A while back, I made this lunch bag for my little cousin.
I have been playing with zippers for a while with some successes and failures. This one was definitely a wild success. I love this zipper technique! The way that I have constructed this allows the zipper to open wide and allow easy access to the bottom of the bag. I have great plans to adapt this zipper design to many other bags and show how to put a zipper in any type of bag. For now, I decided a simple, straightforward design was necessary so that I could get a pattern out there and work on my process of “design”.
I put “design” in quotes because I am not a designer. Notice my straight lines? Basic construction? What I am good at is taking a problem and finding a solution, and then *hopefully* explaining it. There are so many wonderful bag designers out there. You won’t find layers of ruffles or smocking or clever piecing or trendy curves coming from me, at least not any time soon. I will personally continue to recommend my favorite designers. But at the same time I want to show people how EASY it can be to make a proper zippered bag with finished seams! You can then take that knowledge and start putting zippers in any bag. This style of zip works for boxed corner bags. The style of zip that I used in this bag works for gussets. That one is on my list as well.
I have focused on the little details – The instructions are 22 pages with 8 pages of pattern pieces. I will show you when to trim batting out of seams and where to top-stitch. My sister-in-law with very little sewing experience pattern tested this for me, and she came out with a finished bag. You can too! Please PLEASE if you have questions, contact me, email me, leave me a comment, send me a convo. Tell me how I can improve. My pictures are already improving even with my little camera. My instructions are becoming more precise. Comments and criticism welcome!
After 2 years of health problems that are finally subsiding, I have two whiteboards filled with ideas that need an outlet. You will be seeing much more from me in the near future: More patterns, more tutorials, more posts. A lot of my ideas are inspired by my dogs, a couple ideas are for “practical” type bags and as usual I always have technology on my mind as well.
If there is anything you need (iPad case?) or something you can’t figure out, send me a note and I’ll add it to my list. In the mean time, I’ll be sewing.
Check out the Quick Zip Lunch Bag.
Thank you so much for your great ideas. I am having a hard time figuring out how to sew in a zipper to a bag. I have been sewing bags for years and have never attempted a zipper because well, frankly they scare me to death. I think I am ready. I love your online tutorials with pics and great instructions. Do you have a tutorial that shows step by step how to put the zipper in a bag? Like you, I do not usually work with patterns. All of my bags are my own creations that came out of nowhere but very simple. Thanks for your help in advance :)
Tiffany Richey
Tiffany – the pattern has step by step photos showing how to insert the zipper. You can purchase it here: http://erinerickson.com/store/patterns/quick-zip-lunch-bag-pdf-pattern/
I think you’ll have a lot of success! You can see customers’ finished bags in the flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/dogundermydesk/pool/