How to Make a Quilted Cosmetic Bag

Making your own quilted cosmetic bag is a fun and rewarding sewing project. These bags make great gifts or can be a stylish accessory for yourself. With some basic sewing skills and supplies, you can create a custom quilted bag to suit your style.

 

Choose Your Fabric

The first step is to head to the fabric store to select your fabrics. Some good fabric choices for quilted bags include:

Cotton quilting fabrics: These are always a classic choice. Cotton is durable and comes in a huge variety of fun prints.

Home decor or upholstery fabrics: These heavier fabrics make a sturdy bag. Choose a patterned fabric you love.

Soft corduroy or velveteen: For a rich, luxurious feel. These will make a softly padded bag.

In addition to your main fabric, you'll need a fabric for the lining. A lightweight cotton or polyester fabric works well so the lining won't add too much bulk. You'll also need batting to pad your bag and give it that quilted look.

 

Cut Out Your Pieces

Once you've selected your fabrics, it's time to cut out the pieces you'll need. Gather these supplies:

Bag pattern pieces

Rotary cutter and mat

Ruler

Fabric scissors

Fabric marking pencil or chalk

Use your pattern to cut out:

1 outer bag piece

1 lining piece

2 batting pieces (one for outer bag, one for flap)

Be sure to cut the batting pieces slightly smaller than the outer bag pieces to prevent batting from peeking out when sewing. Mark any pattern markings, darts or pleats from the pattern onto your fabric pieces with a fabric marker.

 

Sew Inner Bag

With right sides facing, layer the outer bag piece with one batting piece. Pin together. Sew around the edges with a 1⁄2" seam allowance, leaving a 4" opening along one side for turning right side out later. Clip corners diagonally. Turn the bag right side out through the opening. Push out corners gently with a blunt tool like a chopstick. Press flat, folding under raw edges on opening. Topstitch all the way around the opening edge to close it up.

 

Make and Attach Flap

Layer flap outer piece with batting, right sides facing. Pin and sew around edges with 1⁄2" seam allowance, leaving an opening for turning. Clip corners and turn flap right side out. Push out corners fully and press flat. Fold under raw edges of opening and topstitch closed.

Pin the open edge of the flap to the back of the outer bag, aligning side and bottom raw edges. The right side of the flap should face the right side of the bag. Sew in place along the aligned raw edges.

 

Sew Outer Bag to Lining

With right sides facing, slide the sewn outer bag inside the lining piece, matching side seams and aligning raw edges at the top. Pin well and sew all around the top edge with a 1⁄2" seam allowance.

 

Finish the Bag

Turn the finished bag right side out through the lining side so the lining hides the seams inside. Push corners out fully and press top edges neatly. Topstitch all around the top edge for a tidy polished finish.

And that's it - you now have a custom quilted cosmetic bag! For a finishing touch, consider adding an appliqué, embroidery or decorative trim. Have fun sewing up quilted bags in all your favorite fabrics!