Display your favorite baby photos using this handmade photo diaper bag. This handmade photo diaper bag can also be used as a handbag later on. Customize it using your own fabric and coordinating trim. Make one as a baby shower gift for an expectant mom or for a proud grandmother to use as a handbag and display her grandchildren's photos. If you do not want to have a vinyl pocket to display photos, simply use fabric instead of the vinyl for the pocket.
The design of this handmade photo diaper bag pattern allows for you to make the bag as large as you like. This bag is a small diaper bag so enlarge the pattern pieces by 1 inch increments all the way around. Although small, there is enough room to hold baby necessities for a quick trip outside the house. Not feeling ambitious enough to make the bag, use the lining pattern to turn an existing unlined tote bag into the perfect diaper bag for you. Make a matching changing pad later on to go along with your diaper bag.
Note: Use 1/4 inch seam allowances except where noted. Finished bag will be about 14 inches wide by 8 inches tall with a rectangular bottom. Take the measurements for the diaper bag pattern and transfer these to large paper or mark the measurements on the fabric using fabric pencil.
To make this handmade photo diaper bag, you will need the following:
Materials:
Clear vinyl or decorative fabric for pocket(9" long by 6" wide) Any choice fabric for outside of bag (1 yard) Any choice fabric for lining of bag (1 yard) Bias tape (13"long), cut in half for two equal pieces measuring 6.5 inches each Small amount of decorative fabric for border (14 1/2" long by 3" wide) Enough fabric to make two straps (18" long by 3" wide) Matching zipper (18 inches) Velcro for vinyl pocket (1 inch wide, small length) 1/4 inch wide elastic (14 inches long) Sewing machine Measuring tape Fabric pencil or tailor's chalk Basic sewing supplies Scissors Iron
Instructions for handmade photo diaper bag:
Step 1: Cut out the diaper bag pattern pieces as indicated here in Part 1 and Part 2 for the diaper bag.
Step 2: Make 2 straps that are 18 inches long by 1 inch wide. Fold fabric as indicated in drawing and stitch using an 1/8 inch allowance. Set aside. (See drawing for how to fold straps.)
Step 3: Fold top edge of front and back of bag by 1/2 inch making sure to have the wrong sides facing you. Place straps 2.5 inches from the sides of the one side of the bag, pin in place between zipper and wrong side of fabric. Stitch zipper and straps as shown. Repeat the same process for the second strap for the other side of the bag. (See Diagram A.)
Step 4: For the vinyl pocket, fold and pin bias tape on each side of the vinyl leaving a small length on the top of each side. Fold decorative fabric piece using the same method as the straps. Place folded fabric border on top of bias tape and vinyl as shown and stitch making certain to start and end where bias tape is pinned. Mark center on the front of the bag using fabric pencil or chalk. Place vinyl pocket on right side of the photo diaper bag as shown 2 inches from the top. Stitch as shown leaving top of vinyl pocket open. (See Diagram B.)
Step 5: Sew sides and bottom of the photo diaper bag as shown. Each long side of the bottom should be sewn individually. Make sure to mark centers for correct placement. Notch and stitch as shown for the sides of the bottom of bag. (See Diagram C.)
Step 6: To make the gathered pocket for the lining, take larger pocket and fold top edge by 1/2 an inch. Stitch along the top. Cut a 7 1/2 inch piece of elastic. Pull through elastic using a safety pin through the hem of the pocket. Hold elastic in place by pinning to left side of pocket. Gently gather and hand stitch each side to secure ends of elastic. Cut away excess elastic. To make the double pocket, using the smaller pocket, fold top edge by 1/2 an inch. Stitch along the top. Set aside pocket. Take gathered pocket and place two inches from the top of the lining. Fold under the bottom of the pocket by 1/2 an inch and pin leaving sides unpinned. Take the smaller pocket and repeat the same process making sure that it is done on the opposite side of the lining. (See Diagram D.)
Step 7: To complete the gathered pocket, pleat sides in 1/2 inch increments like an accordion. Pin each fold to hold pleats. Bring folded edges together to form the pocket and stitch down the first pleat on the left side. Repeat process for folding and stitching on opposite side. Bottom of pocket should be taught and even. Stitch bottom of pocket closed. (See Diagram E.)
Step 8: For double pocket, fold in the sides by 1/4 inch and pin, leaving the top edge open. Stitch sides and bottom. Stitch down center to create two pockets. (See Diagram F.) See Diagram G for completed lining.
Step 9: Using remaining elastic, fold in half and pin 4 inches from the top of lining next to the double pocket on the right hand side. (The elastic is for holding a baby bottle in place.) Fold lining in half right sides together and stitch along sides using 1/4 inch seam. To complete the lining, take bottom ends and fold each corner to form a triangle. Measure 2 1/2 inches across and mark. Stitch along line. Turn lining. (See Diagram H.)
Step 10: Take the lining right side facing and fold down the top edge by 1/2 an inch so that it is on the wrong side. Iron the top edge of the lining to facilitate the next step. Place the outside of the bag inside the lining wrong side to wrong side. Tuck in the ends of the zipper, pin in place and hand stitch the lining using small blind stitches all the way around. Make certain stitches are not visible on the outside of the photo diaper bag. (See Diagram I.)
Step 11: Turn the bag so that the lining is on the inside. Cut 1 inch by 1 inch squares of Velcro and hand stitch the hook side to the top border of the vinyl pocket. Take the loop side and hand stitch to the outside of the bag making certain that it matches up correctly to close.
You have now completed your handmade photo diaper bag.
