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How to Sew a Crossbody Bag with Zippers and a Pocket

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Have you mastered my easy crossbody bag from a rectangle? Are you ready to take your sewing skills to the next level? Let’s dive into a fun and rewarding project: a crossbody bag with zippers and a front pocket.

 

crossbody bag pattern with zippers and pockets (5)

 

crossbody bag pattern with zippers and pockets (2)

 

This stylish accessory is perfect for travel or everyday use, allowing you to keep your essentials secure and organized. Don’t be intimidated by its appearance – with a little patience and practice, you’ll be able to create this beautiful bag.

 

how to sew a crossbody bag with pocket

 

how to sew a crossbody bag with pocket

I’ve designed this tutorial to be as clear and easy to follow as possible, so you can enjoy the process without any stress. Let’s get started!

 

If you wish to learn how to sew a simple crossbody bag from a rectangle, click on the picture below:

 

how to sew a cross body bag

 

How to Sew a Crossbody Bag with Zippers and a Pocket

 

***The seam allowance is 3/8- inch unless otherwise specified.

 

Supplies Needed:

Heavy-weight cotton fabric in a desired print and color for the bag outer, straps and pocket- 1/2 yard ( Here I have used thick cotton fabric used for sewing pants. You may use canvas, denim or even corduroy)

**If your fabric isn’t thick enough, you may add interfacing. Just cut the same number of pieces for the interfacing as the bag pieces and fuse it to the wrong side of the fabric, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Medium- weight fabric in a coordinating color for the bag lining- 1/2 yard

Zipper in a matching color.

KAM Snaps in a matching color- a pair.

Mason jar lid to round the corner.

Sewing Notions.

 

Gather your supplies.

 

For the bag, you will need to cut fabric pieces in the following dimensions:

 

 

Bag outer- 8.75”W x 11”L  (cut 2).

Bag lining- in the same dimensions as above (cut2).

Bag Pocket- 8.75”W x 8.75”L.

Pocket Lining- in the same dimensions as above.

Pocket Closure Flap- 7.5”W x 5”L.

Pocket Closure Flap Lining- in the same dimension as the above.

Bag strap- 2”W x 46”L.

 

You will get your main pieces like this.

 

And your lining pieces like this.

 

Let’s sew the pocket closure flap first.

 

1) Layer the pocket flap and lining, aligning the edges.
2) Fold it in half and place the jar lid along the corner. Trace the curve along the corner.
3) Cut along the marked curve.

 

Open the pieces and it would look like this with the edges rounded.

 

1)Next layer the flap and lining with the right sides together and edges lined up. Pin and sew around the edge, leaving the straight edge open.
2) Clip the edges to reduce the bulk in the seam.
3) Turn over to the right side, push out the edges and press.

 

Next, we prepare the pocket.

 

Layer the pocket main and lining pieces, with the right sides together and lining up the edges. Pin and sew along one of the edges to join.
Turn over to the right side and press.

 

Take one of the bag outer pieces and place it with the right side up. Place the pocket above it, again with the right side up and lining up the lower and side edges ( the finished edge of the pocket should face the top edge of the bag). Pin and sew around the edges, leaving the top edge of the pocket open.

 

Fold the flap and main piece lengthwise in half and mark the center of the edges of both the pieces. Place the flap piece right side up, on the bag outer piece with pocket, lining up the center marks. Pin and sew the raw edges to join.

 

Next, we prepare the straps.

 

1) Take the strap piece, fold the two long edge towards the wrong side by ½- inch and press.
2) Fold it in half again lengthwise and press once more.
3) Sew the strap shut along the edge of the folds.

 

Take the remaining bag outer piece and place the short edges of the strap 1- inch from both the edges and pin. Sew the strap to the piece.

 

Let’s attach the zipper.

 

Lay the bag outer with the right side up. Lay your zipper face down, zipper pull on the right.

 

Place your lining fabric, right side facing down, on top of the outer piece and align the top edge of the zipper with its raw edge (the zipper is now sandwiched between the outer and lining pieces). Pin the three pieces along the aligned edges.

 

Using a straight stitch, sew the zipper/pieces in place.

 

Open and flip the fabric so the right side of the pieces and the zipper are facing up (zipper should be in the middle).

 

Next take the outer piece with strap and pin or baste the strap along the center to keep it away from getting sewn into the seams.

 

Line up the raw edges of both the remaining bag outer and lining pieces with the free edge of the zipper (make sure that the outer piece is placed above the first outer piece and the lining piece is placed above the first lining piece). The other zipper edge is again sandwiched between the bag outer and lining pieces.  Pin the three pieces along the aligned edges (picture for illustration purposes).

 

The close up of the 3 layers pinned together would look like this(picture for illustration purposes) .

 

Using a straight stitch, sew the zipper/pieces in place. 

 

It would look like this on the right side with the zipper attached. ***Note that before the next step, we need to unzip the zipper about half way. This step is important to make it possible to pull the right side of the bag out.

 

Next flip the bag outer and lining so that the edges of the two bag outer pieces are lined up together and the edges of the two lining pieces are lined up together.
Pin and sew around the edges, leaving about 6 to 7- inches in the lining open to pull the right side out.

 

Clip the corners.

 

Pull the right side out through the opening.

 

Tuck the raw edges in the lining and pin. Sew the opening shut.

 

Push the lining to the inside of the bag.

 

It would look like this once the zipper is closed.

 

crossbody bag pattern with zippers and pockets (2)

You may now attach the KAM snaps and your bag is ready for use!

 

Pin it for later here,

how to sew a crossbody bag with pocket

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