Welcome! This is a fantastic project that results in a spacious and stylish bag perfect for a weekend trip, a gym session, or as a carry-on. Making a quilted duffel bag allows you to create a one-of-a-kind accessory with a beautiful, textured finish. This pattern is designed for an intermediate to advanced sewer, as it involves working with multiple pieces and a long zipper.
Materials
Main Fabric: Durable fabric like canvas, duck cloth, or a thick cotton (about 2 yards, depending on the width).
Lining Fabric: A smooth, coordinating fabric like cotton or canvas (about 2 yards).
Batting: A thin piece of cotton or polyester batting (about 2 yards).
Zipper: One 24-inch or longer bag zipper.
Webbing or Strap Fabric: 3 to 4 yards of 1.5-inch wide webbing for the handles, or enough fabric to make your own.
Outer Pocket Fabric (Optional): A small piece of contrasting fabric for the pockets.
Thread: All-purpose thread that matches your fabric.
Basic sewing supplies: Sewing machine, scissors, pins or clips, a fabric pen or pencil, and an iron.
Key Concepts & Cutting Guide
This pattern is for a duffel bag approximately 20 inches long by 10 inches high. The key to this project is to create your quilted "fabric" first before cutting the final pieces.
Main Body: A single piece of fabric that wraps around the entire bag, from the front to the bottom to the back.
Side Panels: Two circular or oval pieces for the ends of the bag.
Handles & Pockets: Long straps and optional front pockets.
Cutting List:
Main Body: Cut one piece each of your main fabric, batting, and lining fabric, measuring 42" wide x 22" tall.
Side Panels: Cut two circles with a 10-inch diameter from your main fabric, batting, and lining.
Handles: Cut two pieces of webbing, each 40" long.
Outer Pocket (Optional): Cut one piece of contrasting fabric, measuring 10" wide x 8" tall.
Sewing Instructions
Note: Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance throughout the pattern unless otherwise noted.
Step 1: Create the Quilted Fabric
Create a "quilt sandwich" by layering your Main Body pieces: lay the lining fabric wrong side up, then the batting, and finally the main fabric right side up.
Pin the layers together, and use a ruler to draw a grid of straight lines across the fabric. A diagonal grid, as seen in the image, is a classic choice.
Using your sewing machine, sew along all the drawn lines to secure the layers together. Repeat this process for the two Side Panels.
Step 2: Prepare the Handles and Pockets
Handles: If you are using webbing, you can skip this step. If you are making fabric handles, take your two strap pieces. Fold each in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew the long edges. Turn them right side out and press them flat. Topstitch along both edges for a polished look.
Pockets (Optional): Take your Outer Pocket piece. Fold and hem the top edge. Fold the other three sides and press. Pin the pocket to the front of your quilted main body fabric (at the center), and sew along the pressed edges, leaving the top open. You can sew a vertical line down the middle of the pocket to create two separate compartments.
Step 3: Attach the Zipper
Take your quilted Main Body piece. Find the center of the top 42-inch edge and cut it in half, creating two pieces measuring 21" x 22".
Lay one of the quilted pieces right side up. Place your zipper, teeth up, along the 21-inch edge.
Place the other quilted piece on top, right side down, aligning the 21-inch edge with the zipper. Pin all three layers.
Using a zipper foot on your machine, sew a straight line along the edge.
Fold the fabric pieces away from the zipper and press the seam. Topstitch along the zipper.
Step 4: Attach the Handles
Lay your bag flat with the zipper at the top. Pin one handle to the front of the bag, about 4 inches in from the side seams. Pin the other end of the handle 4 inches in on the back of the bag. Baste the handles in place.
Repeat for the other handle. Make sure they are not twisted.
Step 5: Assemble the Bag
With the bag inside out and the zipper open, lay the bag flat. Pin the side seams together at the short ends and sew them closed.
Now, to attach the side panels, mark the center points on the side of the bag and the side panels. Pin the quilted side panels to the main body of the bag, aligning the marks. Go slowly and use plenty of pins to get a smooth, even curve.
Sew the side panels to the main body, being careful to not catch any extra fabric. Repeat for the other side.
Finish all raw seams with a zigzag stitch or a serger to prevent fraying.
Step 6: Finish the Lining
Take your un-quilted Lining Fabric pieces. Sew them together in the same way you sewed the outer bag: sew the side seams, and then attach the lining side panels. Leave a 4-inch opening in the bottom of one of the lining side seams.
Insert the lining into the outer bag, wrong sides together. Pin the lining to the zipper seam. Hand-sew the lining to the zipper for a clean finish.
Reach into the opening you left in the lining, pull the bag through, and hand-sew the opening closed.
Your quilted duffel bag is now complete!
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