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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Hello there! Crystal here, from Stitched by Crystal!
Have you started getting those holiday toy catalogs in the mail? We started seeing them pop up before Halloween this year! Last week we got one with some very pricey doll accessories, my daughter got a hold of it and of course wanted EVERYTHING! One toy in particular caught her eye, a doll diaper bag. I also liked the idea of a diaper bag for her dolls because it gives her somewhere to stash all the doll bottles, diapers, and clothes, keeping them off the playroom floor! But, I decided to save myself the hefty catalog price tag and sewed up this cute little doll diaper bag for her. And today I am sharing a tutorial so you can make your own doll diaper bag for your little mamas and daddies!
There are two outside pockets (great for holding bottles), and two inside pockets, so you have plenty of room for all those dolly accessories. The bag has one shoulder strap and closes with a cute little button loop.
This doll diaper bag would make a really fun gift for the upcoming holidays; you could even pair it with a handmade doll and some clothes!
***Check out this Sewing Terms 101 post, for additional help.
Start by cutting your fabric. From both your main fabric and your lining fabric you will need 2 rectangles that are 12.5” wide and 10.5” tall. Then cut 2” squares out of both the bottom corners as shown below.
Also from your main fabric, you will need 2 rectangles for the strap that are 30” long x 3”wide. For your outside pockets, cut 4 rectangles 6.5” wide x 5.5” tall. For the button loop, cut a strip 1.25” wide x 5” long on the bias (the bias means cut diagonally). And finally, for your interior pocket cut a rectangle that is 6.5” tall x 12.5” wide.
Cut 2 pieces of fusible fleece that are ½” smaller than your main bag pieces on all side and fuse them to the wrong side of your main bag pieces.
On the right side of your bag pieces, draw 6” lines for the pocket placement using chalk or a tailor’s pencil. The lines should start at the top of the corner cut outs and be just ¼” closer to the center of the bag than the cut outs.
Next, prepare your pockets. Place 2 pocket pieces right sides together. Sew along the sides and top with a ½” seam allowance. Turn the pocket right side out, press, and then topstitch the pocket 3/8” from the top.
With your seam ripper, pick the stitches above the topstitching to create a casing for your elastic. Using a safety pin, thread one 4.5” piece of elastic through the casing and secure it by sewing it down on both sides close to the edge of the pocket. Sew 2 rows of gathering stitches along the bottom and gather the bottom of the pocket so it is 4.5”. Repeat with the other pocket, and then set the pockets aside.
Place the main bag pieces right sides together and sew up one side with a ½” seam allowance. Press the seam open.
Pin one pocket to the right side of the bag, lining the sides of the pocket up with the lines you drew and the bottom raw edge should line up with the raw edge of the corner cut out. Sew the pocket in place along the sides and bottom, make sure to backstitch to secure the pocket at the top.
Place the bag pieces right sides together again and sew the other side of the bag with a 1/2” seam allowance.
Pin the other pocket in place like you did the first. Sew the pocket down, I find this is easiest with the bag inside out.
Sew along the bottom of the bag with a ½” seam allowance.
Line up the side and bottom seams and sew the corners. Set the bag aside.
Prepare your strap. Cut a strip of interfacing that is ½” smaller than the strap pieces on both sides and fuse it to one of your strap pieces. Place the strap pieces wrong sides together and sew along the sides with a ½” seam allowance. Turn the strap right side out, press, and then topstitch along the sides if desired.
Prepare your button loop by folding the strip you cut in half, open it up and sew both raw edges into the middle, refold along the middle and sew the strip closed.
Fold your button loop in half and baste it to the center of one side of your main bag with the raw edge of the loop along the raw edge of the bag. Center the strap over the side seams or your bag and baste it in place with the raw edge of the strap along the raw edge of the bag. Place your main bag aside and grab your lining pieces.
Hem the top edge of your inside pocket by folding it down ¼” towards the wrong side of the fabric then fold it down another ¼” and sew along the fold. Fold the bottom of the pocket up ¼” and iron. Place the pocket on the right side of one of your lining pieces with the bottom of the pocket ¾” above the corner cut outs. Sew the pocket in place along the bottom, then sew up the middle dividing it into 2 pockets.
Place your lining pieces right sides together and sew along the sides and bottom with a 1/2” seam allowance. Then line up the side and bottom seams at the corner and sew the corners closed.
With your main bag inside out and your lining right side out, place your lining inside your main bag. Line up the raw edges and sew along the edge with a ½” seam allowance, leaving a 3” gap for turning the bag.
Turn the bag through the hole you left.
Push the lining inside the main bag. Iron the top of the bag, then topstitch around the top of the bag, making sure to close the hole.
Add your button and your doll diaper bag is done!
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.
For even more adorable doll accessories you can make right at home, check out these fun ideas:
Hi, I’m Ashley—the DIY-enthusiast behind this crazy blog!
