Size: H: 6” x W: 9.5” x D: 4”
Link PDF Download: Patchwork Zipper Bag Tutorial
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Seam Allowance: 1/4” throughout pattern unless otherwise noted.
Dimensions: are written height x width throughout instructions.
Backstitch: at beginning and end of all seams to lock stitches in place.
Fabric Used: Assorted Fabrics from the Birthday 5” Charm Pack by Sarah Watts for Ruby Star Society.
Materials Needed for Patchwork Zipper Bag Tutorial:
56 fabrics cut to 2.5” x 2.5” for Exterior Fabric panels in Quilters Cotton, Linen or Woven Fabric. Scrap fabrics work great. You can also use fabric from a 5” Charm Pack –or– fabrics from a Mini Charm Pack.
One Fat Quarter (H: 22” x W: 18”) for Lining Fabric in Quilters Cotton, Linen or Lightweight Woven Fabric.
One H: 22” x W: 18” for Fusible Fleece (such as Pellon 987F).
One 9” Zipper.
Supplies Needed for Patchwork Zipper Bag Tutorial:
For this project, you will need the following supplies: Ruler, Scissors, Rotary Cutter, Mat, Pins, Binding Clips, Zipper Foot or Walking Foot, and Pointed Tool.
Fabric Sides:
Fabric sides throughout this tutorial will be represented as shown in diagram below:
Layout & Sew Exterior Blocks:
Layout the 2.5” x 2.5” Exterior Fabric Blocks as shown below. You will piece two separate panels with each one 7 blocks across and 4 blocks high. Press seams in the direction of the red arrows as shown in diagram below:
Sew blocks together to create two separate panels. Press seams in the direction of the red arrows as shown in diagram below:
Attach Fusible Fleece & Quilt:
Cut two H: 8.5” x W: 14.5” Fusible Fleece pieces. Iron each Fusible Fleece piece to the WRONG side of each sewn Exterior Block panels.
Quilt the two panels however you would like. For this project, I used a straight-line quilting technique. A walking foot really helps in the sewing process of this step. I used a stitch-length of 3.75.
Template Cutting:
Exterior Fabric, Lining Fabric & Fusible Fleece Fabrics
Using Cutting Template on PAGE 7, cut two pieces of each fabric - Exterior, Lining & Fusible Fleece. Make sure to place folded edge of fabric/fleece along red line on the Sewing Zipper Bag Template prior to cutting.
Constructing Patchwork Zipper Bag
Step 1:
Iron Fusible Fleece to the wrong sides of the Exterior Fabric.
Step 2:
Sew all four zipper tape edges back at a 45° angle with a 1/8” seam allowance.
Step 3:
Attach zipper to the exterior of fabric. Place zipper WRONG SIDE up along the RIGHT SIDE of one of the Exterior Fabrics. Center the zipper along the top edge of the fabric.
Pin to hold in place. With either your zipper foot or walking foot, sew on with a 1/4” seam allowance. You will need to open or close zipper as you sew to allow your presser foot to pass.
Place WRONG SIDE facing out lining fabric directly over the RIGHT SIDE of exterior fabric and sewn zipper making sure all sides of the lining fabric is lined up with the exterior fabric & sewn zipper.
Pin to hold in place. With either your zipper foot or walking foot, sew on with a 1/4” seam allowance. You will need to open or close zipper as you sew to allow your presser foot to pass.
Step 4:
Fold fabric back so that zipper is outside along top of bag and both exterior and interior fabric are facing outward (WRONG SIDES of exterior fabric and interior lining should be touching each other). Press to set seams.
Sew a 1/8” top-stitch seam along top edge of fabric making sure you’re sewing through both the exterior fabric and interior lining.
Step 5:
Attach remaining exterior fabric & lining to the other side of zipper tape. With the Right Side of sewn exterior fabric up, lay the other exterior panel along unsewn edge of zipper tape (WRONG SIDE facing up).
Make sure exterior fabric is centered on zipper tape. With a 1/4” seam allowance, sew along top edge. You will need to open the zipper as you sew.
Step 6:
Flip over project so that the exterior fabric is on the bottom and the WRONG SIDE of lining fabric is facing out.
Place unsewn lining fabric WRONG SIDE out centered on top of zipper tape. Pin to hold in place.
Sew with a 1/4” seam allowance along top edge of zipper tape, lining & exterior fabric.
See diagram in STEP 5 for sewing example.
Step 7:
Fold fabric back so that zipper is outside along top of bag and both exterior and interior fabric are facing outward (WRONG SIDES of exterior fabric and interior lining should be touching each other).
Press to set seams.
Sew a 1/8” top-stitch seam along top edge of fabric making sure you’re sewing through both the exterior fabric and interior lining. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam to secure stitches.
Step 8:
Unzip the zipper halfway.
Open the fabric so that the WRONG SIDES of exterior fabric and lining are facing outward. Line-up exterior fabric with exterior fabric & lining with lining and pin to hold in place.
Nest each seam along the edges of the bag and pin to hold in place.
Zipper should be facing into the lining fabric.
Along the bottom edge of lining fabric, create a 4” gap in the pinning. This area will not be sewn.
See diagram in STEP 9.
Step 9:
Sew along exterior of bag with a 1/4” seam allowance. DO NOT SEW any of the four 90° cut-outs and the 4” gap along bottom edge of lining fabric. Backstitch at beginning and end of each seam to hold stitches in place.
Step 10:
Press open 4” gap seams along the bottom of lining fabric.
Step 11: Create Box Corners
Pull the top and bottom layers of one corner apart, pinch together so that the top seam lines up with the bottom seam. Pin in place and sew across using a 1/4” seam allowance. Repeat with all remaining exterior and interior corners.
Step 12:
Turn the bag RIGHT SIDE out by pulling fabric through the 4” unsewn gap of lining fabric. Use a pointed tool to gently push-out the corners. Be careful to not push the pointing tool through the fabric.
Step 13:
Close the 4” gap in lining that was used to turn fabric by either hand sewing or machine sewing with an 1/8” seam allowance top stitch. Then tuck lining fabric into bag.
Give a gentle press to the turned fabric to set seams.
Congratulations, You’re Finished!
We created this tutorial to be shared. Sewing is a passion for us, and we love to create projects for our sewing community. Please pass this tutorial on to your sewing friends. If there are any projects you need help with or would like to see a tutorial for, please let us know. It is a joy to work with our fellow sewists and create handmade fabric pieces.
If you make a Patchwork Zipper Bag, please tag us on Instagram @little.fabric.shop so we can see your work and we can share your creativity to inspire other makers. Happy Sewing!
