The Mini Duffel Bag Instructions

Page 3: The End

The instructions are divided into three pages:

Page 1: The Beginning Page 2: The Middle Page 3: The End

Click here for text-only printable instructions.

The End - Finishing Your Bag

Step 26: Sew the two 14" zippers to the top piece (from piece #2). Put the open end of the zippers at the finished edge. Remember, right sides together. Trim the seam allowance (but not the zipper tape!) to less than 1/2".

Step 27: Press the seam allowance under so the zippers lie flat.

Step 28: Fold the top edge for the zipper tape over the seam allowance and baste in place.

Step 29: Topstitch 1/4" and 1/2" away from the zipper. The seals the unfinished side edges under the zipper tape.

Step 30: Stitch a 3" strip of velcro (sticky half) to the underside of this piece between the opening end of the zippers (see step 33 for a picture).

Step 31: Fold piece #8 in half and sew up the sides with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Step 32: Turn right side out and topstitch. Stitch a 3" piece of velcro (the soft half)

The other side looks like this.

Step 33: Attach the top to the bag sides. Sew the other sides of the zipper to the bag piece. Remember, right sides together. Note that becasue the finished edge of the top already has the seam allowance tucked under, the top is 1/2" shorter than the bag. So line up the unfinished edge (the one w/o velcro).

Step 34: Repeat for the other side. Now you have a barrel.

Step 35: Trim the seam allowance to less than 1/2" inch (so it is smaller than the zipper tape).

Step 36: As you did for the top piece, topstitch the zipper tape to the bag 1/4" and 1/2" away from the zipper.

Step 37: Slightly gather the ends of the bag. Do this by stitching two lines of stitching with a large stitch length very close to the end. Then pull the bobbin thread so it gathers the fabric, as below. Also, trim off the extra zipper tape at the ends.

To gather the fabric, stitch two lines of stitching with a large stitch length very close to the end. Then pull the bobbin thread so it gathers the fabric, as below.

Step 38: Making sure the orientation of the pocket it corrent, pin the bag end. Start with the closed zipper end. Then stitch the end to the bag with a 1/2" seam allowance. Turn the bag right side out to make sure you are happy with the stitch, and if so, stitch again very close to the seam to make sure it is secure.

Step 39: For the open zipper end, stitch piece #8 to the bag end at the top, using a 1/2" seam allowance. The velcro will face down at this point.

Step 40: Now stitch this end to the open zipper end of the bag as in step 38. The velcro from piece #8 should stick to the velcro on the top piece.

Step 41: Use seam binding or double fold wide bias tape to finish the edges. Attach with a zigzag stitch.

Step 42: Handstitch the piece #8 to the bound seam to keep it in place.

Another view of step 42.

You bag is now finished!

Hooray! Made a duffel of your own? Send me a photo -- I'll post it here along with any comments.

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