DIY Toiletry Bag

Getting ready to go back to school? Try making our easy toiletry bag tutorial to keep your toiletries all in one place!

What you’ll need:

• A4 paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Two different cotton fabrics
• Calico
• 1 zipper
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Iron
• Needle
• Thread

Let’s get started!

1. Let’s start with the pattern! To begin, use the photos below to draw out your pattern. I have included all of the measurements on the right sides. Just make sure you add a seam allowance along the 20cm side pattern unlike me otherwise it will cause you a few problems down the line! Cut out your pattern pieces and lay them on your fabric. You’ll need 1 base piece out of fabric and 2 side pieces.

2. I would normally position the pattern right up against the edge of the fabric but I wanted a particular part of the fabric!

3. With the side pattern piece, place it against the fold of the fabric. This way you can cut out two pieces at the same time. Just remember to add that 1cm seam allowance along the bottom!

4. When you have cut the pieces out, this is what you should have. Out of the same fabric, you used for the sides, cut out a 5cm x 5cm square. I’ve just given my fabric a bit of an iron so it’s easier to work with.

5. Repeat these same steps for the calico minus the small extra square.

6. Now we can start sewing! Starting with the coloured fabric, sew the shorter side of the base and the side together, using a 1cm seam allowance. Repeat this for the other side too.

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7. Repeat these exact steps for the calico pieces too. Pop these to the side whilst we work on the zip.

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8. Take the small square and fold over one of the edges by 1cm and sew this right along the end of the zipper using a straight stitch on your sewing machine.

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9. Now piece together the coloured fabric pieces and the calico with all of the raw edges facing inward.

10. Lay the zipper down the side edge of the fabric so that the zip is facing downwards so when it is flipped over to the right side all of the raw edges are hidden. Sew along as close to the zipper teeth as you can.

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11. Now we want to attach the other side of the zipper to the other (light blue) side of the fabric. Join the two in exactly the same way as the last. You should have something that looks like this and you should be able to reach your hand right through, sort of like a fabric tunnel.

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12. Using your sewing machine, stitch right across both ends of the zipper, joining the top and base together. Make sure you have opened up the zip a little otherwise it’ll be a little tricky to open!

13. Now puff up the bag a little so the sides are standing up and you should have openings on each of the corners. Pinch the corners together and sew across them using a 1cm seam allowance and when you have finished it should look like this:

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14. You can turn it out the right way and leave it like this but I’m going to create a lining that’ll go inside the bag to hide all of the raw edges.

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15. To make the lining, we’ll need the same pattern pieces as before but this time we can join the pattern together so we’re only working with one piece of fabric. Join the base and the side pattern piece along the seam allowances, to make one pattern.

16. Once you have cut your fabric, fold the sides into the middle exactly. Make sure the patterned side of the fabric is on the inside. Fold back the middle edges by 0.5cm. This will lay against the zipper.

17. Stitch across the ends just like before and puff up the bag and stitch the corners together.

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18. Trim down the excess fabric along the seams and turn the bag inside out. The pattern on the fabric should now be facing out.

19. Now turn the bag with the zipper inside out. Place the lining over the top and using a needle and thread stitch them together using an invisible stitch along the zipper stitching. Make sure you stitch all the way down the zipper so the ends don’t show through.

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20. Once you have finished stitching, turn the bag back through the right way and close the zipper.

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And we’re done! This handy little bag can store whatever you like. It’ll be great for small back to school items such as hair bands or bobby pins! Keep them all in one place and they won’t get lost!

If you have a go don’t forget to share your makes with us on Instagram @aboxofbuttons or on Twitter @aBoxofButtons! See you next time!