Ruffled bag with pockets

Add a handmade bag to your accessory collection with this ruffled bag featuring practical front pocket and a zipper closure.

This project is perfect for confident beginners ready to take their sewing skills to the next level. 

In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through creating this charming bag step-by-step. Grab your sewing machine and let’s get started.

Materials needed 

• Cotton fabric for the bag exterior 
• Fusible fleece 
• 10-inch zipper 
• Cotton lining fabric 
• Interfacing 
• Sewing thread 

Equipment needed 

• Sewing machine
• Sewing pattern – download using the blue button below 
• Pins 
• Scissors 
• Rotary cutter 
• Pinking shears (optional)

Download the sewing pattern

Pattern prep 

1. Bag front: cut x2 outer fabric, cut x2 lining fabric, cut 2 x interfacing 
2. Bag pocket: cut x2 
3. Ruffle pieces: 46 x 2 inches – cut 2 
4. Zipper flaps: 11 x 3 inches – cut x2 main fabric, cut x2 interfacing 
5. Bag side/base piece: 23 x 3 inches – cut x1 outer, cut x1 lining, cut x1 fusible fleece 
6. Bag straps: 24 x 3 inches – cut 4, then curve two of the smaller sides.

How to

Step 1

Iron the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the bag side/base and zipper flap pieces. This will give your bag structure and a nice, padded feel.

Step 2

With right sides together, sew around the outside of the pocket pieces, leaving a small gap at the top. Trim the seams, turn right sides out, and edge stitch across the top to close the gap. 

Tip: the seam allowance for this project is 1cm, unless otherwise stated. 

Step 3

Fold the two long ruffle pieces in half lengthwise, right sides together, and press them neatly.

Step 4

Centre the pocket on one of the front bag pieces and pin it in place.

Step 5

With right sides together, sew the short edges of the ruffle pieces using a 0.5cm seam allowance. Turn them right side out and give them a good press.

Step 6

Sew gathering stitches along the raw, long edge of the two ruffle pieces. Pin and sew them onto the bag’s edge on both the back and front bag pieces with the folded edge facing inwards. 

Tip: to sew gathering stitches, select a straight stitch and increase length to ‘4’. Sew a straight line 0.25cm from the fabric edge. Don’t backstitch the beginning or the end of your sewing. Leave long threads at the beginning and end of your sewing. Then sew another line 0.25cm away from the first line of stitches. Again, without backstitching. Then hold the ‘bottom’ threads steady, and pull the ‘top threads’, you’ll see gathers begin to form. Do from both sides until your gathered fabric measures as long as you need it to. Tie off your upper and lower threads on each side, cut the thread tails and use your fingers to even out the gathering. 

Step 7

Sew the side/base piece to the bag front with right sides together, creating the bag’s rounded shape. This might be a bit tricky but slowly sew around the curves.

Step 8

Sew the strap pieces together right sides facing along the long edges, pink the edges to reduce bulk, or trim your seams down close to the sewing line. Turn them right side out and attach the raw edges to the top of the side seams of the bag.

Step 9

Fold the small zipper flaps in half, sew the short edges, turn them right side out, and press.

Step 10

Pin the folded edge of the zipper flaps to the zipper tape and sew using a zipper foot. Repeat for the other side.

Step 11

Pin and sew the zipper flaps to the bag’s front pieces, ensuring the zipper is centred. Give the edge a nice press. 

Step 12

Place the straps into the centre of the bag’s body. Then pin the open side of the bag to the bag side/base. Open the zipper. Sew around the edge. 

Step 13

With the right sides together, sew the two body lining pieces to the lining base/side piece. Leave a four-inch hole in the bottom to turn your bag through. Press your seams.

Step 14

Insert the lining into the main bag, right sides together, with the straps and zipper flaps tucked inside underneath the lining. Pin or clip together. Sew around the top edge. 

Tip: if your sewing machine has a free arm, take the accessory drawer off and use the free arm as it’s easier for sewing smaller, tubular items.

Step 15

Trim the seams and clip any bulky areas. Turn the bag right side out through the hole in the lining.

Step 16

Give the bag a final press, and hand-stitch or machine-stitch the opening in the lining closed.

Step 17

Your ruffled bag is complete! You can tie the bow at the top of the bag to fit the length you like, and wear your new creation with pride.