Sewing a Chic Cosmetic Bag from a Placemat

With some basic sewing skills, it's easy to repurpose a placemat into a one-of-a-kind cosmetic bag! This thrifty upcycle project lets you turn inexpensive placemats from the dollar store or thrift shop into customized makeup pouches and toiletry totes.

We'll guide you through selecting the best placemat material, prepping and cutting your fabric, and sewing a professional-looking cosmetic case. Follow along to create cute makeup bags on a budget!

Pick the Perfect Placemat Fabric

Almost any fabric placemat can be refashioned into a cosmetics case. But for durability and structure, we recommend:

Cotton canvas - Sturdy, holds shape well, easily washed

Vinyl - Waterproof, wipes clean easily, great for bathroom items

Laminated cotton - Soft with a wipeable coating, very versatile

Outdoor fabric - Durable and weather-resistant

Avoid very thin or stretchy placemats, which won't hold their shape when sewn. Inspect secondhand placemats closely before purchasing.

Prepare Your Placemat for Sewing

Once you've found some placemat material you love, get it ready for transformation:

Wash and dry - Launder to preshrink fabric and remove any stains

Trim to size - Cut down to a rectangle at least 15" x 11"

Overlock edges - Finish raw edges to prevent fraying

Press flat - Give it a good steam iron to smooth wrinkles

Now the fabric panel is neatly prepped and ready to take shape as a cute cosmetic case!

Cut Pieces and Mark Guidelines

Lay your fabric panel flat and use a fabric marker and ruler to trace cutting lines:

Mark a rectangle about 11" x 7" for the bag body

Cut 1 x 20" strip for the strap

Cut a 2" x 7" strip for the zipper closure

Use masking tape to indicate stitching margins at 1⁄2 inch all around the main rectangle. This is your sewing guideline.

Install the Zipper Closure

The zipper enables your cosmetic bag to open and close securely. Centered zippers give a sleek look.

Pin the zipper's closed teeth to the right side of the 2" x 7" fabric strip. Ensure zipper extends past fabric edges. Sew close to teeth.

Press strip open and center zipper teeth along one 11" edge of the main rectangle, right sides together. Pin then sew in place.

Fold over the raw edges, press, and topstitch all around for a tidy finish.

Shape and Sew the Bag

Align the overlocking edges of the main fabric rectangle, right sides facing. Sew around three sides using 1⁄2 inch seam allowance.

Clip corners, turn the bag right side out through the open end, and use a point turner to neatly poke out corners.

Add Straps and Finishing Touches

Edgestitch all the way around the top opening to reinforce the shape. Fold over and seam or fuse the 20" long strap piece into a loop.

Attach both strap ends to one side of the bag about 2 inches down from the top.

Finally, sew across the opening to close up the bottom. Add any decorative patches or tassels if desired.

With that, your crafty placemat cosmetics case is ready to hold makeup, toiletries, art supplies, or small accessories in style!