The second I bought Sarah Watson’s Dem Bones collection I knew it would be the perfect fabric to create a little collection of bags from. It’s completely adorable and perfect for Halloween!
I started by ironing all of my fabrics and removing all of the selvage edges.
I then cut all of the fabric to make interior and exterior pieces for three different sized bags (one 9″ inch bag, one 6″ inch bag, and one 5″ inch bag).
I paired each bag up with a matching zipper according to size (12″ inch zipper for the 9″ inch bag, 9″inch zipper for the 6″ inch bag, and 6″ inch zipper 5″ inch bag).
I then sewed the interior and exterior fabric pieces to each zipper. I used these two tutorials (one & two) as a guide which provide perfect instructions (better than I could write!).
As you can see, the exterior fabric sewn to the zipper should look like this from the top (left picture) and the interior fabric sewn to the same zipper should look like this underneath (right picture).
To create the bag I sewed around the entire exterior edge with a 1/2″ inch seam allowance, pivoting with my sewing machine foot up at each corner.
When all the sewing was done it was time to turn the bag right side out. I ripped out a few stitches at the bottom of the interior lining and then slowly pulled the bag right side out.
When using this method it looks like the inside lining is the outside of the bag but after unzipping the zipper, I turned the bag right side out again bringing the exterior fabric to the outside.
I then turned the entire bag inside out again to trim any excess strings and the ends of the zipper.
I then turned the bag right side out and sewed up the small hole at the bottom of the interior lining.
That’s it! I just repeated these steps with each bag. This whole project is all about method and can be totally individualized with all kinds of different fabric and zippers (heck, I’ve used this method twice before).
I’m super happy with how each of the three bags came out.
I think the wee skull bag is my favorite! Eeep! I don’t know!
I am just completely in love with this fabric!
Happy Halloween!!!
Domestocrat 
Great tutorial! I’m going to use it for a small project soon. Thank you!
Cool – let me know what you make!
Really love those fabrics together!
Thank you!
Did you know that I was looking for instructions for zippered bags? Geez, it’s like you read my mind! I love the project! Thanks so much for picking Dem Bones, I really do hope you like it!
I LOVE it! Thank you for checking my blog out and for this comment. I’m such a huge fan of yours :)