I use lingerie bags for all sorts of special wash items. They are also helpful in keeping small items from getting "lost" in the wash. No more losing socks! Why use the same boring bags found in stores? Dress it up with beautiful fabric!
Our utility mesh is very reasonably priced, and one yard plus a few scraps of fabric will make 3 bags! This is a great way to use your fabric scraps. For your convenience, we sell the zippers and utility mesh fabric needed for this project.
Use fun prints for children's bags. They can put their socks directly into the bags, keeping them from separating in the wash. Personalize the bags by using different fabrics. We have bright, fun prints available in our online store.
Go to our online store for a wonderful selection of holiday prints, children's fabric, pet theme fabrics & much more.
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Please read our Terms & Conditions before using our patterns.
Note: all seams are 1/4 inch. Always iron between steps.
Supplies
Fabric: For each bag you will need the following:
Two 2" x 13" strips of fabric for trim
One 13" x 25" piece of utility mesh
One 12" zipper
Sewing Supplies: Large ruler
Rotary cutter and cutting mat or scissors to cut fabric
The following drawing shows how to lay out the fabric to cut 3 pieces, which is enough for 3 bags.
pic here of 3 13x31 inche fabric pieces of mesh
Tip: Prewash and dry the fabric you are using for the contrast strip
Directions - for one bag
Create Zipper Piece
1. Assemble zipper and two pieces of fabric strips, and mesh piece.
NOTE: For cutting mesh, I find it is easiest to use a rotary cutter, large ruler and cutting mat.
2. Lay down a piece of trim, right side up. Lay the zipper over it, right side down. Pin the zipper to the fabric, aligning upper edges, making sure to leave at least ¼" over hang of fabric on metal end of the zipper.
You will need to stich the sides of the bag together, close to the ends of the zipper. With a zipper foot, you can get quite close to the zipper ends. The red dotted line on the right represents the stitching line you will later make. These lines should be ¼" from each end of the fabric strip, and OUTSIDE of the metal ends of the zipper.
3. Use your machine's zipper foot to stitch the zipper to the fabric.
My zipper foot can be adjusted to stitch to the right or left of center. I aligned the edge of my zipper foot to the edge of the zipper cloth (see photo at right). Stitch across the entire edge.
NOTE: You will need to open the zipper at times during the stitching process, because the zipper pull will be too bulky to stitch past.
4. Trim threads. Turn zipper piece right side up and press with iron.
5. Repeat with the other fabric strip on the opposide side of the zipper. Pin unstitched edge of zipper to unstitched edge of fabric, right sides together.
Press with iron.
Stitch Bag
6. Lay down the mesh piece.Lay the zipper piece over the mesh piece, right side down, aligning upper short end edges. Our mesh fabric doesn't have a right or wrong side, so just choose one side to be the "right side". Pin the peices right sides together along the aligned edge and stitch across the end.
7. Lay the bag piece down, right side up. Bring the unstitched mesh end up, folding bag right sides together. Align the two unstitched, short ends of the bag. Stitch across the short end.
Unzip the zipper at least part way. Stitch the two side seams. Turn bag right side out.
Make a pillowcase with one of our free pillowcase patterns, and use the scraps to make a matching lingerie bag. This would be a wonderful gift for yourself, a child or friend!
