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Picnic Storage Bag | Sewing Pattern With Video Tutorial

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

A great option for bagmaking beginners, Debbie Shore's zip-up bag is perfect for picnics.

The best picnics often require a lot of stuff and a lot of organizing, so make your life easier with this spacious and sturdy bag with internal pockets. It’s large enough to carry plates, cutlery and napkins or could be used to store your crafty bits and bobs! It’s got inside pockets all round the edge and another pocket in the lid for smaller items. To give it structure, I’ve used Bosal In-R-Form stabilizer which is fusible and easy to sew. For the handles I’ve used webbing but you could make the handles in the same fabric as the bag by cutting two strips of fabric each measuring 40 x 4in (101.5 x 10cm) then simply folding the long edges to the centre, folding in half lengthways and sewing along each long edge (see How to make bag straps).

For the closure, I’ve used a continuous zip so that I could attach two sliders that meet in the middle at the front. In the video I show you how to get your sliders on to the zip and in the right position. Having two sliders makes the bag easy to open, but you could use one long zip if you prefer, and the zip will close at the back. You could also use any standard zip longer than 36in (91.5cm), trimming off the stoppers at each end to make the zip 36in (91.5cm) long before you attach it.

Since this project can be a little tricky, I recommend watching the video before you start. You will also find some useful additional information in the video.

Note: use a ¼in (5mm) seam allowance.

Finished size: 11½ x 11 x 8in (29 x 28 x 20cm).

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You will need:

Equipment

• Sewing machine with a standard foot 
• Optional: zipper foot for your sewing machine 
• Fabric clips 
• Basting spray: I use 505 
• Strong wet fabric glue such as Gutermann HT2 
• Erasable fabric marker 

Materials

• 44 x 35in (112 x 89cm) of outer top fabric: I used a teddies-on-gingham design 
• 44 x 15in (112 x 38cm) of outer base fabric: I used a brown basketweave fabric 
• 44 x 20in (112 x 51cm) of lining fabric: I used mustard-coloured cotton 
• 36 x 19½in (91.5 x 49.5cm) of foam stabilizer: I used Bosal In-R-Form 
• 80in (203cm) of 1in (2.5cm) wide webbing for the handles 
• 36in (91.5cm) zip: I used a length of continuous zip, adding two sliders before trimming to length 
• 75in (190.5cm) of ¾in (2cm) wide bias binding 
• Optional: 12in (30.5cm) of 1/8in (3mm) wide ribbon to trim the zip tabs 

Cut: 

• Your pattern pieces (the lid and base) from foam stabilizer 
• 36 x 10½in (91.5 x 26.5cm) of foam stabilizer 
• 36½ x 8in (93 x 20.5cm) of outer top fabric  
• 36½ x 13in (93 x 33cm) of outer top fabric for the inside pocket  
• 11½ x 11in (29 x 28cm) of outer top fabric for the lid pocket  
• 36½ x 5in (93 x 13cm) of outer base fabric  
• 36½ x 12in (93 x 30.5cm) of lining fabric 
• 5 x 2½in (13 x 6.5cm) of outer top fabric for the lid hinge 

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