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Sewing a zipper purse bag from cloth is a fantastic and practical project, perfect for beginners looking to conquer zippers! You can customize it endlessly with your favorite fabrics, making it ideal for carrying essentials like makeup, pens, a small wallet, or even just keeping your larger bag organized.
This detailed tutorial will guide you through creating a simple yet sturdy zippered pouch, approximately 8 inches wide x 6 inches tall x 2 inches deep (20 cm W x 15 cm H x 5 cm D) when finished. We'll use a basic boxy design, which is easy to sew and offers good capacity.
How to Sew a Zipper Purse Bag From Cloth
I. Planning Your Zipper Purse
A little planning goes a long way to ensure your purse turns out beautifully.
Fabric Choices:
Main Fabric: Choose a medium-weight cotton (quilting cotton, broadcloth, canvas, or even denim scraps). This will be the outside of your purse. Consider a fun print or a nice textured solid.
Lining Fabric: A lighter-weight cotton works well for the inside. It can be a contrasting color or a complementary print.
Zipper: A plastic coil zipper is generally easier for beginners than a metal zipper. Match the color to your fabric, or choose a contrasting color for a pop!
Interfacing (Optional but Recommended): Lightweight fusible interfacing (like Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex) will give your purse more body and a professional feel, preventing it from being too floppy. It's especially useful if your main fabric is lightweight.
II. Gather Your Materials
Having everything prepped and on hand before you start sewing makes the process much smoother.
Main Fabric: One rectangle, 10 inches wide x 16 inches high (25.4 cm W x 40.6 cm H).
Lining Fabric: One rectangle, 10 inches wide x 16 inches high (25.4 cm W x 40.6 cm H).
Lightweight Fusible Interfacing (Optional): One rectangle, 10 inches wide x 16 inches high (25.4 cm W x 40.6 cm H).
Zipper: One 8-inch (20 cm) zipper. (A 7-inch or 9-inch zipper will also work; you just need it to be at least the width of your bag. We'll trim it down if it's too long.)
Matching Thread: All-purpose polyester thread.
Basic Sewing Tools:
Sewing machine (with a zipper foot attachment – this is crucial!)
Sharp Fabric Scissors or Rotary Cutter and Mat
Measuring Tape or Ruler
Fabric Chalk or Mark-B-Gone Pen
Pins or Fabric Clips
Iron and Ironing Board
Seam Ripper (just in case!)
III. Prepare & Cut Your Fabric Pieces
Accuracy in cutting is important for a neat finish. We'll use a consistent 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance throughout this tutorial, unless otherwise specified for the zipper.
Main Fabric: Cut your 10" x 16" rectangle.
Lining Fabric: Cut your 10" x 16" rectangle.
Fusible Interfacing (If using): Cut your 10" x 16" rectangle.
Fuse Interfacing: Lay your main fabric rectangle wrong side up on your ironing board. Center and fuse the interfacing to it, following the manufacturer's instructions. Press firmly and allow to cool completely.
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IV. Let's Start Sewing Your Zipper Purse!
General Sewing Tips:
Press, Press, Press: Pressing your fabric and seams after each step is key to a professional-looking finish.
Backstitch: Always backstitch at the beginning and end of every seam to secure your stitches.
Zipper Foot: Make sure your sewing machine has a zipper foot attached. This foot allows you to sew very close to the zipper teeth without the foot getting in the way.
Go Slow: Take your time, especially when sewing zippers. Precision is more important than speed.
Step 1: Attach the First Side of the Zipper
Lay your main fabric rectangle right side up on your work surface.
Place your zipper right side down along one of the 10-inch top edges of the main fabric. The zipper tape should align with the fabric edge. The zipper teeth will be facing down onto the main fabric. Center the zipper horizontally.
(Tip: If your zipper is longer than 10 inches, let the excess extend beyond the fabric on both sides; you'll trim it later.)
Clip or pin the zipper in place along that edge.
Place one lining fabric rectangle right side down on top of the zipper/main fabric sandwich, aligning its 10-inch edge with the zipper tape. The main fabric and lining fabric are now right sides together, with the zipper in between.
Using your zipper foot, stitch along this edge, sewing as close to the zipper teeth as possible. Take care not to sew over the metal zipper stops or pull tab if they are within your sewing area. Backstitch at the beginning and end.
Step 2: Attach the Second Side of the Zipper
Open up your fabric layers so the main fabric and lining fabric are extended away from the zipper, with the zipper in the middle. Press the seam allowances away from the zipper teeth.
Now, lay the remaining long, unsewn edge of the main fabric (the other 10-inch edge) up to the unsewn side of the zipper tape, so they are right sides together. The main fabric should now form a loop, with its right side facing the zipper's right side.
Align the remaining long, unsewn edge of the lining fabric up to the same unsewn side of the zipper tape, so they are right sides together. This completes the fabric loop, with the lining now right side to the zipper and the main fabric.
(Basically, you're creating a fabric tube around the zipper, with the main fabric on one side and the lining on the other, both right sides facing the zipper.)
Clip or pin this second side of the zipper in place.
Using your zipper foot, stitch along this edge, again sewing as close to the zipper teeth as possible. Backstitch at the beginning and end.
Step 3: Topstitch Around the Zipper (Optional, but Recommended)
Open up your fabric layers again, and press the main fabric and lining fabric away from the zipper.
Topstitch on the right side of the main fabric, along both sides of the zipper. This means sewing a line of stitches about 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) away from the zipper teeth, going through the main fabric and its seam allowance. Repeat for the other side of the zipper. This helps the fabric lay flat and prevents it from getting caught in the zipper.
Step 4: Prepare for Side Seams & Boxed Corners
Open the Zipper Halfway! This is very important! If you don't open the zipper, you won't be able to turn the bag right side out later.
Lay your entire fabric piece flat. You should have the main fabric (with fused interfacing) on one side and the lining fabric on the other, connected by the zipper in the middle.
Now, bring the main fabric pieces right sides together, matching up the edges. The zipper will be folded in the middle.
Bring the lining fabric pieces right sides together, matching up the edges.
Align the side seams perfectly, and ensure the zipper is folded neatly in the middle. Pin or clip all the way around the raw edges of both the main fabric and the lining.
Crucial Turning Opening: Along the bottom edge of the lining fabric, you need to leave a gap for turning. Stitch about 2 inches (5 cm) from one corner, then leave a 3-4 inch (7.6-10 cm) unstitched gap, then finish stitching to the other corner. Backstitch well at the beginning and end of your stitching around this gap.
Step 5: Sew the Side Seams
Starting at the top edge of the main fabric (where it meets the zipper), stitch down the side seam using a 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance. Continue stitching along the bottom edge (avoiding the turning gap in the lining), and then up the other side seam until you reach the other side of the zipper.
Backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitches.
Carefully trim any excess zipper length that extends beyond the fabric edges. Leave about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) beyond your seam.
Trim the corners (all four corners of the main fabric and lining) at a diagonal, close to the stitching line but without cutting the stitches. This reduces bulk in the corners.
Step 6: Create the Boxed Corners
This step gives your purse a flat, defined bottom and more capacity.
At one of the bottom corners of the main fabric, carefully bring the side seam and the bottom seam together, aligning them perfectly. This action will naturally form a triangular shape at the corner.
Measure from the point of this triangle inward along the seam line a distance equal to half of your desired box depth (e.g., for a 2-inch deep box, you'll measure 1 inch / 2.5 cm).
Draw a straight line perpendicular to the seam at this measured point. This line should be 2 inches long (the total depth of your box).
Clip firmly along this drawn line.
Stitch precisely along the drawn line, backstitching securely at both ends.
Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving about a 1/4-inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance beyond your new stitching line.
Repeat this exact process for all three remaining corners: the other main fabric corner and both lining corners.
Step 7: Turn Your Purse Right Side Out & Finish!
Remember that opening you left in the bottom seam of the lining in Step 4? Reach through it.
Slowly and carefully pull the entire purse (main fabric, lining – everything!) through this opening until it is completely right side out.
Gently push out all the corners of the main bag, using a point turner or a blunt object (like a chopstick) to get them crisp and well-defined.
Close the Lining Opening: Go to your ironing board. Press the raw edges of the opening in the bottom of the lining under by 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) so they meet neatly. Align these pressed edges and pin or clip them together. Stitch this opening closed by machine (sewing very close to the folded edge for a neat finish) or by hand using an invisible ladder stitch for a truly seamless look.
Finally, push the lining down into the main purse, ensuring it sits smoothly inside and the corners align.
Give your finished purse a good final press to remove any wrinkles and make it look crisp.
Congratulations! You've successfully sewn a DIY zipper purse bag from cloth! You've conquered the zipper and created a practical and beautiful accessory.
What fabrics did you choose for your purse, and what will you be storing in it?
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