sonal gupta 
Make your own travel bag with a zipper pocket, curved corners and a sturdy stabilizer sleeve. Follow along with Annie as she shows you how to assemble the fabric side strips and zipper strip with the pockets, stitch them together and add a zipper.
Pin the two 12’’ handle pieces to the top inside edge of the back piece exterior side up, 1/8’’ from the edge. Stitch across the ends.
Size
This is a large bag, with room for everything from a laptop and lots of clothing to shoes and travel accessories. I used a ripstop nylon fabric for this one with a coordinating zipper and a few other small accents in the same color. It’s not a bag for a new bag maker but I’d highly recommend it to those with some experience under their belt! The pattern is very well written and the byAnnie website includes videos for every step of the process.
Start with two outer pieces measuring 7 7/8″ x 8 5/8″. Pin right sides together and stitch along the edge of the bottom corner, catching both layers at the lower seam/fold. Then cut off the excess triangle of fabric, leaving a 1″ seam allowance.
Next take a [DUFFLE BOTTOM LINING PIECE] and a [DUFFLE FRONT LINING PIECE]. Mark the top edge with a line on each (red lines in photo above). Fold the edges of the pocket up so they are not touching the interior fabric and press. Pin and then sew around the curved edge of each pocket, taking care to back stitch when you reach the marked sewing line.
Bind the long sides of the bag body piece with 1/2” wide binding, removing the paper strip from the Wondertape before stitching if you are using it. Insert the bag lining into the outer bag, matching up the side seams.
Fabric
If you’re not used to sewing with this kind of fabric, it’s a good idea to wash and iron it before starting. This will prevent the fabric from shrinking or changing shape as you stitch it together. You can also use a sheet of greaseproof paper or waxed paper to help prevent paint transfer when you’re painting the bag.
Make sure your fabric is strong enough for the purpose of this bag – it should be strong and woven with little to no stretch. Ripstop nylon is ideal but if you can’t get it, any thick woven cotton fabric will work. If you’re unsure, try making a small prototype from some scraps of your chosen fabric and use that to test the strength of the fabric before attempting a bigger project.
Measure the length and circumference of your transportation bag and add a few inches to both measurements for seams. Use this as a guide to cut the fabric for the body of your bag. You’ll also need a piece of ripstop nylon for the strap and some lining fabric to make the inside of your bag.
Stitch the lining pieces together, right sides together and with a 3/8″ seam allowance. If you want to self-line the pocket pieces, fuse Peltex to them before stitching. Use clips to clip the top zipper lining pieces together so they won’t get in the way when you’re stitching the exterior of the bag together.
Pattern
This is a travel bag pattern that includes a train case bottom and can be used as an overnight bag, carry-on or diaper bag. It’s easy to make and is perfect for organizing toiletries, makeup and other travel necessities. It also works well as a craft or sewing bag for carrying your tools and projects.
Using your sewing machine, stitch the bag body pieces together along their top and side seams. Then add the train case bottom pieces to the sides of the bag and stitch again. You may need to add additional stitches to ensure that the seams are tight and secure.
Once the top is finished, it’s time to add the handles. First, make sure that the measurements on [DUFFLE FRONT PIECE] and [DUFFLE BACK PIECE] match up. You can do this by measuring across the rounded curve and around the marking on the fabric (red lines in RIGHT photo).
Next, sew the handles to the bag lining along their length. When you finish, you should have a long piece of fabric with four thicknesses of material. Pin the strap to the lining, making sure that it isn’t twisted. Sew along the pinned edge, using a 3/8” seam allowance. Then turn the bag right side out and stitch the opening closed. Use a ladder stitch, if needed.
Sewing
Whether you’re going away for the weekend or a day in the sun, travel bags are the perfect solution for keeping your essentials organized. These free patterns and tutorials will help you make a duffel bag, tote, jewelry roll, overnight bag or even a backpack so that you can keep your belongings safe and secure on the road.
Before starting to sew, make sure you have the correct fabric and measurements for your project. You’ll need lining, interfacing and a zipper for most of these bag projects. The fabric should be lightweight enough for the machine to stitch, but not too thin so it won’t hold up when used.
Start by stitching the lining and outer pieces together using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. This will form the base of your bag. Next, add a gusset to the bottom of the bag by folding in the edges of each side. Stitch around the edges of the gusset to close up the hole created by this process.
To finish the bag, hem all of the raw edges except for one at the top edge. To do this, fold the top edge down by about 1/4 inch and press. Then fold it down again by another 1/4 inch and stitch. This will create the casing for the drawstring ribbon.
