Lunch Box Bag

After skipping for a week from the tutorial update, I am back with a bag sewing pattern and tutorial. Here it is, lunch box bag with drawstring cover. The drawstring cover acts as the bag closure and will prevent the contents from falling out. The drawstring makes the lunch bag easy to open and close too. In addition, pay attention to the base of the bag, it is not the normal rectangle base, read on to see it. You may add an insulated lining to make a thermal lunch box bag. The bag lays flat when not in use so it won’t take up much space for storage.

Even though I categorized it as a lunch box bag but I think you can basically use it for anything you want to carry around. I would say it is nice to carry a small craft project when you are on the go, for example, crochet, knitting, tatting, small hand-sew patchwork, etc….

There are another 2 needle felting pattern and tutorial in the queue waiting to be written and published but I have to put them aside to author this lunch box bag tutorial in priority. This is due to loads of feedback (I love the requested feedback, please pour again!!!) I received from emails and messages requesting to share the lunch box bag when I previewed the work in progress in Craft Passion’s Facebook Page, so I happily cutting in line especially for you.

By the way, the reason for missing action for a week was because of my son’s birthday preparation. He wanted to celebrate his birthday with his classmates so dearly that he keeps on reminding me of the date and what he would like me to do. It is his last year in kindergarten, he wanted to make a great memory with his classmates before being parted and leaping to formal education. He wanted me to make a goodie bag for each of his classmates that were stuffed with beautiful cookies inside. When the date is getting closer, the reminder gets intensified, and thus my stress… phew!!! For the first time, I have ever sewed that many bags at once and got them completed in 2 days. I sewed a total of 16 lunch box bags as the goodie gift bags for my son’s birthday, 14 for his classmates, 1 for him, and 1 for my daughter. The lunch box bag has a name tag made of washable craft paper, so the kid can write down their name on it. The bag can be washed and reused for years to come. I baked and decorated some pretty cookies (recipe to follow soon), packed and add some treats and stationery items into the bag (peep them here).

To complete his birthday, I baked 20 cupcakes and decorated them with fondant icing (you can see it here) a day before his birthday. I also made a fondant mouse as the cupcake topper just for him and it was all set until the day. I am so happy that his classmates’ loved all the things I created for the party. Upon arrival at the kindergarten, the kids surrounded the table and keep on wowing repeatedly as I set up the birthday counter, they are so adorable!!! Even the moms wrote in the Kindergarten Facebook to express their amazement. Thank you all for leaving such a great memory to my son and it has made a great moment for us!!!

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LUNCH BOX BAG SEWING PATTERN

Yield: approx 5.5″ (W) x 12 1/2″ (H) x 4″ (D) (Including handles)

Active Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Avid Beginner

Estimated Cost: $6 - $10

After skipping for a week from the tutorial update, I am back with a bag sewing pattern and tutorial. Here it is, a lunch box bag with a drawstring cover. The drawstring cover acts as the bag closure and will prevent the contents from falling out. The drawstring makes the lunch bag easy to open and close too. In addition, pay attention to the base of the bag, it is not the normal rectangle base, read on to see it. You may add an insulated lining to make a thermal lunch box bag. The bag lays flat when not in use, so it won’t take up much space for storage.

Enjoy sewing them!

Actual bag dimension excluding handles is approximately 5.5″ (W) x 6 1/2″ (H) x 4″ (D)

Download and print separately SEWING PATTERN for drawing the fabric.

Print

Materials

• Fabric, for bag – 10 1/2″ x 19″
• Interfacing (medium weight) – 10 1/2″ x 19″
• Fabric, for lining – 10 1/2″ x 19″
• Fabric, for drawstring cover – 2 pcs. of 10 1/2″ x 6″
• Fabric, for handles – 2 pcs of 3″ x 14″, or use webbing tape 3/4″ width 2 pcs of 14″
• Drawstring cord, 2 pcs of 24″
• Drawstring beads or stopper, 2 pcs. optional

Tools

• Sewing machine
• Sewing kits
• Pencil or Erasable fabric marker
• Ruler
• Scissors or roller cutter
• Cord threader
• Iron

Instructions

Gather all the materials and tools needed as listed above. Download the sewing pattern sheet for the dimension and cut the fabrics according to the pattern sheet.

Fuse interfacing webbing to the wrong side of the bag fabric with a warm iron. Make sure it is properly fused and no trapped air bubbles between the fabrics.

The bag fabric with interfacing attached. Set aside.

Fold the lining fabric into halve with right side facing each other.
Sew both side edges with 5/16″ seam allowance.

Pinch the vertical centerlines of both front and back piece, open up the lining, bring center to side and seam lines to center. Align the front and back seam lines, the bottom reverse triangle must be perpendicular to the seam lines. Measure 4″ horizontally across the bottom of the triangle of the front corner and sew. Repeat the same at the other corner of the bag. [Update: it is not 4″ from the tip of the triangle, it is 4″ perpendicular to the sewn line, which is also the length that you are going to sew.] Cut away the extra with 5/16″ seam allowance.

The lining should look like this after the seams return to its side position. Set aside.

Fold the long edges of the handle toward the center, leaving about a 1/4″ in between them. Press with the iron to set the crease lines. Fold it into half and press with an iron. Sew a line near the edge on both sides. Repeat the same to the second handle. Set aside.

Place 2 pieces of drawstring fabric with right side facing each other. Sew the short side of the edges till the 1 1/2″ marking. Press seam open.

Topstitch about 1/8″ from the seam line at both sides.

Double fold the top edge to the wrong side to make a 5/8″ pocket for the drawstring. Topstitch 2 lines. Set aside.

Fold the bag fabric into halve, fold the bottom 2″ up. Sew the side with 5/16″ seam allowance.

Turn the bag right side out, expand the base of the bag to have 4″ on the sides and roughly 6″ on the front & back.

You may press it flat like this by simply push the bottom into the bag.

Attach the handle 4 1/2″ apart (inner space), stitch it on about 3/8″ from the top edge. Repeat the same to the other handle.

Turn the drawstring fabric to the wrong side and slip it onto the bag, with drawstring pocket facing down.

Insert the bag and drawstring pieces into the lining piece. Align side seams. Change the facing of the seam allowance if needed to avoid thick fabrics on the same spot.

Sew around with 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving a 3″ to 3 1/2″ opening for turning right side out.

Turn the bag right side out from the opening.

Press the top seam neatly and sew 4 lines within 1 inch from the top edge.

Thread drawstring cord and install stoppers (optional) to complete the lunch box bag. Install name tag to bag if you wish. I used faux nubuck leather aka washable craft paper or kraft paper fabric, you may use felt as an alternative. I stamped the grass and dragonfly by using StazOn Multi-Surface Inkpad, Stone Graystazon. You may lay the bag flat when not in use.

Notes

Seam Allowance: 5/16″ (included in the pattern), otherwise as indicated.

If you are using canvas or upholstery fabric for the bag, you may omit the interfacing.

Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/lunch-box-bag/

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