Structured Bag with Inner Pockets and Strap
Presenting a chic and functional sewing pattern for a structured, duffel-style bag, featuring elegant top handles, a secure zip closure, and practical inner pockets.
When To Wear:
- Everyday Elegance: Perfect for adding a sophisticated touch to your daily attire, suitable for work or casual outings.
- Travel & Weekend Getaways: Its spacious, structured design makes it ideal for carrying essentials for short trips.
- Fashion Statement: a versatile accessory that can be customized in a variety of fabrics to complement any outfit.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a rectangular, duffel-style body with a structured form, maintaining its shape even when partially filled.
Handles: Integrated top handles, designed for comfortable hand-carrying.
Closure: a main top zipper closure keeps belongings secure.
Pockets: Features internal pockets for organized storage of smaller items, secured with a separate zipper.
Construction: Designed with distinct side and bottom panels, creating a clean, architectural finish.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. This project involves applying fusible interfacing, inserting zippers (main and internal pocket), constructing a lining, and working with multiple structured fabric pieces.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose dense fabrics that provide structure and durability:
- Dense natural or blended fiber fabrics
- Corduroy
- Suiting fabric
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Lining fabric
- Zipper (for main closure)
- Zipper (for inner pocket)
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, they include seam allowances. If the contour is single, the patterns do not include seam allowances. Seam allowances: all seams 1cm. Attention! First, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90cm to 150cm) to determine how much material you will need (don't forget to account for paired and symmetrical pieces).
- From main fabric:
- Main – 1 piece
- Side – 2 pieces
- Lower side – 2 pieces
- Upper side – 4 pieces
- Strap – 2 pieces
- From lining fabric:
- Lining for main – 1 piece
- Lining for side – 2 pieces
- Lining for upper side – 4 pieces
- Lining for lower side – 2 pieces
- Large pocket lining – 1 piece
- Small pocket lining – 1 piece
- From fusible interlining: Main, side, lower side, upper side, strap.
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- Fuse interlining to the main and side parts, lower and upper side parts, and the strap.
- Fold the strap in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch along the long side. Turn the strap right side out and topstitch 0.1 cm from the edge.
- Place the main and side parts right sides together and stitch, inserting the handle.
- Stitch the upper side to the side of the bag, ending the stitching strictly before the lower seam allowance of the upper side.
- Mark the pocket placement on the lining. Fuse interlining to the zipper area. Cut an opening along the pocket entrance; at a distance of 1 – 1.5 cm from the end of the pocket, make diagonal cuts. Fold seam allowances inwards. Place the zipper under the edges of the pocket opening so that the teeth are visible. Topstitch the pocket opening 0.2 cm from the edge. Stitch the large pocket lining to the upper zipper tape, and the small lining to the lower zipper tape. Stitch the lining edges.
- Place the main and side parts of the lining right sides together and stitch, leaving an opening in one of the seams for turning later. Stitch the upper side of the lining to the side of the lining, ending the stitching strictly before the lower seam allowance of the upper side.
- Place the bag and bag lining right sides together. Insert the zipper between them. Align the edges. Stitch the pieces along the zipper teeth. Turn the pieces right side out.
- Stitch the lower side of the bag and lining to the edges of the upper side parts and zipper. Then insert the lower side into the side of the bag. Insert the lower side of the lining into the bag lining.
- Turn the bag right side out through the opening. Stitch the opening closed.
