I made a fun project this month that I get to share with you today. It's a Toiletry Bag for Dad, just in time for some Father's Day sewing. I don't know about you but the Dad's in my life are hard to sew for, but this is the perfect gift. Manly on the outside, personalized and fun on the inside.
Make a Toiletry Bag with pockets for everything
EDITED 2/4/23: This project is was part of the Passport to Summer Sewing Series on Fabric.com which has since gone out of business. I am so happy to report that I finally have a copy available for you to download.
I built this toiletry bag a little differently than I usually make a bag. The lining and the exterior fabric are layered together before sewing and the seams are all finished with bias binding on the inside.
I also used Molded Plastic zippers this time around. I sure love how easy they are to slide open and close.
NOTES for Making the Road Trip Toiletry bag
- The original tutorial post on Fabric.com is no longer available as they have closed their business.
- Since making this toiletry bag 4- 5 more times and using one for travel I decided I liked having a 2nd set of inside pockets on the inside. Cut a 2nd folded pocket and add it to the other panel before adding the zipper pocket to the front.
- I also decided to shorten the handle because I didn't like how much it stuck out.
- I added pull tabs at the end of each zipper that are sewn into the seam where the top zipper panel meets the bottom panel. I made these tabs the same way as I made the handle.
- Finished Dimensions 7’’ tall X 11’’ wide X 4’’ deep
The updated PDF Pattern is for sale in my ETSY Shop
If you make a toiletry bag I'd love to see it! Email me a photo (sarahmarkos@gmail.com) or share it on Instagram or Facebook and tag it with #roadtriptoiletrybag and @bluesusanmakes.
Happy Sewing!
Find More Summer Sewing Tutorials Here!
Hi. Where is the tutorial?
It says it can be downloaded "here", but I don't see a link to do it.
Thank you
Ellen, click on the word HERE (above, in the article) and it will take you to the fabric.come site and directly to the pattern instructions.
Hi Ellen, sorry for the confusion. Just click on the word "HERE" and it will take you to the tutorial that is housed on Fabric.com. Good luck.
Thanks so much for your help
Hi there!! Don't you love a good mystery? Ha ha. So sorry about that. My instructions were complete when I sent them over to fabric.com. My only guess it that there has been a formatting error. I'm working on getting it corrected. In the mean time if you want to email me directly I'll send you a copy of the tutorial, There are too many ?s to explain here in the comments.
Hi there! Can you please email it to me at glkring@sbcglobal.net
Thanks so much! Looking forward to making this!
It's on it's way. I would love to see it when you're finished. #roadtriptoiletrybag
Love love love this!! I don't see a way to upload my finished bag but would love love love to show it to you!!! Thank you so much!
Hi Sarah, I just finished my second bag and love it. Question: the patterns calls for ByAnnie's Soft and Stable. Do you know if this is similar to In-R-Form Plus Double Sided Fusible Foam Stabilizer? I just used a Pellon DecoBond as my interfacing as that is all I had in the house. I would also love an emailed version.
Great Marie!! Yes you can use that stabilizer is similar, any fabric covered foam stabilizer will do. There are many copycats of the original ByAnnie's Soft and Stable. Pellon makes Flex Foam. Automotive Headliner fabric will also work even though there is fabric only covering one side of the foam. Email me a photo of your second bag too and I can show it off in my facebook group.
On it's way!!
Hi there, Please email me with a valid email address and I can send it your way.
will do! can you email me a good copy of the pattern please
is there an easy way to put the bias binding on the seams?? that's the only issue I have. thanks
again….. LOVE this bag
Love your bag and thanks for sharing the pattern! Which of the Essex Metallic Linens did you use? It looks like it has such an unusual cast.
Thank you!! The fabric is awesome in real life. It's called Metallic Storm. The link for it is in the post above but here it is too. https://www.fabric.com/buy/0441913/kaufman-essex-yarn-dyed-linen-blend-metallic-storm
Thank you!!!
hey sarah can you please email me the tutorial at skaurm31@gmail.com
Can I please have the updated tutorial sent to my email? Thanks! akatok73@gmail.com
You are correct! All three cuts should be the same size. I’ve asked them to fix this but they haven’t. I will add a note in this blog post. If you have already cut the exterior strip smaller just make all the strips 3 3/4. It will just make the bag a smidge narrower. No big deal. Sorry for the confusion. Good luck!
Hi, I found this lovely bag and wonder where I can buy the pattern? Best regards Liselotte
Wondering if I can get the updated tutorial. Fabric.com link does not work any more. I’m making this as a gift and need the instructions to complete the gusset. Please send to treklover10@yahoo.com. Thank you
Sarah, the link in the above article now takes you to Amazon, I'd like to get the updated tutorial, if you don't mind! 🙂 My email is lindaj53@gmail.com. Thanks ever so much!
Fabric.com just closed their business online and the tutorial is no longer available. I’m make this as a gift and need to instructions to complete the gusset still. Could you please email tutorial to treklover10@yahoo.com? Thank you.
I also would like to purchase the pattern, I'd like to make a bag for my son for Christmas.
Hello all looking for this pattern. I am sorry Fabric.com has taken it down. I am currently working on a version that is optimized for printing to be listed in my Etsy shop. I will update the post as soon as it is ready!