Free Diaper Bag Pattern & Tutorial

Roomy enough to hold all your baby gear yet still cute. This isn't a big bulky tank, this bag has style!

I call it "The Detour Diaper Bag" because having a baby puts your life on detour...but it is a scenic route worth taking. Enjoy!

 Materials Needed:

    1.5 yards canvas or other sturdy fabric
    1.5 yards lining fabric
    1/2 yard patterned fabric
    magnetic snap, 7" zipper & velcro
    interfacing (optional)
    pins, scissors, sewing machine, etc

Here is The Detour Diaper Bag - Free Diaper Bag Pattern in PDF format.

It will print on 7 regular letter sized pages for you to tape together. Make sure you are printing without margins. The instructions are not included in the PDF, they are written out on this page below.

Diaper Bag Pattern Instructions:

First, print out the pattern pdf from the link above and tape the first six sheets together. The seventh stands alone so doesn't need to be taped. It will look like the image below:

Cut out the pattern pieces and cut out all your fabric pieces. Depending on your fabric strength, you may want to use interfacing to line the wrong side of your fabrics. This will give your bag structure and durability.

Lets begin with the lining. From the printed pattern, you should have two lining (front & back) pieces and a bottom. For the (optional) interior zippered pocket, cut out two additional rectangles measuring 11" wide by 9" height for a 7" zipper.

You will see instructions at the end of the article for how to sew an interior zipper pocket if you would like to add one like I have. You would add any additional interior pockets before sewing the lining together.

Pin your lining right sides together and sew the two side edges. Above, you can see the backside of my zippered pocket that I added. 

Next, pin on the bottom of the diaper bag lining. Take your time to pin this correctly and then sew, but leave a six inch opening on one side. In other words, don't sew all the way around. You'll need this opening to turn your whole bag right side out later on as you will see. Your lining is done for now, so set it aside and we can start the fun stuff!

First, look at the layers below that will make up just the front of your bag so it makes sense. A full piece of canvas with a full piece of patterned fabric right on top. This double layer adds strength. Then you'll have a canvas pocket backed with a lining fabric of your choice.

Now take just the two front pocket layers and pin the right sides together and sew just the top pointy part. Then turn right side out and press with an iron.

Next, assemble the front of your bag. Canvas, then pattern, then the pocket piece you just finished ironing and pin together. Sew a line down the center of your front pocket starting at the peak. Sew through all of these layers you have layed out. 

NOTE: you may want to sew an additional line down to seperate this pocket into three pockets rather than two - great for bottles or sippy cups. I'll illustrate what I mean on the image below: 

Now do the same thing with your back pocket by sewing just the top edge of the right sides together, turn and iron and then lay it down on top of your back panel. You can also add a velcro closure to your back pocket now if you like.

Finally, lay your front panel with pocket down with your back panel with pocket down on top of each other...right sides facing each other. Meaning, the pockets are touching on the inside. Pin the edges and sew the sides. Then, turn right side out. Wow, it is starting to look like a bag!

Now, add your magnetic snap to the pointed end of your closure tab. It is really important to double up your fabric or use interfacing here. Then sew right sides together and turn right side out. Also add the other end of your magnetic snap to the front of your bag, just above the peak.

Next, pin on your straps (oops, forgot to take pics of sewing those, but you just sew right sides together, turn then iron) onto your bag. Pin them as shown below, and then sew them on just to keep them in place. Do the same with the closure tab in back.

We're getting close! Now, turn your bag inside out and pin on the bottom and sew. Take it slow! You are sewing through a lot of layers so go nice and slow. Very important to get some nice sturdy stitching here without pissing off your sewing machine.

Finally, the magic is about to happen! Leave your bag inside out and grab your lining. Turn your lining inside out. This means your outer shell pockets are touching your lining pockets. Be sure to get this right! Put your inside out lining inside of your inside out bag and pin the top edge and sew all the way around. Be sure to capture all layers.

Remember that hole you left in your lining way back when? Now it will come in handy, as you pull your entire bag right side out through this hole. Just like birthing a baby.

Then sew up that last hole in your lining and tuck your lining down in the bag where it belongs.

Like magic! You made a bag! Below are some pics of the zipper pocket and velcro closure. All these details are optional, feel free to customize this in a way that works best for you.

Have fun and I hope you enjoy using this free diaper bag pattern!

 

How to Sew a Zipper Pocket

 Learn how to sew a zipper pocket the right way for your handmade diaper bag! You can do this if you follow this tutorial. Every bag I buy has got to have an interior zippered pocket, so why should the ones I make be any different? An interior pocket is great in diaper bags to keep all your mama stuff seperate. Lip balm, keys, wallet...that sort of thing.

Many people are scared of dealing with zippers, especially beginner sewers. I admit, they are a pain to deal with if you don't know what you are doing. Like many crafts, there is a trick to it! Once you see how to sew a zipper with this method you can take your diaper bag making to the next level.

The photos below shows the lining pieces for the bag that is on the free diaper bag pattern page. The two pocket pieces are not on the printed pattern because they are just two rectangles! I used a 7" zipper so my two pocket pieces were 11" by 9".

So, if you have a 7" zipper, cut two identical pocket rectangles 11" wide by 9". To add stability to your pocket, either use interfacing or use fusible web to iron together two layers of fabric - which means you'll need to cut four rectangles. If you are using sturdy canvas you can omit this step if you want. 

An inch and a half down from the top, draw a rectangle that fits the size if your zipper, draw a line through it and little triangles to the corners as shown below.

Next, pin your drawn on pocket piece onto the right side of your lining fabric. That is right, if you have patterened lining fabric you are to pin this down on the patterned side. This will make sense in a moment. Now, sew your pocket piece onto your lining, tracing just the outer rectangle that you drew. 

Unpin and using a scissors, cut along that center line all the way to the corners. You are cutting through your pocket piece and your lining.

Next, you need to shove your entire pocket piece through the hole you just made.

After ironing, you have a nice little square hole in your lining for your zipper to peek through. Cool, huh?

Now, pin on your zipper, peeking through your rectangle hole and sew securely all the way around, using a matching thread. If you do not have a zipper foot on your machine you can do it the old fashioned way and hand sew it on, just as long as it is very secure since the zipper will get tugged on a lot.

 Easy as pie.

Now, the hard part is over and you survived! All you have to do now is finish the pocket, by adding the other pocket piece right on top of the one that is attached to your lining. I usually use pins to get my lining out of the way, so I'm sure to just sew the edge of my pocket pieces.

And that is it, you know are the proud owner of the knowledge of how to sew a zipper pocket into a bag. You can now continue putting your bag lining together as usual, only with the addition of a super duper fantastic zippered pocket!