How to Sew Cosmetic Bags

Cosmetic bags are handy for keeping your makeup in one place and for keeping your purse organized. If you make your own cosmetic bag, you have the option of choosing exactly what material to make it out of, the enclosure style and the pattern. You can purchase the materials that you need to make your own cosmetic bag at any crafts store or anywhere crafts supplies are sold.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards fabric (1 yard for inside of bag, 1 yard for outside of bag)
• Dinner plate
• Pen
• Pins
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Needle
• Button
• Snap or zipper

Instructions

1. Take two different pieces of fabric and place one on top of the other so that the edges are lined up.

2. Place a large dinner plate on the fabric and use the outer edge as a stencil to trace a circle. Use a pen to lightly trace against the edge of the plate. The dimensions of your cosmetic bag depend on the size of the plate you trace.

3. Stick a few pins around the circle you just traced to hold the fabric together. Make sure you get the pins through both pieces of fabric. You can now cut along the line you traced.

4. Fold the circle in half and mark with your pen the line that runs down the center of the circle. You can also use a ruler or yardstick to measure through the middle. Cut along the center line. You will now have four pieces of fabric---two that will serve as the outer fabric, and two that will make up the inner lining of the bag.

5. Take the pins out of the fabric and turn the two pieces that will be your outer fabric so that the inner sides face out, as if the bag was inside-out. Place the two pieces that will be the inner lining of the bag on each side and stick pins through all of the layers so that the edges are all aligned.

6. Measure about a 1/2 inch in from the edge---this is where you will put your stitching. Run a straight stitch by hand or with a sewing machine along the curved part of the semi-circle. You should be able to see where the opening of the bag will be---do not sew it shut. Secure the ends of your stitching by running the needle back and forth a few times.

7. Take the pins out and place them along the straight edge of the semi-circle to hold together the two sides of the inner lining and the outer pieces. You will need to sew this part by hand so you don't accidentally sew the opening of the bag shut. Secure your end stitches.

8. Turn the bag right-side-out; you now have the main part of your cosmetic bag. For the enclosure, you can sew a button to the inside of it with a slit for it to fit through; sew in a snap or a zipper.

References

• Simple Makeup Bag

Resources

• Simple Makeup Bag