How to sew a wash bag

This simple wash bag is both pretty and practical. It’s very useful for storing your shampoo, soap and toothpaste when you’re travelling.

It also makes a great gift for friends or family – especially if they have a holiday planned! You can even personalise it by adding a monogram using our free templates.

It’s simple enough to make that you could easily make your own wash bag in an afternoon.

Fabrics used

• The fabrics used are from the Les Petits collection by Amy Sinibaldi.
• Main fabric: Petits Dots, Midnight.
• Lining fabric: Petits Strokes, Midnight.

Notes

• Use a 1cm (³⁄₈in) seam allowance.
• Download the alphabet templates needed here.
• Our wash bag is monogrammed – this is done before the bag is assembled. Using the alphabet templates, place your fabric right side up over the letters and trace onto the main fabric. The bottom edge of the letters needs to be 14cm (5¹⁄₂in) down from the top short edge, with the last letter of the embroidery ending 9cm (3⁵⁄₈in) from the right long edge. Embroider the letters in backstitch using three strands of stranded cotton.

You will need:

• Main fabric (45x40cm (18x16in))
• Lining fabric (45x40cm (18x16in))
• Iron-on medium weight interfacing (45x40cm (18x16in))
• Zip (35cm (14in))
• Stranded cotton
• Matching sewing thread
• Basic sewing kit

Cutting out

Step 1

From the main fabric cut:

• Outer: 32x42cm (12⁵⁄₈ x 16¹⁄₂in).
• Tabs: cut two pieces 9x7cm (3⁵⁄₈ x 2³⁄₄in).

Step 2

From the contrast fabric cut:

• Lining: 32x42cm (12⁵⁄₈ x 16¹⁄₂in).
• Binding trim: four pieces 4x12cm (1⁵⁄₈ x 4³⁄₄in).

Step 3

From the iron-on interfacing cut:

• Main bag: 32x42cm (12⁵⁄₈ x 16¹⁄₂in).
• Tabs: two pieces 9x7cm (3⁵⁄₈ x 2³⁄₄in).

Making the bag outer

Step 1

Press your interfacing onto the wrong side (WS) of the main fabric outer and two tabs.

Step 2

Place the zip with teeth facing down on the right side (RS) of the short outer edge.

Step 3

Place the lining piece RS down on top to create a sandwich. Pin them together, then sew in place using a zip foot.

Step 4

Wrap your fabrics to the other side and sew on the zip in the same way.

Step 5

Turn and press so the outer and lining fabrics are WS together, then topstitch along the joined fabric edges close to the zip.

Step 6

With the zip pull open and in the middle of the fabric body, close the zip teeth by machine sewing backwards and forwards close to the ends. Cut off the excess.

Attaching the tabs

Step 1

Fold one tab in half widthways, RS facing, and stitch together down the length.

Step 2

Turn RS out and press with the seam running down the centre of the back. Fold in half, matching raw edges, and press.

Step 3

Repeat to make the other tab.

Step 4

Turn the bag WS out so the lining is on the outside and fold it together so the zip lies exactly down the centre of the top edge and press, then open the zip to the centre.

Step 5

Slip one tab between the outer fabric layers so it is centred on top of the zip and matches the raw edges.

Step 6

Sew across this side seam of the bag, encasing the edges of the tab as you go. Repeat this for the other tab and bag end.

Cutting the corners

Step 1

Mark a 5x5cm (2x2in) square at all four corners of the bag. The marked line is your stitching line.

Step 2

Cut 1cm (3/8in) outside this line, so you’re cutting a 4cm (15/8×15/8in) square at all four corners.

Binding the seams

Step 1

Take one binding strip and fold the long edges WS together into the centre and press.

Step 2

Unfold then fold the raw edges so they meet at the centre crease. Fold in half again to encase the raw edges and press.

Step 3

Fold this bias strip around one of the stitched side seams to cover all the raw edges, trimming to fit if necessary, then hand-sew it into place down both sides.

Step 4

Repeat this with another binding strip at the other side seam.

Boxing the corners

Step 1

Pull one of the corners apart and pin it RS together so the side seam runs down the centre and creates a box shape. Stitch together.

Step 2

Bind with one of the bias strips in the same way as for the side seams, but turn the short ends under to the inside for a neat finish.

Step 3

Repeat this with all four corners and then turn RS out to finish.

You’ve finished! Take your completed wash bag on your travels or give it to someone as a useful present.

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Jessica Entwistle

Jess is a fabric crafts designer who’s work is regularly published in Simply Sewing and Love Patchwork & Quilting magazines. She shares her work on her website http://www.jellybgood.com. She inherited her love of fabric, colour and sewing from her mother and specializes in creating easy-to-sew, accessible designs with a fresh modern style, making her projects popular with magazine readers and crafters online alike. She’s got a thing for neon threads and a serious love of fabric. She runs her own craft business creating everything from hair slides and brooches to bunting and quilts. She has previously appeared as a guest designer on Sewing Quarter TV and shares her work on Instagram @jessjelllybgood

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