How to make an easy, hand-sewn make up bag

Sometimes I get the urge to make something but then the idea of getting out the sewing machine (which invariably involves moving lots of clutter that has gathered around it) feels too much like hard work. And I just want to do something while sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine. This is the perfect project for that, or if you're just starting out or trying sewing again after a break this will take a few hours and be very satisfying. 

I used this project at an alternative, craft hen party that you can read about in this blog post.

This make up bag uses just two basic stitches - the back stitch and the running stitch. If you're not sure how to do this have a look at my basic stitches blog post.

To make your make up bag you will need:

• Cotton thread
• A needle
• Pins
• Zip (any size, this will determine the size of your bag)
• Lining fabric
• Outer fabric
• Scissors
• Ruler, paper and pen

FIRST STEPS

Pick the fabric for the outside of your make-up bag, some lining fabric and a zip

Use your zip to create your pattern – simply make the length of your bag as long as your zip and as wide as you want

Mark out the measurements on a piece of paper or card and use this to cut out your fabric

CUTTING YOUR FABRIC

For a 10 inch zip, I created a template 10 ½ inches long and 6 inches wide

Place the template over your fabric and either pin in place or draw around it

Cut out two pieces of your outer fabric and two pieces of your lining fabric

FIXING THE ZIP

Lay zip across your fabric and trim any extra edges

Open your zip about half way

Take one piece of your outer fabric and place it down right side up

Lay the zip on the top edge with the pull side facing down onto the right side

Place the lining fabric on top of the zip, to create a zip sandwich

If using patterned lining fabric make sure it is right side down

Now pin it together so it doesn’t move around while you’re sewing

Sew the sandwich together using backstitch about ¼ inch from the top of the fabric. (If you're not sure how, find out how to sew a backstitch here.)

When you have finished tie a knot and cut off excess thread

Turn it over with the right side of the outer fabric facing up and the zip the right way round

To sew the next side put the lining down right side up and place the zipped section on top with the zip along the top

Put the outer fabric on top of the zip, wrong side up to form another sandwich

Pin it all together and sew it like the other side

The fabric might look like it doesn’t match up but remember your zip is open

Pin it all together and sew it like the other side

The fabric might look like it doesn’t match up but remember your zip is open

Keep your zip open about half way so that you can turn your purse inside out

SEWING THE EDGES

Now you’re going to sew it all together

Your two lining pieces should be together and touching each other and your two outer pieces should be together as well

Pin everything down, as you’re pinning try to push the outside seam toward the lining so that when you’re done it will lie properly

Sew all around the edges with backstitch leaving an opening at the bottom of the lining to ensure that you can turn the bag (about 3 ½ inches will be enough)

One thread will not be enough you’ll have to rethread a few times on the way round

TURNING THE BAG

When you have finished turn the bag inside out. A chopstick is a useful way to push the corners out.

Sew up the opening with whip stitch. (If you're not sure how, find out how to sew a whip stitch here.)

FINISHING THE BAG

Push the lining back into the bag and you’re finished!

New Cushions

Back in the summer, I made a cushion for a friend with some lovely African style material that she picked up in Ridley Road market in East London. Luckily, she liked it so much she asked me to make another one for her. I really like this material, I must get up to Ridley Road myself in the new year and get some for myself!

You can find out how to make this cushion by reading my Easy Peasy Envelope Cushion Cover tutorial.

How to Make an Easy Peasy Envelope Cushion Cover

One of the many wonderful things about living in East London is the range of markets. Ridley Road Market in Dalston is a brilliant place to find lots of unusual and relatively cheap fabrics and has loads of great African tribal prints, which also happen to be bang on trend at the moment.

My friend Amber asked me to make a cushion for her, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to share a tutorial as it really is very easy. It's perfect for beginners and can also be sewn by hand if you don't have a machine.

You will need:

• Cushion filler - I used one that is 44cm x 44cm (you can buy these new or upcycle an old one)
• About 1 metre of material - I used 1.05m of material with a 0.5m width  (the amount will depend on the size of your cushion filler)
• Measuring tape
• Pins & chalk 
• Fabric scissors
• Cotton thread
• Sewing machine (or needles if sewing by hand)

1. Measure your cushion filler, the one I used was 44cm  x 44cm.

2. Now for your fabric; if it's wide enough you can cut out one big piece so that you have less sewing! Add on a few centremetres as a seam allowance - I've added 2 cm. Measure out your material, mark the length you require with chalk on the wrong side of the fabric and cut it out - the fabric I used was 46cm wide and 105cm long. 

As you will see in the diagram below the two sections that you will fold over to form the envelope need to total more than the length of your cushion filler so that the material overlaps. 

(If you are working out your own measurements, you don't need to worry about being too exact but a good guide is to take the length of your cushion filler then add on about a 1/4 of that length again then divide that total between the two sides of the envelope. Don't divide it equally but make one side longer than the other as this will look neater.)

3. Iron your material so that it is all flat 

4. Fold over the ends by 1 cm each end, pin into place and then hem them on the machine (or by hand).

5. Lay the material right side up and put the cushion filler in the middle. Fold over the ends so that they overlap. Make sure it is quite tight around the cushion so that it isn't all saggy when it is finished. Use pins to mark where the folds are on the material.

6. Take the cushion filler out and then pin all around the edges.

7. Sew up the two sides and cut away any excess if necessary.

8. Turn the pillow the right way out and insert the cushion filler. And you're done.

9. Place on a chair and put the kettle on : )