Easy Vintage Hair Scarf Sewing Pattern

Sew a quick and easy 1950s rockabilly hair scarf. Vintage style pinup scarf to elevate your style. Beginner-friendly sewing pattern to wear at your next car show.

Rockabilly hairscarf sewing pattern. Sew a wide 1950s hair accessory

Do you love the vintage pinup look but, don't know where to start? Grab some peddle pushers, a black fitted top, and this sewing pattern! You're about to get your vintage style on. 
This pattern is the straw that broke the camel's back- in a good way. I have quite a few patterns I want to share but, I lack the technical know-how to get them to you. This is the pattern that made me search the interwebs, far and wide on how to create a PDF. And, here it is! Finally, a downloadable pattern that was made just for you!

This wide hair scarf is made for good hair days, bad hair days, and for curly-haired gals too! I see you (I am a curly girl). Toss your hair up in a messy bun, and you'll be cute as a button when you wear this retro-inspired hair-scarf. This isn't a lifesaver but, it's definitely a hair saver. 

If this thicker style headband isn't your cup of tea, I have a post on a narrower one, over here. It can be worn with your hair up or down. You can tie it around your neck, or wrist, or use it as a purse accent when tied in a bow. The size is completely customizable too, lengthen or shorten it to your desired size


Okay, let’s get started on the Wide Hair Scarf Pattern. 

What You'll Need:

  1. 1/2 yard of cotton fabric

  2. The Pattern

  3. Sewing machine 

  4. Clips or pins, ruler, chalk pen

  5. Matching or contrasting thread

  6. Chopstick or other turning tool

  7. A smile, because you're making something cute :)



Let's get sewing! 

Download the PDF pattern, print it out (*do not scale or resize), and tape it together. This will now be your pattern piece. Make sure to match up the star points. Cut out the pattern along the lines and set it aside. It will resemble a plague mask at this point. Haha, perfect for the year we've had. ;)

*The pattern will print out on 2 horizontal pages. They are made to overlap a bit to create the pattern. Match the star and you'll be good to go. No scaling or anything is necessary. If you'd like to trim off a thin sliver of paper to match the star up perfectly, you can. That's what I did. 

PDF Stuff

  1. You might have to trim a thin slice of paper for the star to fit perfectly.

  2. Cut along the line.

  3. Once its cut, it’ll resemble a plague mask.


Sew a vintage wide hair scarf. Great for bad hair days, car shows, rockabilly looks, and more.

Fabric Stuff

Next, wash, dry, and iron your fabric if you haven't already.

​What fabric(s) did you choose? Did you go with a solid color or a fun novelty print? 

Make a vintage style hair accessory with 1950s style. Easy sewing pattern.

Use pattern weights to hold the pattern down. Trace around, then cut it out.

  • Grab your scarf pattern piece and lay it on top of your folded fabric. Line up the folded edge of the fabric with the pattern side that says FOLD. You can do this with RST or WST, it won't make a difference for this pattern.

  • Use pattern weights to hold the piece down, while you trace out the shape. Use an air soluble pen or a chalk pen to trace. Cut along the lines.

  • Repeat the steps for the other side. You are tracing an outer and inner piece of fabric for your hair scarf. Cut.

  • You should now have 2 pieces of fabric cut out.

Wide sized hair scarf to sew. Quick and easy hair accessory sewing pattern. Vintage style.


  • Now take the pieces and place the right sides together. Use pins or clips to hold them together.

  • Mark a 3" gap where the pattern piece indicates. This area will not be sewn so, you can turn the scarf out afterward.

  • I took an air soluble pen to mark the pivot point on the scarf. This isn't necessary, but it helped. The pivot point is where the scarf gets narrower. 

  • Time to sew! Use a 2.5 or 3mm stitch length. 

  • Seam allowance is 1/4"

  • Go slow, this gets tricky at the pointy ends

  • When you get to the pointy corners, leave the needle down, lift the pressure foot, and turn your fabric. If it's not quite at 1/4" mark, go back and hand crank a stitch or two. Continue sewing all the way around until you come to the 3-inch gap. Backstitch.

  • Clip your corners.

How to sew a rockabilly vintage 1950s hair scarf. Pinup hair style headband.

  • Time to turn the scarf out. Grab a chopstick or any other turning tool.

If you're using a chopstick or pencil, poke the blunt end into the pointed fabric corner. Slowly pull the fabric down around the chopstick until you can easily push it through to the gap opening. Repeat for the other side.

It should look like the last photo above, once it's turned out! Huzzah! The rest is downhill from here.



Iron time! 

  • Roll the seam out. Using your fingernail seems to help this process. You can also take the chopstick and slide it under the seams while pushing the seam out and open as well. It'll take some finagling, but it's well worth it in the end. This is the hardest part of making this 1950s vintage-style hair scarf.

Back to the sewing machine to topstitch the gap closed. 

  • Topstitch 1/8" from the edge, backstitching at the beginning and end. If you'd like to topstitch around the whole hairscarf, you can. 

  • Clip any loose threads.

  • Press the scarf again. And, you're done! 

vintage style 1950s hair scarf sewing pattern. Wear these to car shows or pinup contests.

Topstitch the opening closed.

How to sew a vintage style rockabilly hair scarf.

Clip those little threads.

vintage style 1950s hair scarf sewing pattern. Wear these to car shows or pinup contests.

Ta-da! It’s finished and ready to be worn.

To wear the scarf:


Place the wide part at the back of your head just covering your hairline. Pull the pointy ends upwards, covering the tops of your ears, and tie in a knot on top of your head. 

This is perfect for messy hair days and curly-haired girls too. To make it into a more formal look, pin curls on top of your head, tie this scarf up, and wear it with a pretty dress.
If you're going for a 40s style, you can pair the scarf with wide-legged trousers and a boxy button-up top. This hair scarf is for anyone looking for a quick and easy retro hairstyle! 

So, what do you think of the pattern? It was easy, right? Do you plan on making as many as you can for the summer? I wear my hair up most summer days and this thicker style is what I've been yearning for! Easy & cute hair... yes, please!!! 

If you make one or ten, please tag me on Instagram. I want to see them aallll! Use the hashtag #sewingtothemoonScarf
Let me know in the comments below if you've made this or plan to. I seriously can't tell you how overly excited this whole process made me. :D 

Thanks for all the love and support on social and here! Sewing people are the best people. 

​Happy sewing,

Annette

Sewing pattern for a 1950s vintage hair scarf. Wide hair scarfs are perfect for pinups. Sewing pattern for a rockabilly hair style.








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DIY Advent Calendar

Sew up your own Advent Calendar this year. It’s an easy DIY Christmas project that will bring smiles for years to come.

DIY advent calendar for christmas. Sew an easy advent calendar

Are you itching to do some holiday sewing? This advent calendar is a quick-ish sew if you want to whip up a fun Christmas item now! Get some stash-busting done too.


Tools needed:

  • rotary cutter or scissors

  • ruler

  • 1/4 yard of a few different fabrics or scraps

  • 1/2-3/4 yard of sturdy solid fabric for the front and back. (duck cloth, canvas, denim, etc.)

  • Matching thread

  • Iron on numbers, cutting machine with HTV vinyl, or template for sewing them on, if you don't embroider them. 

  • All the sewing notions and a machine

  • A piece of 1/2" wooden doweling and twine for hanging. 

DIY advent calendar for christmas. Sew an easy advent calendar

Machine embroidered numbers on pockets

I chose Christmas fabrics similar in color, grabbed them, and started cutting. I liked the size of my phone, so I used it as a pattern. Find something around the house that is the size you want, and use that as a pattern template.

DIY advent calendar for christmas. Sew an easy advent calendar

My phone roughly measured 6.5" by 3". I added 1 inch to the width and length for seam allowances to make rectangles. Fold them in half RST (right sides together) and stitch with a 1/2" seam allowance. Sew the sides only. Leave the bottom open, clip corners, turn out, and press flat. 


**If you decide to sew or embroider the numbers on, do this before sewing the pocket together. If you use vinyl or iron-on numbers, you can add the numbers after the pockets are sewn and turned.

DIY advent calendar for christmas. Sew an easy advent calendar

Organize them vertically if you’d like.

After you have your pockets made, lay them out and switch around until you decide which assortment you love the best or go crazy. I liked the taller version better.

Sew an easy advent calendar for christmas. Stuff candy and toys inside.

Arrange them in a horizontal way if you like that better.

I did this part backward, sorta. After laying the pockets out, I cut my fabric for them to be sewn onto. I measured the size of all the pockets and added 2" on each side. 5" to the top and 2" to the bottom. This allowed extra room for seams and the top to get turned down and stitched to create a loop for the wooden doweling.

Sew an easy advent calendar for christmas. Stuff candy and toys inside

I added length and width to the solid piece of fabric to sew the pockets onto.

I worked from the bottom up, sewing the bottom row of pockets first. You do what works best for you. :)

DIY sewing an advent calendar for christmas. Customize your size.

Measure from the bottom row of the pockets to see how much room you want.

DIY Christmas project. Sew an advent calendar this holiday season. The cutest countdown to when Santa arrives

Flip pockets the wrong side up and stitch along the open edge.

DIY Christmas project. Sew an advent calendar this holiday season. The cutest countdown to when Santa arrives

I sewed the second row 1/2" above from the top of the first row. You decide on your own spacing.


I decided to sew the bottoms of all the pockets on first. Then, I flipped them up to sew the sides. As you can see, I used pinking shears to keep the edges from unraveling. This whole project was on the fly and meant to be fun, without overthinking. Sometimes you just gotta sew something! LOL

DIY.  Sew an advent calendar, The cutest countdown to when Santa arrives

Sewing the sides. Start from the bottom and go up, backstitch at the beginning and end.

Be sure to backstitch at the start and end of each pocket side. I also added extra stitching at the top where little hands will reach in and out to discover the treasures inside.

DIY.  Sew an advent calendar, The cutest countdown to when Santa arrives


After you have all the pockets sewn on, it’s time to put it together.

Grab the backing fabric and pocket piece, and lay the pocket side RST on top of the backing fabric.

Pin or clip the pieces together, and sew a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave a 4"-5" gap at the top for turning. It’s a lot of fabric and layers so, you’ll want a nice size gap for turning out.

DIY.  Sew an advent calendar, The cutest countdown to when Santa arrives

It’s starting to come together and look like an Advent calendar now.

DIY.  Sew an advent calendar, The cutest countdown to when Santa arrives

Leave an opening for turning.


Clip the corners and trim thread tails. Turn out and top stitch around the whole calendar. 

Decide how big of a loop you need for your wood doweling to slide through, pin, and stitch to create the loop.

Slide the dowel through. Tie string or twine on each end with a double knot. Hang up and fill it with lots of little treasures.

You're done! Yay!!! Now, what do you fill it up with?

Filling it up

What are you going to fill the pockets with? Who is going to use the advent calendar? Little ones or big ones? I've listed some ideas below of what to put inside for all ages. Wrapping each item would make it extra fun and keep wandering eyes from peaking.

  • Chapstick or lipgloss

  • Fruit snacks

  • Small fruits, a tiny orange

  • Movie theater ticket

  • Handmade coupons

  • Small packs of beef jerky

  • Cash

  • $5 gift card

  • Hair elastics or barrettes

  • Small lego sets

  • Candy

  • Toy cars

  • Earbuds

  • USB stick

  • SD card

  • Crayons

  • Package of nuts

  • Hot cocoa packet

  • Socks

  • Soft gloves

  • Squishy toys

  • Stress ball

    These are just a few ideas, the sky is the limit on fun little treasures. Just think of anything that will fit in the palm of a hand.


Well, I'm off to buy some items to fill our calendar with. If you think of other ideas, please share those in the comments below. The more ideas, the merrier! Are you going to make an advent calendar? Or make one as a gift? Let me know in the comments below.




Merry Christmas,

Annette

DIY.  Sew an advent calendar, The cutest countdown to when Santa arrives
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How to Sew a Custom Handbag

Sew a custom sized bag using your own dimensions. It’s sew easy!

MAke a custom handbag start to finish.

I made this cute handbag as a fun little distraction during quarantine. I planned on using it sooner than later, but we all know how that turned out. Ha! Days turned into weeks and it's all a blur from there. 



I had some marine vinyl leftover from another project and I came up with this little purse. 



Want to make a cute little handbag for your next shopping trip?

Here's what you need:

  • 1/2 yard of marine vinyl or other faux leather-type fabric

  • 1/2 yard of cotton fabric for lining

  • Thread

  • Sewing machine and notions

  • Microtex needle

  • Scrap paper for making a pattern

  • Ruler and pencil

  • Interfacing if needed ( I didn't use any. Gasp, I know)

  • Purse feet (optional)



MAke a custom handbag start to finish.

Cut 2 outer, 2 inner, 2 interfacing pieces.

Decide on your sizing

  • Start out by ironing any wrinkles in your lining fabric. 

  • Grab some paper or cardstock, freezer paper is my go-to because it's inexpensive and wide.

  • Figure out how big you want your bag to be. 

  • My pattern size is 9" tall x 14" wide.

  • Mark 2" square cutouts on the bottom of the pattern. Cut out the paper pattern.

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

Once your pattern is made and cut out, it's time to trace onto the fabric. Cut out 2 pieces of vinyl and 2 pieces of lining fabric. Iron on or sew in the interfacing to the lining.



Next, cut 2 strips of the marine vinyl 3" wide by 18" long. These will be your purse straps. 



If you'd like to add a pocket, make that now. Decide on the size you want and cut a piece of fabric twice as long. You will fold the fabric in half RTS (right sides together) and sew all around leaving a 3" gap for turning out.

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

Press the pocket flat after you turn it out. I stuck my phone on top to figure out how wide I wanted my pocket widths to be. They aren't exactly the same width. Draw a line where you want the pockets to separate with chalk or a water-soluble pen.


Pin in place and stitch onto one lining piece. Sew in a "U" shape, do not sew the top you want it to stay open so your items can go inside. Reinforce the openings by backstitching a few times. Press.

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

Pin sides and bottoms together. Leaving tops open.


Using clips, clip the vinyl pieces, right sides together and pin the lining pieces RST. Sew the sides and bottoms using 1/2" seam allowance. Be sure to leave a 3" gap in the lining for turning out. Press the lining seams open. You shouldn't iron the vinyl, it may melt. Just finger-press those seams. Set both pieces aside.


Let's make the handles

Grab the 2 long strips of vinyl and all your clips. You do not want to use pins because they create permanent holes. Yikes!!

If you don't have fabric clips, use double-sided tape, chip clips, hair clips, your child’s teeth, or anything you think that will be strong enough.

  • Fold in half and carefully fold those sides into the middle. It takes some finagling, but you got this! Don't let the vinyl beat you. LOL!!

  • Clip along the end once you have it molded into place.

  • Sew the open edge first, then the folded edge.

Scroll through the photos to see how to create your handles. I use this method for all of my purse handles.


Grab the purse's outer and inner pieces, you're going to box the corners before sewing everything together.

Boxing the corners is easy, pinch the seams together and sew 1/2" away from the edge. Do this with both lining and outer bag corners.


Your seams and corners should match nicely like the photos above. If they don't match perfectly, no biggie. You'll be the only one who knows and I'm not telling anyone. ;)



*If you have a set of purse feet lying around, you can add those following the feet instructions. I didn't have any, so I didn’t add feet to this purse. They do make a nice addition though. Next time.



Next, you're going to stitch the handles to the bag to keep them in place. Mark how far you want them from the edge. I positioned mine about 2" from the side seams. Make sure they are flipped the correct way and not twisted.

Base stitch them to the bag with a 1/4" seam. This is just to keep them from moving while you sew the bag pieces together.

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

After the handles are stitched in place, grab the lining piece. Keep the outer bag piece flipped inside out. Turn the lining inside out as well. Both pieces should be facing right sides together. This is important, check twice. ;) You should see the ugly sides of the fabric for both pieces.

Using clips, attach the lining to the outer matching the side seams.

Sew around the top with 1/2" seam.

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

After you sew the lining to the outer, reach inside and flip the bag out. This takes a little more patience because the vinyl doesn't want to give. Just tell it who's boss and that it'll be happier once it comes to the bright side. It works, I promise!!

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.
How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

Bagging Out

  1. Find the lining hole.

  2. Reach through the hole and pull the bag through the lining.

  3. Pull. Yank, lightly. Pull some more to get the vinyl out.


After you pull out the lining, push it back in and make sure everything fits nicely. Poke out all the corners. 

Look over the handbag and nothing is wonky, and there aren’t any seams with holes, pull the lining out and sew the opening closed. You can do this by hand or machine.

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

Sew the opening closed.


Stuff the lining back into the bag, topstitch around the whole top, and you're done! Yay!!

How to sew a custom handbag from start to finish.


I decided to keep the lining showing for an added pop. However, the lining doesn't sit in the bag perfectly after doing this. If you decide you like this look, add 1" in length to your lining pieces. This was a spur-of-the-moment sewing project which are my favorite because I can experiment. I like the bag size for a day out. However, I would make it 2-3" deeper if I used it as an everyday purse.



Oh, and I also added a little tie to the bag as well. If you have enough extra fabric, you can make one too. The white vinyl was just too plain and boring for my taste. 

How to make a custom handbag. sew one from start to finish.

Cut a strip about 14" long by 5" wide. Fold in half and cut the short ends at an angle, if you'd like. Stitch the open ends, leaving a 2" gap for turning.

Clip your corners, turn out, and press. Stitch the opening closed and tie it onto your bag handle. Now you have a cute accent piece on your purse.

How to sew a handbag



Where are you going to strut your new bag first? The mailbox? The grocery store? The living room? The possibilities are endless. Haha!

Oh, quarantine...

I think I want to try making this bag again but with darker vinyl. The white is fine because it'll wipe clean. But, I'm thinking bright yellow or blue for summer would be fun. Let me know if you make this bag. Remember, you can alter the sizing to your liking- make it taller, wider, shorter, etc. Sewing is the best, isn't it? 

Thanks for sticking around for this tutorial! 

Virtual high fives and hugs,

Annette

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Easy Tips for Storing Fabric

Store your fabric neatly and discreetly. Organize it by type, color, or project.

How to store sewing fabric in your home. Organize all the fabric

Fabric, glorious fabric. We stash yards and pieces here, there, and everywhere.

Are your closets bursting with bags or stacks of fabric? Maybe they are still in the shopping bags from the store.  Or, you have everything nicely folded and organized in plastic bins. 



Take a second and think about your fabric. Is it hidden and out of site? Is it rolled up in the linen closet, boxed in the garage, or maybe you have all your ducks in a row and it looks as pretty as a peach?

Heck, maybe you're not a fabric hoarder and none of this pertains to you. 



Welp! I'm a fabric lover. I love feeling it, buying it, and then trying to decide what to make with it. Hi, my name's Annette and I'm a fabric addict/ hoarder/ stasher.

Cue the audience: "Hi, Annette."



How to store sewing fabric in your home. Organize all the fabric

Photo by Erica Lancaster

Stash-busting projects are always my go-to for gift-giving. Use what you already have on hand. All that fabric took precious time to shop for. Use it, if you can. If you can't use 40 yards of fabric on one gift, then make sure it is accessible to you and stored properly.


Do you prewash your fabric? I'm guilty of not doing this. I'm ashamed to admit it too. There's nothing worse than diving into a sewing project and spending time and energy making something, only to find that it doesn't fit after it got washed. 


So, I have started washing my garment fabrics right when I buy them. As soon as I get the fabric home, I launder it. That way, everything gets preshrunk, clean, and ready to be transformed! I do not prewash cotton fabric if I'm making non-garment items, I prefer the stiffness of the fabric while sewing. I should probably wash everything, but.... hey, I'm not perfect. 

vintage sewing machine. japanese badge sewing machines

photo by Erica Lancaster

I collect vintage machines that I find beauty in. I’m a hoarder of all things sewing.
— Me
vintage good housekeeper sewing machine. green and white

photo by Erica Lancaster

I'll save my collection of vintage sewing machines for another post though. 

 

I am lucky enough to have a whole sewing space. It's not a room, just space. I share my sewing life with workout machines, game consoles, and the computer. The computer is okay to stay though, I use it daily. Some day I'll have a huge She-shed (or bedroom) and it will be decked out in all things sewing. One can dream, right?


Let's get back on topic.

After my fabric is washed and dried, I'll hit it with the iron. No, not literally. Get rid of those pesky wrinkles and you'll have an easier time folding. 


I buy 2 yards or more when shopping for garment fabric. 2 yards is a good amount to make a skirt or most tops like my Rita Blouse. The fabric is usually 60" wide as well. Fold it together lengthwise (hot dog), then again so you have a really long and narrow piece. Now, this depends on where you'll be storing your fabric so my particular method, might not work for you.

Take a wide quilting ruler that is 5" wide and use as a template. I've seen some people use comic book dividers, narrower rulers, etc. Use what you have on hand or make your own object out of cardboard. I then "roll" my fabric over the ruler and get the size I want. I store my fabric on IKEA shelves in 2 stacks. I can see everything I have.

How to store sewing fabric in your home. Organize all the fabric

I often find random fabric from the remnant section at my craft store. Friends and family who know I sew, give me bags of fabric and notions as well. I wash those pieces and fold what I want, donate what I don't want.

I'm constantly going through my fabric stash to donate as well. Things go out of style. You might be over that fairy cotton print you planned on making something for little Suzie with- who is now 30. Life is a cycle and change is good. Donate what you don't want. It'll make room for new pretties.


I keep my smaller pieces in baskets. I also keep pieces that are leftover from previous sewing projects. This helps remind me:

A.  I've already sewn with this fabric, so I must like that particular fabric. 

B. This is an odd piece, so don't try and make a shirt with it. Use only for small projects.

How to store sewing fabric in your home. Organize all the fabric

Fabric scraps go in my big glass jar. These are where the tiny pieces the size of my hand go to die. Anything smaller, I toss in a bag to donate.

Leave a comment down below if you know of places that take scraps of fabric. H&M does, but that's the only place I'm aware of.

How to store sewing fabric in your home. Organize all the fabric

I organize other fabrics that I don't reach for on the daily, in a more discreet way. I do have an Etsy shop and sell handmade items as well. I used to make custom baby items, so I have minky, fleece, and flannel for that. I keep those fabrics folded nicely, but hidden. They take up a few drawers that I can pull out and find what I need quickly. 


I also keep felt pieces in a drawer, less organized but it works.

How to store sewing fabric in your home. Organize all the fabric


If you don't have a designated sewing space, and you use a temporary space to sew in. Store your fabric in clear bins and stack it in a nearby closet. You will see everything you have and it will be convenient to grab. Make sure they are folded neatly so you can tell what everything is.

I store all my items that are ready to sell in clear bins for my shop. It keeps smells out of the fabric and I can see my inventory.

If you'd like, take it one step further and organize fabric by type. Store knits together, quilting cotton, etc. Or store by color. Whatever makes it easier for you and gets you sewing will take loads of stress off your shoulders. Sewing is supposed to be fun! And fabric storage should be too. ;)

Leave a comment on how you plan on storing your fabric. And, where you donate scrap fabric. We all have fabric we could donate.

XO,

Annette

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How to Make an easy Zipper Bag

Sew a quick and easy makeup bag. Zipper pouches are great and can hold everything.

Is your makeup bag worn out or do you need a quick gift to make? You can make a new zip pouch quickly. No tears, I promise. ;)

You probably have some cute fabric already in your stash. You don't need a lot, just a few large scraps. 

How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour

Materials: 

  • 2 pieces of outer fabric measuring 7" wide by 9" long

  • 2 pieces of inner fabric measuring 7" wide by 9" long

  • Fusible fleece interfacing for stability

  • 12-14" Zipper ( I prefer a longer zipper, it makes it easier)

  • Pins or clips

  • Sewing machine

  • Matching thread and bobbin

  • Zipper foot

  • Chopstick or sad unsharpened pencil for poking out corners

  • Labels if you want to add a personal touch

  • Iron and board

  • Seam ripper... just in case



Begin by cutting the fabrics to your desired size. I gave the dimensions above for my bag, but you can make yours taller or wider if you want. That's the best part of sewing, you get to make it unique. 

Cut the fusible fleece a tad smaller than the size of your lining. You can apply the interfacing to the wrong side of your lining or outer fabric. I chose to apply it to the lining of this bag. Follow the instructions paper on how to fuse it to your fabric.

How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour

Once the interfacing has been added, we'll attach the zipper. 

Don't be scared, zippers are really easy and if you mess up... you have that trusty seam ripper.

Lay the lining right side up. Place the zipper with the teeth facing up. Zipper pull on the left.

How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour
How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour

Adjust your needle position to the middle. This is important, you don't want to break a needle. Ask me how I know this. Sigh…

I use clips to keep the 3 layers secure. But, I adjust the layers manually while I'm sewing the zipper in.

Sandwich your fabric and zipper together. Sew.


I start sewing forward a couple of stitches, then backstitch and go forward again. Take it slowly. Your foot will keep the needle away from the zipper teeth, but go slowly, just to be safe. I readjust my layers as I go if needed. Sew until the end and backstitch a few stitches.

How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour

When you're done. Get your other 2 pieces of fabric and we'll sew those onto the other side of the zipper tape.

How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour

Sandwich the first half between the next outer and inner piece. Right sides together. Clip, then sew.


How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour
How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour

Press, avoiding the zipper teeth. Then topstitch.


Lay your lining face up and match it with the lining piece that has been sewn to the zipper tape, right sides together.

Take your outer fabric and lay it face down matching with the outer piece that has been sewn to the zipper. Both fabrics should be aligned at the top of the zipper. You'll have one massive sandwich. Don't taste it though, yuck! Take the sandwich to the machine and sew the zipper side just like you did with the first half. Backstitching at both ends. Flip the fabric pieces over so you see the zipper teeth, it should look like mine above.

Now you're going to top stitch the zipper. This keeps the fabric out of the way of the zipper teeth and gives it a nice finish. I keep my zipper foot on for this part. Adjust your stitch length to a 3.0 or 3.5mm. Top stitching is a decorative stitch, so try your best to make it straight. Go slow if you need to. After you're done, give yourself a high five! You just rocked that zipper. Wooo!

How to sew a zipper easily. Make a makeup bag in an hour

Open your zipper up, but not all the way. Keep the zipper inside the bag area, 1 inch away from the seam edge. You don't want to sew over the zipper pull. That would stink. And hurt. Broken needles are sad.


Change your foot back to your usual presser foot. You won't need the zipper foot anymore. Here we go.

This is an optional step. If you have some labels that are handmade or store-bought, attach one now. It will give your bag a polished look. Add your label at this point because it's easier and you don't really have to think about the exact position. Just eyeball it.

Sew a zipper pouch. Zippers aren't hard


Now flip your pieces so they face each other, right sides together.

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.

Be sure to move your zipper pull to the middle.

Pin the pieces together all around the bag. Leave a 2.5” gap in the side of the lining to turn the bag out. When you use the inside side seam, you don't see the seam afterward. It is tricky because it's close to the zipper, but the look of the inside is clean.

Start sewing at one side of the opening making sure to backstitch. You'll sew in a clockwise direction until you get to the other side of the opening. Go slowly over the zipper when you reach it, use your hand wheel if needed.

Pull your pins out before the needle hits them. When you come to the corner, leave the needle in the fabric. Lift the presser foot and pivot the bag. Drop the presser foot and continue sewing.

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.
Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.

Go slowly over the zipper.

When you reach the other end of the opening, backstitch and cut your threads. Time to turn out the bag.

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.

Using a pair of utility scissors, trim your zipper tape ends. Toss the excess in the trash. Trim the corners of the bag too.

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.
Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.

Now it's time to turn the bag out. Find the opening, reach inside if you can, and pull the fabric out, slowly but firmly. Is that an oxymoron? Hmm..

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.

This part can get tricky, just take your time. Don't pull roughly, you might pop a seam. That's not fun, I've been told. Haha

Grab your chopstick to push out the corners and make them look sharp. Be careful not to poke through the corner.

You're almost done, Yay!


Find the opening in the side seam and tuck in the fabric within the seam allowance. Press the opening closed and add 2 pins or clips to keep the layers together. Sew the opening shut, making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.


Push your lining inside the bag. Poke out corners. Press flat with the iron.

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.

Your bag is ready for eyeliner, lipstick, a cute mirror, and tissues. Make one for your friend, child's teacher, sister, everyone, and anyone. Bags make great gifts.

What a cute bag!! Tag me on Instagram so I can see the bags you've made. @sewingtothemoon

Sew an easy makeup bag. zippers are easy if you know how to sew them.

Thanks for reading along and hanging out with me. Let me know in the comments below who you're making the bag for. Yourself or a friend?


Happy Sewing,
Annette

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