Duffel Bag Free Tutorial & Pattern ~ DIY Tutorial Ideas!

A duffel bag (also spelled duffle) is a large, cloth bag held by a strap or handles that is used to carry personal belongings. James' duffle bag is a nice roomy size with a zip top closure, perfect for hauling items to the beach or as an overnight bag...

You will need...

    white & grey deer fabric
    red & white spot fabric
    'etoile' star oilcloth in red (22.5 cm x 42cm)
    151 cm piping cord
    155 cm Bias binding
    4 silver bag feet
    220 Herringbone tape 25mm wide (red)
    Duffel Bag Pattern

How-to step by step...

Step 1

Start by downloading the free pattern which you can download by clicking the link above in 'what you will need' and cut out the following outer pieces as illustrated above.

Step 2

Using your free downloadable pattern cut out the following lining pieces as illustrated above.

Step 3

Using your free downloadable pattern cut out the following high loft fusible fleece lining pieces as illustrated above. Using an iron, fuse the fleece to the back of the outer fabric panels.

Step 4

Cut out the following oil cloth bag base, piping cord, bias binding and straps as illustrated above.

Step 5

With the outer fabric panels right side together, pin the bottom short edges together.

Step 6

Using a 1cm seam allowance, stitch the panels together and press the seam open.

Step 7

With the right side of the fabric facing you. Grab the herringbone tape.

Step 8

Starting at the base seam, place one strip of the herringbone tape, 11cm away from side edge, pin in place to secure, stopping 12 cm away from the raw edge. Place the other end in line with the base seam, 11cm away from the other side, pin in place to secure, stopping 12 cm away from the raw edge.

Step 9

Starting at the base seam, edge stitch the outer edge of the herringbone tape in place, stopping 12 cm away from the raw edge. With the needle still in place, stitch across the strap and back down the remaining outer edge.

Step 10

For extra support, stitch a cross at the ends where your bag strap loops. Repeat the above steps on other side to create strap.

Step 11

Using a teatowel over the oilcloth, press 1cm seam allowance on the long sides of the rectangle oilcloth base. Place the pressed oilcloth piece over the centre of the base seam, clip in place to secure.

Step 12

Edge stitch round the rectangle to secure in place.

Step 13

Using a sharp pair of scissors or dowel, make four small holes in the oilcloth base. About 6cm away from seam and 4cm in from side edge.

Step 14

Push the bag feet through the holes.

Step 15

Open the wings at the back to secure feet in place.

Step 16

Place your outer bag panels face up on a flat surface. Place your zipper face down along the top edge. Pin in place.

Step 17

Using a zipper foot, sew as close to the zipper as you can along the edge. Turn the zip to the outside and top stitch a decorative line down the side of the zipper teeth.

Step 18

Place your outer right fabric panel face up on a flat surface. Place your zipper face down along the top edge. Pin in place. Using a zipper foot, sew as close to the zipper as you can along the edge. Turn the zip to the outside and top stitch a decorative line down the side of the zipper teeth.

Step 19

Wrap the bias tape, right side out, around the cord. With the raw edges even, pin and then machine baste close to the cord, with the zipper foot or piping foot on your machine.

Step 20

Repeat with remaining bias tape and cord.

Step 21

Starting at the base of the end panel, pin the piping around the edge of the end panel on the right side, with the piping facing inward, and the basting just inside the seam line. Using the zipper foot or piping foot, machine baste along the previous basting line. Leave 5cm (2in) unstitched at each end, remove the basting at one end, and pull back the bias tape. Trim the cord so that the ends butt up, then turn under one end of the bias tape and lap it over the other end as you wrap the bias tape around the cord, machine baste.

Step 22

Apply piping to remaining end panel as before.

Step 23

Clip the ends of the zipped section and pin or clip the piped end panel to the zipped section, with right sides together and raw edges even. With the zipper foot or piping foot on the machine, stitch along the seam line, hugging the cord. Undo the zip so you can turn right side out later.

Step 24

Repeat with the remaining end. Trim off the seam allowance. Leave to one side whilst you work on the lining.

Step 25

Place the rectangle lining pieces, right sides together, pin to secure. Using a 1cm seam allowance stitch the pieces together along the long edge. Press the seam allowance (1cm) back on the long edges of the lining rectangle. Using a 8mm seam allowance stitch the hem down. Clip the raw edges of the lining rectangle and with right sides together pin one of the lining circles to one of the ends of the lining rectangle leaving a 1cm gap. Using a 1cm seam allowance stitch the circle in place. Repeat with the remaining circle.

Step 26

Turn the lining right side out and place the outer duffel bag wrong sides together inside the lining. Align the openings together and clip or pin in place.