How to Make Diaper Bags

A baby may be small but he requires many essential items to be content. The right diaper bag should be functional but fashionable. It should allow you to be efficient and contain everything you need to take care of your baby. Diaper bags need compartments that allow you to access pampers, baby lotion, bottles, pacifiers and other necessary items. Diaper bags come in many different styles, but you can make your own. It's easy to customize your diaper bag with the fabric and color that you want.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• 1 yard of sturdy material
• Fusible interfacing
• Measuring tape
• Iron
• Sewing pins
• Sewing thread
• Sewing machine
• 2 yards of strap fabric

Instructions

1. Choose decorating/upholstery weight material because it is sturdier and heavier than average quilting cottons. Wash your fabric because you need to allow for any shrinkage.

2. Cut two pieces of fabric measuring 12 inches long by 16 inches wide. These rectangles are the front and back panels of your diaper bag.

3. Cut two pieces of fabric measuring 12 inches long and 6 inches wide. These rectangles are for the sides of your diaper bag.

4. Cut two pieces of fabric measuring 6 inches long and 16 inches wide. These pieces are for the bottom of your diaper bag.

5. Cut fusible interfacing into pieces that match the size of the fabric pieces that you will be working with. Match up the bumpy side of the interfacing with the wrong side of its matching piece. The interfacing will give the fabric more support. Iron the fabric to the interfacing.

6. Cut three pieces of fabric measuring 8 inches long and 7 inches wide. These pieces make up the gusseted pockets.

Create the Diaper Bag Pockets

1. Fold the pocket edges 1/2 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric. Iron the folds flat.

2. Fold the pocket's top edge 1 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric. Iron the fold flat. Use matching thread to sew the lower edge of this fold.

3. Create a small pleat that is 1 1/2 inches wide in each side of the pocket. These pleats will be your gussets. Iron the pleats flat.

4. Use pins to attach the gusseted pockets to the bottom of the front panels of the diaper bag. Position them 1/2 inch from the edge of your fabric.

5. Sew the bottom edges of each pocket. Sew the hemmed edges of the sides of these pockets. Avoid sewing the top layer of fabric on the gussets so that they are able to open.

Create the Diaper Bag

1. Lay the front piece of the diaper bag with the right side facing up. Position the side pieces right side down on the top of the front piece. Line up the side pieces with the side edges of the top piece. Use pins to attach the sides of the diaper bag to the front piece. Iron the seams open.

2. Pin the unsewn edge of one side of the diaper bag with the side edge of the back piece of the bag. These pieces of fabric should have the right sides facing each other. Sew them together. Repeat the same technique to sew the side piece to the opposite side of the bag.

3. Lay the two bottom pieces of fabric together, with the interfacing tucked in the middle and the fabric facing out. Sew the edges of this rectangle, allowing 1/4 inch seam.

4. Attach the bottom piece to the lower edges of the bag's back, front and sides. Stitch the bottom piece to the diaper bag. Use a reverse zigzag stitch to reinforce the bottom of the bag.

5. Create a top hem by folding the top edge of your diaper bag 1/2 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric. Then fold it 1/2 inch over again. Iron the fold flat, then sew it in place.

6. Cut your strap material into two matching pieces. Lay fusible interfacing in between the strap pieces. The interfacing will give you a thicker and sturdier strap. Fold in the strap edges toward the interfacing and iron the pieces. Sew along both edges of the strap.

7. Turn your diaper bag inside out. Position the strap to the top outer edges of the fabric on each side of the bag. Pin and sew the strap into place.

References

• Make a Diaper Bag

Resources

• Free Baby Craft Patterns and Projects