Sewing Talk

Which bags to sew for the vacations?

Please share!

Summer vacations are here! If you don’t have time to sew a light dress, a swimsuit or prepare your back-to-school wardrobe, why not make some bags to slip into your luggage?

Here are a few ideas to get you ready for departure!

A weekend bag for a few days away

If you’re planning to go away for a few days this summer, the weekend bag is the ideal format. It can hold a few items of clothing, toiletries and books to read in the sun.

To sew this essential, year-round accessory, follow Lise Tailor’s pattern for a 44cm x 33cm shoulder bag. It’s a fairly simple pattern, the only technical difficulty lying in fitting the long zip that runs across the bag.

To sew it, you’ll need a main fabric, a lining fabric and wadding. This will be an opportunity to learn how to make a quilted fabric, a very simple step that simply requires a little patience. To add a little originality to your bag, you can stitch the seams with gold or contrasting thread.

Bleu de Gex banana, by Jojo's Dad
Bleu de Gex banana, by Le Papa de Jojo

Fanny packs for the whole family

The fanny pack is a must-have when you go on vacation: it keeps all your important belongings (wallet, cell phone, house or hotel keys, change, sunglasses…) on you, while keeping your hands free.

To sew a practical bag with a large main pocket and a small extra pocket, you can make our Bleu de Gex model – which includes one adult and one child size – with a fairly thick fabric(denim, upholstery fabric…) and a lining fabric(cotton). You can also use two thinner fabrics and reinforce them with fleece.

This is a fairly quick-to-assemble model, which can be used to familiarize yourself with the installation of buckles, straps and zippers.

The Pompon children's backpack, by Les Patronnes
Le Sac à dos “Pompon”, by Les Patronnes

A backpack for kids

If you’re going on a family vacation, it’s likely that the kids will want to do as the grown-ups do, and have their own bag to keep all their little things in.

You can sew them the Pompon des Patronnes backpack, which won’t weigh down their backs. With its rectangular shape, it’s easy enough to sew and offers many variations and personalization options. You can add cat ears and whiskers, sew on a front pocket or not… It will easily adapt to the time you have available and your child’s desires.

When it comes to fabric, you can opt for denim, thick canvas or fleece. Or even coated cotton, which is both solid and original.

The XXL beach bag!

A beach (or pool) bag

The beach bag is a very practical accessory to have on hand or in your suitcase if you’re planning a trip to the seaside or want to go to the pool often.

Mercerine offers a free beach bag pattern on its website. It’s very quick and easy to assemble, accessible to those new to sewing. Feel free to use any fabrics you have in your closet. For example: sponge, cotton, linen, upholstery fabric… And line it with coated cotton to make it more waterproof.

If you prefer to use a pattern you already have, you can also take a tote bag or shopping bag template. Then increase its size to hold sun cream, beach towels and sunglasses. The dimensions of a beach bag are usually 40x33cm with a depth of 21cm.

And if you’d prefer an XXL version, you can watch our free home-made video model here!

A changing bag

For all parents who have recently had a baby, the changing bag is the best ally for vacations. It allows you to carry diapers, bottles, spares… And it’s not difficult to sew: all you need is a little patience to fit all the pockets.

You can follow our pattern, which contains all the necessary storage space for baby bottles, toys and other water bottles. As with the previous models, it’s best to sew it with a sturdy upholstery fabric. It will give it a good hold. And line it with plain or printed cotton.


What bags do you like to take on vacation?


Please share!

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