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You are here: Home / Sewing Patterns & Ideas / Kid’s Duffle Bag Pattern

May 26, 2018 · 44 Comments

Kid’s Duffle Bag Pattern

Sewing & Crafts· Sewing Patterns & Ideas

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What’s the Project? Use this cute kid’s duffle bag pattern to make a bag that the kids can carry on overnighters to Grandma’s or to dance class or wherever they are going. Easy to follow tutorial and it turns out so cute!

I am a horrible mom and let me tell you why.

I made this cute kids duffle bag and now all of my kids want to be the one to keep it! And because of that, I will probably give it away to a friend so that we don’t have fighting over it.

They don’t like that idea.

But at least I can be confident that it was a good project-they like it! So here’s a kid’s duffle bag pattern for you. (So maybe you can be a horrible mom too?)

Kid's Duffle Bag Pattern

It’s kid-sized and perfect for taking on an overnight trip to Grandmas or you could even use it to store soccer or dance gear.

Kid's Duffle Bag Pattern and Tutorial

Pretty fun right?

 

Kid’s Duffle Bag Pattern & Tutorial:

Supplies Needed:

  • 1 yard each of 2 coordinating fabrics (I got mine at Stitch Stash Diva)
  • 1/4 yard of a complimentary fabric for the straps
  • 1 yard of fusible fleece interfacing
  •  20-inch zipper
  • Circle Pattern Piece (Just a note-the diameter of the circle is 8.75 inches. I couldn’t fit this all on a page, so the edges of the circle are cut off. Still cut a full circle, just filling in that spot where it is slightly cut off. It’s just a tiny bit cut off so you should be fine to just eyeball it.)

Cutting Guide:

  • Cut 2 circles from each of your main fabrics
  • Cut 1 piece from each of your main fabrics that is 20 inches wide by 27.5 inches long
  • Cut 2 circles and one 20 x 27.5 piece from your fusible fleece
  • Cut 1 long piece that is 4 inches wide by 120 inches long. Obviously, you won’t be able to do this all in one cut and will need to piece this together. It will depend on how wide your fabric is, but you will probably need 3 pieces all pieced together to create this long piece. Cut fusible fleece for this as well.

Duffle Bag Sewing Instructions: 

Iron your fusible interfacing pieces to the back of your outer bag fabric and your straps.

Fold your straps in half the long way and sew up the long (very long) side. Turn right side out and press flat.

Grab your large outer piece and your strap. Lay your long strap piece on the bag starting from the center of the fabric. Guide the fabric up and loop it around the form handles, back down across the center of the bag and up the other side the form the handle and then have it meet back where you started. So it forms a big oval and you have straps on either end. The length of the actual handle on each side should be about 30 inches from where the strap fabric leaves the main fabric and then rejoins it. Pin all of this in place.

How to Sew a Duffle Bag

 

Starting about 5 inches from the top of the bag, sew the strap in place on either side of the strap. Do this for both straps leaving that 5 inches or so on either end that is not sewn in place. (This just allows the straps to drop to the side of the bag and not be sewn clear up to where the zipper will be.) In the spot where your oval that you created with the straps began and ended you will need to fold the fabric over and sew it in place so that the raw edges aren’t showing:

Duffle Bag Pattern

Now we are ready to insert the zipper, so grab it and both of your large pieces of fabric.

Before I start to describe how to do this, let me say that there is more description and more pictures of this process on this post here if you end up confused and need more.

Place your zipper between your two fabrics so that it is face down on the outer fabric and is sandwiched between the two with right sides together. You will then stitch the length of the zipper. Try to keep your stitching close to the actual zipper but not too close. Keep it steady and even. You will need to move the zipper pull out of your way as you go. Just stop, move it out of your way and continue on.

Also, be sure that your strap is tucked inward and out of your way.

Look at these two pictures. This one shows the process from the outside:

Duffle Bag Sewing

Then, once I have stitched and if I open the fabric, it looks like this. See that the zipper is facing down on my main fabric (the rockets).

Duffle Bag Patterns

Now I am going to do the same thing on the other end of my fabrics. Sandwich them between the other side of the zipper-the part that is not sewn yet-with the zipper facing down on my main fabric.

Duffles

When you have completed this step, you will have a big loop of fabric. Basically like a duffel but without the ends on it yet.

How to Make a Duffle Bag

Press the fabric around your zipper to make sure it is laying very flat. You can even top stitch along either side of the zipper to keep it really nice.

Now, all we need to do is stitch the circle pieces to each end. Separate your bag so that the inner and outer pieces are separate and not on top of each other. Grab your circle and pin it in place like this on one end. This is ONLY being pinned to my outer fabric, not my inner. My inner fabric is out of the way for now.

Duffel Bag Pattern

Sew around this part. Just be careful at the place that it meets the zipper. Sew through the zipper area but make sure you don’t have the zipper pull in the way and that you don’t break a needle by sewing right on the zipper.

Do this for all 4 circles-each on one end of the bag. On the last circle, leave an opening at the bottom about 4 inches big.

Turn everything right side out through that opening, then sew it closed.

Push the inner part of the bag down into the outer and press everything nice and flat and pretty.

Then head to Grandma’s!

Kid's Duffle Bag Pattern

I hope you love sewing this cute duffle bag pattern!

You Might Also Like:

Kid’s Sleeping Bag Pattern:

Sleeping Bag Patterns

Kid’s Busy Bag Pattern:

Busy Bags for Kids

Pin It:

Kid's Duffle Bag Pattern-This cute bag is perfect for an overnighter to grandma's or to carry things to dance or soccer or wherever your kids are headed. Easy to follow duffle bag pattern. #sewingpattern #sewingtutorial #sewinginspiration #sewingideas

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Christina says

    August 14, 2022 at 8:10 am

    I can’t see where to download the pattern:( Anyway you can email the link to me?? I would very much appreciate your help!
    Thank you

    Christina from Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

    Reply
    • Amber says

      August 16, 2022 at 12:58 pm

      Here’s where you can find the pattern piece for the ends: https://crazylittleprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/CirclePatternPiece.pdf
      And then the rest is just measurements.

      Reply
  2. Jeri says

    September 17, 2019 at 10:19 am

    It is a great bag and you should just make one for each of your kids instead of giving the one you made in the first place away. All of my grandsons want one and they are ages 5 to 20.
    I love your creations.

    Reply
    • Amber says

      September 20, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      That’s wonderful! Glad your grandsons like them!

      Reply
  3. Bobby Jo says

    November 26, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    I’m almost finished with the duffle bag for a little 10 year girl. I used a denim with pink and blue flowers. The iron on fusible interfacing didn’t adhere. So I lined the lining to the interfacing and the denim and did a random quilt pattern. It came out very cute. I’ll finish it tomorrow, can’t wait to see it. Pattern is very easy. Thank you. I also enjoy crocheting amigurumi little animals.

    Reply
    • Amber says

      November 27, 2018 at 1:10 pm

      That sounds adorable!

      Reply
  4. Sophie says

    March 7, 2016 at 8:49 am

    Great bag, love it. Can anyone tell me the size of it once completed please?
    Love the fabrics used, so bright and perky.

    Thanks
    Pint Size Sophie UK

    Reply
  5. Windy says

    November 11, 2015 at 12:32 am

    Love how you casually say to just turn your 120″ tube! LOL. I monogrammed the one I made and it turned out super cute, but I’ve been up all night making it. I think this one will definitely be a go to for me though cause what little girl doesn’t need a little duffel bag?

    Reply
    • Amber says

      November 11, 2015 at 11:24 am

      And watch a good show WHILE you turn the tube. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Lynnette says

    August 14, 2015 at 7:58 pm

    I made this duffel bag for my grandson. He loves it. Thanks so much for the tutorial!

    Reply
  7. susan says

    July 31, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    I love your website! I just made the mini-messenger bag today 🙂 I really want to try this duffel bag out. Would you consider making video tutorials??? I do so much better when I can see it vs. read it 🙂 I’m afraid to mess this one up as I’m a little confused haha
    great web site!

    Reply
    • Amber says

      July 31, 2015 at 7:22 pm

      It’s on my to do list-I just haven’t really tried it yet!

      Reply
      • Nicola Robinson says

        July 31, 2018 at 11:36 am

        I agree!! Im brand new at sewing and super excited to try this bag…..but even though i’ve read the instructions 10 times, i’m still unsure 🙂 Would love a video tutorial, though I appreciate it isn’t so easy. Thanks for sharing the information you do. It’s super inspiring.

        Reply
  8. Lynnette France says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    I thought this was so cute and I needed an idea for my 10 year old grandson as a gift for him graduating from elementary school to junior high. Also I am a granny and would love to have him visit more! So, I made this duffel bag for him. It turned out so cute! I made it out of a cute cotton fabric with trucks all over it. I lined the inside with a thin vinyl so it would be waterproof. I hope he likes it. Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  9. Missy says

    June 1, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    I Love, Petal Wander Woods, from Michael Miller. It’s so soft and sweet, just what I want, to make the quilt of my dreams. And I only got through the first 20 pages. Thanks for hooking us up with this great company!

    Reply
  10. Ivy gabbard says

    May 28, 2015 at 10:00 am

    I would use these to make lap quilt lovely

    Reply
  11. Linda Thompson says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    A quick and easy duffel….looks fun to try!

    Reply
  12. Sharon says

    May 27, 2015 at 7:52 am

    great details in the tutorial. love “the stash” for fabric variety!

    Reply
  13. Glenna Fleeman says

    May 27, 2015 at 7:42 am

    Very cute proJect!

    Reply
  14. Emily N. says

    May 27, 2015 at 2:18 am

    Love this fabric! I’d make a really cute quilt for a special little boy.

    Reply
  15. Anita Carol Gambrell says

    May 26, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    i think I would love to try and make a duffel bag, all those fabrics are so cool!

    Reply
  16. Elizabeth says

    May 26, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    This is amazing!!! You couldn’t have posted this at a better time!!! I am leaving on a 12 hour drive in just about three weeks with three kids. I have been trying to think of something different for them to carry their clothes in. I will have to get busy this week and make this. Hopefully I have enough fabric that they will like to do this with. lol I would hate to have to drag my husband to the local fabric store again. Thanks so much for this tutorial!!!

    Reply
  17. Laura says

    May 26, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    I got this tutorial in my email and I thought it was so cute!! 1 I saved it to make!

    Reply
  18. Suzi says

    May 26, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    What a cute beg! Grandkids would be clambering for it. Would be a hard choice. Just may have to keep it for me!

    Reply
  19. Judy Davis says

    May 26, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    Love the bag and thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  20. Tracer says

    May 26, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Love the bag! I just started sewing and keep going back to your site for ideas and easy tutorials. Thank you and keep them coming!

    Reply
  21. Mz Cosby says

    May 26, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Very cute bag!!! Good thing my 2 are very little and I’m sure MJ would take over this bag anyway! LOL

    Reply
  22. Candias Chalker says

    May 26, 2015 at 12:44 pm

    Great early Christmas Presents to start on! So fun, I love the opportunity to learn new patterns and techniques. Thank you and thank you for the give-a-way too 🙂

    Reply
  23. Kara says

    May 26, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    Thanks for the fun info and giveaways! Love the projects! (PS I went to high school with your hubby way back in the day… In Neenah)

    Reply
    • Amber says

      May 26, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      What? That’s cool!

      Reply
  24. Gwen H. says

    May 26, 2015 at 11:54 am

    I love the duffle bag. Thank you for the giveaway and information.

    Reply
  25. Que says

    May 26, 2015 at 11:43 am

    Love you blog. I would not know where to begin except to search your blog for ideas. I’m just learning to sew and embroider so this giveaway would be so perfect to get me started 🙂

    Reply
    • Amber says

      May 26, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      Ah thanks!

      Reply
  26. Sharri says

    May 26, 2015 at 11:12 am

    I have four grandchildren and I think I will practice on this pattern making each their own so they will have new duffle bags to use to come to Nammy’s house!!!
    This is simply darling. Gonna have fun with the patterns of fabrics to use.
    Thank you for sharing this.
    Sharri from Missouri

    Reply
    • Amber says

      May 26, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      Very fun idea!

      Reply
  27. Ann from Germansville.PA says

    May 26, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Love the duffel bag!! Luv ur Crazy Littke Projects and ur blog!!!

    Ann from Germansville

    Reply
    • Amber says

      May 26, 2015 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  28. Cynthia says

    May 26, 2015 at 10:08 am

    I love your emails.

    Reply
  29. Joanne says

    May 26, 2015 at 10:05 am

    Thanks for all the sharing and giveaway !

    Reply
  30. Dana Kelley says

    May 26, 2015 at 9:38 am

    Cute bag!

    Reply
  31. Marina says

    May 26, 2015 at 9:33 am

    I would make lap quilts for the people with that dreaded Alhzamers (sorry spelt wrong) I nursed my hubby for 7 1/2 years then drove 60 miles each way for 18 month every day , till he passed , it is a awful
    thing to get,

    Reply
  32. Carla Hundley says

    May 26, 2015 at 9:22 am

    How cute this is and I don’t
    blame them for wanting it!
    Thanks for sharing all the
    instructions and giveaway.
    Carla from Utah

    Reply
  33. Terry says

    May 26, 2015 at 8:45 am

    Adorable duffel bag!!!

    Reply
  34. Susie says

    May 26, 2015 at 8:29 am

    Such a cute bag! And I love stitch stash diva!

    Reply

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Hi! I am Amber. I'm first and foremost a mom to 4 boys. When I am not being a mom or a wife I love to bake, I love to sew, I love to read and I don't like to sit still. Welcome to Crazy Little Projects where I show off my latest crazy projects and show you how you can do them too. Thanks for visiting! [Read More …]

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