How to Make a Lunch Bag

Follow these simple steps to designing and making your own lunch bag.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Fleece
• Clear Vinyl
• Velcro
• Interfacing
• Matching Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Scissors
• Iron
• Fabric Paint

1. 
   Lunch bag pattern

   Lay out your pattern pieces. You can use a pre-packaged pattern such as Simplicity 4294 bag style D, or create your own.
   
   In order to create your lunch bag pattern you will need some brown craft paper, ruler, and a pencil.
   
   Trace and cut out a square 9" x 10" (bag body), rectangle 5" x 10" and round the corners for a long oval shape (lunch bag bottom), rectangle 4" x 10" (straps)

2. 
   Interfacing Lunch Bag

   Lay out front fabric piece of lunch bag and straps on interfacing with shiny side of interfacing facing wrong side of fabric.
   
   Pin and cut out pieces.
   
   Use hot iron to fuse interfacing to wrong side of fabric.

3. 

   Trace Shape with cookie cutter or stencil on contrasting fabric - cut out and pin in place. Stitch, using zig zag, shape to the front panel of lunch bag.

4. 
   Lunch Bag Fleece

   Next, middle lining from fleece. Lay front pieces of lunch bag on top fleece, right side up, pin and cut.
   
   Stitch fleece backing using a 1/4" seam allowance around all pieces to secure them.
   
   Fleece acts like an insulation for the inside of your lunch bag.

5. 
   Lunch Bag Vinyl lining

   Using lining pieces, lay out and cut clear vinyl pieces for your lunch bag.
   
   Stitch around vinyl and fabric using a 1/4" seam allowance on each piece.

6. 
   Lunch bag closure

   Cut and attach long stripes of Velcro, 2" from the top portion of each side of lunch bag lining on the vinyl side.

7. 
   Lunch bag lining

   Stitch lining of bag together. Start by placing the two panel pieces right side together (right side = vinyl side). Stitch down each side leaving top and bottom open.
   
   Then, place bottom piece, right side up, facing the right side of panels (vinyl matching vinyl) of lining and stitch around bottom.

8. 
   Sewing lunch bag

   Stitch front pieces of your lunch bag together. Place front panel pieces right sides together and sew down each side. Then, place bottom piece, right side facing the right side (fabric matching fabric) of bag and stitch around. Reinforce the bottom of the bag by stitching around twice.

9. 
   Lunch Bag Strap

   Fold strap pieces in half - length wise. Fold in 1/2" on the raw edge side. Stitch down side of strap. Stitch down folded side of strap for unity. Repeat for second strap.

10. 
    Lunch Bag Strap Placement

    Pin strap on front side of bag as pictured. Once you have pinned each strap, on either side of bag, stitch strap ends in place.

11. 

    With right sides together, slide lining up over the front of lunch bag and stitch around the top. Leave a 4" - 5" opening between straps for turning.

12. 

    Turn lunch bag right side out.

13. 
    Lunch bag

    Fold in opening and stitch completely around the top of lunch bag. (recommended - 1/4" seam allowance).

14. 

    Personalize your the front of your lunch bag with fabric paint.

15. Pack your lunch inside. Your ready to go to school, work, sight seeing, or on a picnic.

Tips & Warnings

• Use tissue paper or wax paper when stitching vinyl.
• Once your lunch bag is finished, turn inside out and run a bead of hot glue down the seams to seal your vinyl from food leakages.
• Have fun with your design.
• Vinyl will stick to the bottom of your machine and cause your machine to stitch incorrectly or shear needles if you don't use some type of paper or fabric on each side.
• Friends may adore your lunch bag and ask you to make them one too!

Resources

• Design Handbags

[FrazzledNanny]

on 5/11/2009 I love your pictures with this article on making a lunch bag. You make it look very easy with your great pictures. I put this in my favorites. 5*

[jenng]

on 4/21/2009 Great article on how to make a lunch bag 5*