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Hi friends! Today, I am sharing a quick-and-easy version of a kids' size duffle bag. You could easily make it a little fancier by piecing the front or adding hand straps or hardware, but I wanted to make it as user friendly as possible. This is just a basic jumping off point that you could stick with or definitely add to. I do think it’s mighty cute as is. Let's get started.
Supplies:
**All seam allowances are ¼” unless otherwise stated.
Foam shrinks when quilted, so to begin we are going to want to cut all of our pieces extra large, quilt them and then trim them down.
Cut your foam to two pieces 19” wide by 15” tall. Cut two rectangles of your main and lining fabric to the same measurements. Fuse the main fabric rectangles to the fronts of your foam and the lining rectangles to the backs; if you are using single-sided foam stabilizer, you can use SpraynBond Basting Adhesive to secure the lining pieces to the back of the foam. Take to your sewing machine and quilt as desired.
Once you’ve finished quilting your rectangles, you need to trim them down to size. Trim each to 17.5”wide by 13.5” tall.
From the remainder of your lining fabric, cut (2) 2.5”x18” strips and then cut the rest into 2.25”-wide strips for binding.
Take your 2.5”x18" strips and fold them in half, so they each measure 1.25”x18”. We will use this to cover the top raw edge of our duffle bag.
Place the first binding strip on top of one of your panels with the raw edge facing up. Sew just along that top edge using a ¼" seam allowance. Press the fabric up and then fold it back over the top, sandwiching your foam inside. Use an iron to get it to lay flat. I did end up using a little HeatnBond Fabric Fuse just to keep it nice and crisp and in place.
Next, use your PeelnStick Basting Tape to install the zipper. Run it along the edge of one side of your zipper tape. Take off the paper. Line the zipper tape up under the panel where we just folded the fabric binding strip under and then press to hold in place.
Take panel to your machine and top stitch along the top and bottom edges of your binding strip. This will keep the binding in place as well as the zipper tape.
Repeat with the second panel on the opposite side.
Once the zipper is installed, line up the bottom edges, right sides together, and sew together using a ¼” seam allowance. Cover the seam with one of your 2.25” binding strips. Fold it in half, and attach it just like we did with the binding covering the top edge before attaching our zipper.
Open the zipper.
Next sew both sides. Before covering those seams, let's box our corners.
Measure a 2.5” square from each corner.
After you’ve drawn out your 2.5” square in each corner, cut them out. Next, cover those two side seams with 2.25” binding strips.
Now, let’s sew our box corners starting on the bottom. Pinch the two seams together, flattening them out, and pin or clip. Sew the seam. Repeat for other bottom corner.
For the two top boxed corners, we will be adding our webbing in. Grab your 24” length of webbing. Slip the webbing inside the bag, making sure it doesn’t twist. Center one end of the webbing with the end of the zipper tape at one boxed corner. Sew just like we did the bottom edges. Pin or clip the other end of the webbing on the opposite corner and sew.
Cover those four boxed corner inside seams with binding, turn bag right side out and finger press the seams.
Add a fun zipper pull, if you wish, and you’re done! I hope you love it and had a fun time sewing with me today!
By Lisa Summerhays
