Today’s contributor is Crystal from Stitched By Crystal. All posts written by Crystal for Make It and Love It can be found HERE.
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Hi there! Crystal here, from Stitched by Crystal. I am so happy spring is here! The weather is warming up and we have been spending a lot of time outside. My kids spend hours on their bikes, so I know that my latest sewing project will get a ton of use this spring and summer. I made a handlebar bag for my daughter’s bike and today I am sharing a tutorial so you can sew a handlebar bag for your kid’s bike!
My daughter is a collector, she is always picking up rocks, leaves, flowers, pinecones….anything she finds while we are out and wanting to save all her treasures and bring them home. This usually means I am stuck carrying them! (and of course I am already carrying the teddy bear she has to bring along and the water bottle she will be begging me for later!) Now she can carrying her own stuff (YAY!) in her new and adorable handlebar bag that snaps right on her bicycle!
I made this bag from a laminated cotton my daughter has been eying in my fabric stash. The malinated cotton is great for a bicycle handlebar bag because it weathers the elements a bit better, but the bag can be made from any fabric really, use whatever you have on hand. I added a little button closure so she can close it up and keep her stuff safe or leave it open for a more bike basket style and fill it up with more stuff!
The handlebar bag attaches with snap on straps (or you could use Velcro) and it will fit most kids’ bikes, or scooters or tricycles. It’s a quick easy project that your little one will love! My son is already asking for one for his bike after seeing his sisters!
Want to sew a handlebar bag for your child and all their treasures? Great! Let me show you how!
To sew a handlebar bag, you will need…
***Check out this Sewing Terms 101 post, for additional help.
**all seam allowances are 1/2″**
First, cut four 2″x 6″ rectangles from your main fabric. Place two of them right sides together and sew around the edges, leaving a small gap to turn. repeat with the other 2 pieces.
Clip the corners, turn right side out and press. Topstitch around the straps making sure you close up the hole from turning. Put these straps aside.
Next cut two rectangles from your main fabric that are 11″ wide by 13″ tall. Cut 1.5″ squares from the bottom corners as shown below. Repeat with your lining fabric.
Find the middle of the straps you made. Place the straps on one of your main bag pieces so that the center of the straps are 3.5″ from the top and 2″ from the center of the main bag as shown below. Sew the straps down in the middle using a box stitch (a box with an “X” in the middle) as shown below.
Cut a 4″ piece of elastic, fold it in half and sew it to the middle of this main bag piece. I like to stitch over it several times just to be sure it won’t pull out when my bag is done.
place your two main bag pieces right sides togethe and sew along the bottom and sides. Do not sew the top or the small squares at the bottom.
Box out the corners by lining up the bottom and side seams and sewing across the edge as shown below.
Set your main bag aside. Place your two lining pieces right sides together and sew along the bottom and sides, this time leaving a 3″ gap in the bottom.
Box out the corners by ining up the bottom and side seams and sewing across the edge like you did for the main bag pieces. Then grab your main bag piece and turn it right side out.
Insert your main bag into your bag lining. Line up the top edges, mathing the side seams, and sew around the top edge.
Turn the bag right side out through the hole in the lining. Stitch the hole in the lining closed.
Tuck the lining down inside your main bag and press along the top seam. (If you are using a laminated cotton for your bag use a lower heat setting on your iron and use a pressing cloth). Top stitch around the top of the bag.
Fold down the top of the bag and mark where you want your button placed.
Sew on a fun button!
Add the snaps or velcro to your handlebar bag straps to form loops that will attach to the bike. I like plastic snaps for this project, they are put on with snap pliers and are super easy to install!
Then snap that bag on your little one’s bike so she can start collecting treasure!
Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
-Crystal
Check out Crystal’s blog here. Her darling shop here. Follow her on Instagram here. And her Pinterest page here.
***ALL contributor posts by Crystal, can be found HERE.
Hi, I’m Ashley—the DIY-enthusiast behind this crazy blog!
