Sewing Tutorial: Zippered Bag

I absolutely love sewing.

Two years ago, Nicolai the Husband got me a beautiful, special, brand new, computerized sewing machine for Christmas, and since then I've slowly morphed into a zany crafter.  Seriously, I'm one stitch away from making clothing for my cats...not there yet...but close.

My favorite thing to make is people clothing, though I have to say I felt most accomplished after completing my first quilt.  Making a quilt was one of the most difficult, but rewarding, sewing experiences I've ever had, and I plan to create a whole quilting tutorial series for beginning quilters.

But today I wanted to share an easy beginning sewing project - a zippered bag.  Even if you're an expert sewer (seamstress? sewstress? sewmaster?), sometimes it's fun to just have a project that takes an hour.  Feel a sense of accomplishment in your life!  Impress your man/lady with your domestic prowess!  Wow your Pinterest followers with your DIY skilzzz!

Seriously, this bag is easy and fun to make. I've made about a half-dozen of these things in all shapes and sizes - they have a million uses!  I made make-up and jewelry bags for my best friends for Christmas, I made a case for my Kindle, and a case for my laptop.  Today, I made a laptop case for Little B.

Let's jump in!  First, supplies... Because the laptop I was making measured 9" x 13" I purchased 1/3 yard of each outer and liner fabric.  (1/3 yard measured approximately 12 inches).  You can adjust for your needs.  If you want to start with a little make up bag, you could buy fat quarters.   I prefer 100% cotton fabric for this project.
I also purchased 1 zipper.  You can buy a zipper to fit your project, but you can also trim a zipper to suit your needs.  If you've never sewn in a zipper before, there are good instructions on the Coats & Clark zippers packaging, and in your sewing machine manual ;)
You will also need 1/3 yard interfacing.  Choose an interfacing weight that you like.  I think it's helpful to use lightweight-medium fusible interfacing with this beginner project.  Keep in mind, this laptop case is more decorative than protective - it's not going to save your laptop from being dropped in the street.
But, a laptop case (or make up bag, or any other use for this bag) is a good opportunity to use a print you normally wouldn't get to work with - a rainbow floral too busy for clothing or a quilt.  Get something fun (or on sale)!  With my Joann's coupons, the total cost of these supplies was $6.50.

Prep your fabric with a good press.  If this was a garment or an object that we intended to wash (or if you think you will need to wash your laptop bag at some point), I'd recommend pre-washing.

Next, cut your fabric to size.  I cut mine 11" x 15" for a 9" x 13" laptop.  Why such large seam allowances, you ask?  In this case, I'm accounting for a little bit of height in the laptop, and in a project like this, there's no harm in large seam allowances.  You can practice your perfect 1/4 inch seam when you start your quilt! 

You will end up with 2 squares of outer fabric, 2 squares of liner, and 2 squares of interfacing.  If you're using fusible interfacing, you can press it to the liner squares now.

Now, lay your zipper face up on the right side of your liner (you can see my interfacing with the wrong side of the liner).

Then lay your outer fabric right side down on top of the zipper and pin in place

Use your zipper foot to sew a straight stitch along the zipper.  Don't sew too close to the teeth or you'll have a hard time opening and closing the zipper.

Fold back your fabric so right sides are facing out, and press in place.

I like to top stitch... I think it looks more finished and stands up better to daily use.  But this is optional!

Here's the tricky part... Figuring out this next step took some trial and error!  Spatial reasoning is not my strong suit... But I noodled it out!  Lay your liner fabric right side up (with interfacing underneath), then place your zipper and attached fabric right side up on top.  Lay your last piece of outer fabric face down on top, and pin in place.  

Or just re-create this picture, cause those were a lot of directions...

After you sew, press, and top stitch, this is what you should have, spread out...

Take a break, you're working hard...

Then, arrange your piece so right sides are facing each other, zipper in the middle, and pin

Important detail, make sure your zipper teeth are facing each other toward the liner, and pin like above.  Why?  I don't know how the magical physics of this works, but somehow this makes your zipper lay flat and aligned.  Zippers are weird.  Just trust me.

The next step is to sew all the way around the entire rectangle, leaving an opening a few inches wide along what will be the bottom of the liner.  I put a mark there indicating when to stop, because graduate school has slowly deteriorated my short term memory...

Your rectangle will look like this...

Be especially careful when sewing over the zipper teeth.  It's possible to jam or break your needle if it gets caught in the teeth.  I sew slowly up to the edge of the teeth, raise the needle, and walk the foot over that tiny section.  Continuous stitching gives a nice finished zipper.  Feel it out for yourself, you can do it!

Next, pull the fabric through that opening you remembered to leave at the bottom of the liner.

You end up with this... 2 bags facing each other. 

I sew a quick straight stitch across the opening at the bottom of the liner... If you want, you can do an invisible slip stitch by hand so everything is uniform....but who's peeking inside the tiny bottom corner of your laptop bag??  I ain't got time for that!

Clip the corners of the fabric to reduce bulk, then stuff your liner inside the outer bag.  A bag in a bag!  Aren't you smart?

Look what you made!  And it only took an hour!  If you don't count the 45 minutes you spent foraging in the sale racks of Joann's...

And now, when someone says "OMG your laptop bag is, like, totes adorbes, where did you get it?!"  you can say, "I made it myself!  The 'Not a Day Less Will Do' Blog by this chick, Katey, walked me through it, it was SEW easy!"  Maybe you can skip the blog-plug and the pun, but, hey, you just made your own zippered bag, your cool factor can afford it!