Bag dimensions in approximate:
- from top of straps to bottom of bag: 50 cm / 20 inches
- height: 28 cm / 11 inches
- width: 40 cm / 16 inches
Fabric needed:
I don’t know because I used leftover fabric for my bag. You can print the pattern and place it on your fabric to make an approximation. It is only one piece of pattern.
Fort similar bag, you can check Charlie bag by Burdastyle ($1.99). It is a bit bigger and has squared bottom.
Please go to the bottom of this post to download the PDF pattern and tutorial.
Disclaimer: You may use the finished products for both personal and commercial use (craft shops or markets only – no mass production). Please do not pass off the pattern and tutorial as your own. Thank you!
The Tutorial
1. Here is 4 pieces of fabrics after being cut. We’re gonna refer them as set A and set B. If you want pockets, sew them before going to the next step.
2. Sew the bottom and sides of each set. My bag has a rounded bottom and a dart, Charlie bag has straight edges.
If you use my pattern, sew the darts before sewing the bottom and sides of bag. My apology for not showing how to sew the darts, please do a google search if you don’t know.
3. Put set B in set A, right sides together, and sew around the straps. Stop stitching about 20 cm before the tops of the straps. If your machine has reverse stitch, use it on each end of stitchings to secure it.
4. Clip rounded corners.
5. Turn the right sides out through one of the straps. It will be a bit difficult at first and you’re gonna wonder if you’re doing it right, but just keep doing it. You will feel a thug and after that the bag will turn right sides out smoothly.
Pull out each of the remaining straps.
6. Look! You almost have a bag!
7. Sew the straps of each set together. I often sew the straps absent-mindedly and then found out that I’ve attached them wrong! So please make sure that you sew each strap to the strap beside it, NOT the strap that is in front of it.
8. Press the seams open. Fold seam allowances on straps and press. Also press edges of bag to make it easier for topstitching.
9. Match the tops seams together and pin all open edges of straps. You can also use fusible tapes to make sure it is neat. But I will use pins here.
10. Topstitch all edges of bag. I use different colour thread for the bobbin.
A reversible bag!
Thank you for reading and I hope this post is useful for you!
Click to download:
REVERSIBLE BAG PATTERN
REVERSIBLE BAG TUTORIAL
421 Comments
Thanks for the tutorial! Here’s my version of the reversible bag
ei love your page, you’re amazing, I hope, very soon, do any of these preatty bags, God bless you!!!
Oh, it’s fantastic, I will try to do my version 🙂
Hi i love this bag. Only problem is i dont really understand the instructions.(im 14)I would like to make a bag with long handles so that when i put it on my shoulders it the bottom will reach my knees. How much fabric do you think i’d need as you havent mentioned any amounts (bearing in mind the actual bag would need to fit a lunch box and folder ect)If you get back to me and help it would be much appricated
thanks x
The bag looks cute! Great tutorial too. Hope you don’t mind that I linked to your page from mine 🙂
Thank you for the tutorial!
just made this today, and LOVE it, already put all my bits and pieces in it, gonna make another with pockets now, really enjoyed following the pattern, so clear that even i understood it, lol.
I have just tried this- fab bag- lovely size and shape with the darts. I will be making another!
Este tutorial es perfecto! justo lo q buscaba, dificilmente se encuentra algo tan explicado, muchas gracias 😀
I Love the directions they are great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they are so straight forward and easy! 🙂
OK, I no this might sound stupid but wat is a dart seem?????? I am only 13 but I taught myself to sew and I was inspired when I saw a bag like this at the store.
I’ve made one this evening! Love it!!
I’m a novice, I don’t understand how to put the handles together….
I LOVE your bag! I’m going to have to make me one. Thanks so much for sharing the how-to’s. I’ll be checking back to see what else you come up with!
Thank you! I am going to try to make it soon!
The bag is just beautiful and I would love to make one. I may be the only one that does not understand how to follow the instructions, so here is my question
In step number 1. Do you sew each piece of the same fabric right sides facing each other? or one piece of each set (one blue with one orange/brown) right sides facing each other?
Once I get this step right, I think I will be able to understand the rest of the steps to follow. I am sorry to be such a beginner, but I have no 3d vision when it comes to these things, and a litte bit of help would be very much appreciated.
Thank you so much for sharing the pattern and the tutorial!!!!!!!!!
Hi Yolanda, it’s the same fabric.
thanks so much…Love it!
I had a go at one myself…
http://www.smallbirdie.com/2011/05/need-to-test.html
Wow, what an amazing project! I love your reversible bag. I’m gonna try this and hopefully it’ll turn out great like you have here, thanks for providing us with the tutorial here.
I love this – I’ve been wanting to try the laminate material and think this would work without too many seams – thanks!
Thank you so much! It’s one of my favorite patterns and I already made three of them 🙂
Thank you so much! I linked this over at Running With Glitter!
http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/05/very-purple-person-reversible-bag.html
Thank you SO much! Your a legend!
Thanks for this! I blogged my bag here:
http://lisakisch.typepad.com/babies_paper_and_song/2011/05/a-birthday-bag-for-my-sister.html
I just love this pattern. I am very happy that it is for free, I think it’s silly you have to buy so much. So thanks a whole lot for sharing!! 😀
It worked perfectly for me though I must admit I had some troubles putting it together but actually it isn’t that hard after all. I was making too much trouble. :p
If you would like to see what I did with it, here’s a link to my facebook page. 😀
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2067236881405&set=a.1988051941831.2117248.1259280853&type=1&theater
Thanks a lot once more. This is brilliant!
I’m going to try this pattern this weekend!