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Home » Diy Storage

Diy Storage Bag in 3 Sizes - Smart Expandable Bag

Apr 7, 2020

Smart flat diy storage bag that will expand when needed. The best for home organizing and travel storage, and you can make them yourself! Sign up for the newsletter here to get all 3 sizes for free from my shop - and follow the tutorial below.

diy storage bag

Home storage? You bet! These pouches are brilliant to organize your entire home! I made them part of my special Diy Storage Series, so make sure to check out 16 more diy storage ideas here.

Scroll down for the free 3-sized pattern and tutorial. No time now? Save this link or the image below to Pinterest so you are ready to sew when you need them:

diy storage bag

When I was younger, I traveled a lot. So many times I had to unpack my entire suitcase or backpack trying to find one small thing that got misplaced. Or to dig out my socks. I would be so happy to have something like these!

Fast forward a gazillion of years, and I've made a lot of these storage bags! I even managed to make a pattern so these will make all our lives easier! I don't travel as much anymore (especially not now!), but when we do, the whole family will be much better organized than before. 

diy storage bag
Get pattern HERE - free with subscriber-exclusive coupon

These pouches are the clever small bags that can be packed inside your suitcase. And they will expand if you need them to. And they will keep everything neatly organized, but will not add up to the luggage weight. No extra bulk to your luggage, promise!

DIY STORAGE BAG - PATTERN IN 3 SIZES

The pattern is available IN THE SHOP - get it for free with 100%-off code for all my newsletter subscribers! (new subscribers can join here, existing subscribers: see my latest newsletter) Read on to find out more.

CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS: Your 100% DISCOUNT CODE is in my latest newsletter - visit the SHOP (here) and apply it in 'View Cart' before checkout.

Perfect diy storage for home or travel

What can you store in these smart pouches? In short: nearly anything.

First thing on my mind (and probably yours too): shoes. Either to prevent gathering dust in your closet, you can neatly pack them and even hang on hooks in your closet, utilizing the vertical storage space. Or when you travel, keep the shoes away from your clothes so nothing gets stained or dirty.

diy shoe storage bag
Get pattern HERE - free with subscriber-exclusive coupon

Neat, huh?

Then think socks. Don't they always get lost in a big suitcase! Then think separate storage for every part of your luggage. And toiletries. It can be a perfect travel cosmetic pouch (I showed you one more version a few weeks ago.) Store your shoes smart in pouches for travel. Never again drag all items out just to find the socks. Have your project neatly packed when you travel for a weekend.

A Great Diy Project Bag!

Then, project bag! I have so many projects on the go, it would be nice if I could just pack each UFO and store for later! Now I can, and you too! 🙂

diy project bag
The expandable storage bag makes a great project bag - this is my fabric pull for my next sewing project - beautiful Hampton Garden collection by Lila Tueller for Riley Blake Designs.

In fact, all the fabric I use in this tutorial is from the Hampton Garden collection, and it was sent to me free of charge by Riley Blake Designs. Thank you! By now, I have 3 new ideas for tutorials with these! But for now, I've made a few extra storage bags in size large, just to store my ongoing projects. Pattern plus zippies plus fabric. In my ideal world, all my unfinished projects will be neatly folded and stored in these bags. Some day. If there aren't too many LOL.

diy storage bags

Diy Expandable Packing Bag - Features

This is a well designed multifunctional storage pouch for home and travel. Since it's meant to be lightweight, I got rid of all the unnecessary bulk, leaving it with a single layer - but no raw edges either! It's neat, thin, won't add nearly any weight to your luggage but will organize it and make everything easy to reach. Oh, and it's so easy to make!

Finished Sizes of the Expandable Pouch

Finished sizes are as follows:

  • SMALL: flat 12 ½" long, 8" wide – expanded 3" tall (32 x 20 cm, exp. 7.5cm tall)
  • MEDIUM size: flat 15" long, 9" wide, expanded 4" tall (38 x 23 cm, exp. 10 cm tall)
  • LARGE size: flat 16" long, 10" wide, expanded 4" tall (40 x 25.5 cm, exp. 10 cm tall)

The small bag will fit a sock knitting project with all the yarn needed, or children size sneakers up to size 5 (EU size 35).

The medium size is good up to size 10 ladies' shoes (high heels too), running shoes up to size 10.

Bulky hiking boots size up to 10? Use the large storage bag for those. Also, my partner's basketball shoes just managed to get into the large size, too. But those are bulky. Mens shoes:

diy shoe bag

The pattern is available in my design shop. But GOOD NEWS - all my newsletter subscribers get a 100% OFF code to get it for free.

Supplies

  • half yard of fabric (I used prints from the Hampton Garden collection)
  • a #3 nylon coil zipper - 12"/15"/17" (30/ 40/ 50cm) long, depending on the bag size you're making (zipit is a good source of quality zippers)
  • sewing machine, needle, pins or sewing clips,
  • iron, scissors, or rotary cutter plus cutting mat (I use this one by Olfa)
  • the PDF Pattern file -  that's available to all my newsletter subscribers with an exclusive 100% OFF code for free. You get once you've confirmed your subscription (new subscribers: join here, existing subscribers: enter SHOP here and use 100%off coupon from my latest newsletter)
get the storage bag pattern
Sign Up here + get the 100% OFF code.

CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS: Your 100% DISCOUNT CODE is in my latest newsletter - visit the SHOP (here) and apply it in 'View Cart' before checkout.

To make the smaller two sizes, you'll have some leftover fabric.

Diy Storage Bag - Sewing Tutorial

First, these are the pieces you'll need:

supplies for making diy storage bag
  • 1 MAIN PIECE
  • 2 FACING pieces
  • 1 (top) LOOP HANDLE
  • 1 (bottom) PULL TAB
  • 1 ZIPPER TAB

All cutting dimensions and printable pieces too are in the pattern file in the shop (Check out my newsletter or sign up for it HERE to get it for free in the SHOP with the 100% OFF code!)

PART 1 - Prepare the zipper:

1 - Cut off the metal stopper at the bottom of the zipper and secure the end by hand-stitching at ⅛” (3 mm) from the cut.

zipper for storage bag

2 - Tab the zipper end. Use the ZIPPER TAB piece to:

  1. Fold the fabric tab in half and press RST (right sides together).
  2. Slide the tab on the zipper end. You can use wonder tape or sewing clips to hold in place.
  3. Machine-stitch using a ⅜” (1cm) seam allowance.
  4. Then fold the fabric ends back and finger-press.
  5. Topstitch at ⅛"(3mm) from the fabric edge to stabilize the fabric.
sewing zipper into bag
Need more help? Check out my ZIPPER TAB TUTORIAL
zipper tab

Need help tabbing the zipper? Check out THIS ZIP TAB TUTORIAL.

Step 2 - make the pull tab and the pull handle

PULL TAB piece:

diy pull for zipper storage bag

1 - Turn under the two long edges, each by ½" (1.3 cm) so they meet in the middle. This way, you’ll get the pull tab width of 1" (2.5 cm).

2- Press, then fold in half, bringing the ends together. Topstitch from bottom to the top, across, and back down again. That will keep the raw edges hidden, except for the one that will be sewn in.

Pull Handle:

diy storage bag handle
  1. Fold the strip lengthwise in half, press and unfold.
  2. Fold the upper edge to the center crease and do the same with the lower edge.
  3. Fold again along the original center and press, then topstitch along the long edges.

PART 2 - Attach the zipper to the main piece

1 - Prep the 2 FACING pieces: turn under and press one long edge by ⅜" (1cm) on each of the 2 pieces.

facing for diy storage bag

2 - Take the main piece and place it right side up, spread horizontally in front of you (see the blue arrow). On the main piece, align the zipper (the zipper pull should be facing down, towards the fabric) on one short side of the fabric piece. Place one FACING strip right side down, with the edge that has not been pressed. Stitch using a ¼" (7mm) seam allowance:

sewing diy storage bag

3 - Turn and topstitch along the zipper:

add zipper to diy storage bag


4 - Press. Pin the other long edge of the strip on the backside and stitch in place, sewing close to the edge of the folded strip. Instead of pins, I often use sewing tape - so comfortable!

diy storage bag

5 - Repeat on the other side to attach the zipper: With zipper closed, fold the fabric to meet the other long edge of the zipper tape. Then align the second long narrow strip on the zipper edge:

sewing storage bag

6 - Pin or clip to keep the layers from sliding. Then open the zipper and stitch using again a ¼" (7mm) seam allowance:

how to sew a storage bag


7 - Topstitching step again (see the two dashed lines). First, topstitch along the zipper edge from the front side, then do another topstitching line to fix the facing in place.

finish diy storage bag
sewing machine with fabric

Press well.

8 - Open the zipper so the zipper PULL is somewhere in the middle, then cut off excess zipper tape. Make a few stitches at ⅛” (0.3cm) away from the tape end to make a new zipper stopper:

PART 3 - MAKE THE FOLDS

1- Turn your tube wrong side out. (yes!) Place on a flat surface and position the zipper in the center. Measure and double-check, then press both edges. Edgestitch both of them using a long stitch:

assembling diy storage bag

2- Turn the tube right side out. Now measure 1 ½" for Small size (2" for Medium and Large) from the edge-stitched edge and push the edge towards the inside, so it's sandwiched between the layers.

expandable bag

3- Create the same size fold on both sides. Pin to hold in place:

sewing expandable bag

Part 4 - Assemble the Pieces

Make sure the tube is still right side out. Then center the bottom Pull Tab to the bottom (tabbed part) of the zipper and baste. Place the top Pull Handle ends on the top edge. They need to be 3" apart, each 1 ½" away from the centered zipper. Like this:

add handle to diy storage bag

Baste in place, both the bottom pull tab and the top pull handle.

PART 5 - 2 French seams and - done!

Now we'll use the French seam (more about French seam HERE if you need it.)

This is your next step: sew the top and bottom edge using (first) a ¼" (7mm) seam allowance, then turn wrong-side out, press and stitch again, this time using a ⅜" (1 cm) seam allowance. This second seam will encase the raw edge.

sewing diy storage bag

All you need to do now is turn right side out again, press, and - use!

HOW DO I GET THE Pattern For Free?

The pattern is available IN THE SHOP – BUT WAIT!!! Get it for free with 100%-off code for all my newsletter subscribers! (new subscribers can join here, and the coupon is sent to you by email once you've confirmed subscription. Existing subscribers: see my latest newsletter)

storage bag pattern
Sign up for the free newsletter here to get the 100% off code for this pattern – and tons of other goodies!

CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS: Your 100% DISCOUNT CODE is in my latest newsletter - visit the SHOP (here) and apply it in 'View Cart' before checkout.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, share it, like it or tell your friends about it. Or save it for later, so you've got it ready whenever you want to make a lovely storage bag - or ten!

Save for later so you have your tutorial at hand for when you need it:

storage bag pattern

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Plus get tons of other goodies.

Or …check out this popular PDF pattern – the Aiden Cell Phone Purse - Click through to see what's on the back of this cool phone bag!

Get Aiden pattern HERE.

Diy Storage Bag in 3 Sizes - Smart Expandable Bag

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen

    May 21, 2022 at 11:32 pm

    I cannot express how much I LOVE your patterns! Your tutorials are so easy to follow. This is the 3rd or 4th pattern I have made from AGC and I always love the tailored look of every project.

    Reply
  2. Kay O'Regan

    April 20, 2022 at 8:20 pm

    Oh wow, these are perfect for holding belly dance accessories like dance shoes, hip belts or veils, and the little handle means you can hang the items onto the hanger holding your costume to keep the whole outfit together.

    I am currently making loads of these from upcycled fabric to sell to my dancer friends to raise money for charity. Once you get the production line set up, they come together very quickly.

    Thank you! xxx

    Reply
  3. Mary W.

    April 29, 2021 at 8:07 pm

    Love it! Tried the medium, which I think will accommodate most shoes I would take on trips. Now, I’ll make 2 or 3 more. Tired of using ugly plastic shopping bags for shoes!

    Reply
  4. Crystal Bell

    April 06, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    The shoe storage bag is my next project! One of the things that frustrates me the most about hiking is having to put dirty boots back in my car.

    Reply
  5. Jessica

    May 20, 2020 at 1:51 am

    Hello,
    I love this pattern! I'm using it with a waterproof fabric (silnylon and silpoly) for backpacking stuff sacks. I haven't yet been able to figure out why the pattern calls for a long edge stitch down the edges before making the folds on either side in part 3 of the instructions. Can I skip that? All those holes in the fabric just make the final product less waterproof, and I couldn't figure out how they help, other than perhaps to make it lay flatter and/or fold better? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Damjana

      May 21, 2020 at 6:42 am

      Jessica hi,
      a great question, and yes you are right. The seams you mention are to make the bag lay flat easier, and they make a big difference in making quilting cotton fold exactly on the lines required. Feel free to skip those if you want the least possible amount of stitching holes. Also, I'd use the longest stitch possible on waterproof materials for teh reasons you mentioned. Happy sewing,

      Reply
  6. Dani P

    April 07, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    Thank you for another wonderful pattern.
    These are perfect as gifts for my sons' girlfriends. They won't be travelling this year due to Covid, but they can always use them at home until we can all travel again.

    Reply
    • Damjana

      April 07, 2020 at 8:08 pm

      Dani hi,

      happy you like these. Good thinking 🙂

      Reply
  7. Rosemary Havens

    April 07, 2020 at 7:18 pm

    Thank you, looks great. I'm looking forward to making several!

    Reply
    • Damjana

      April 07, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      Happy sewing!

      Reply

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