Mini Notions Bag Tutorial

As a craft junkie, I can never have too many handmade baggies to store my goodies. I like being able to see what is inside the bags too, so I came up with this mini notions bag with some scrap laminated cottons. 

To start, you will cut your fabrics as follows:

All piecing will be done using a tephlon coated foot and a 1/4″ seam allowance. All top stitching will be done with a smaller seam allowance.  (I move my needle all the way to one side for top stitching. On my machine it is +/- 3.5). 

Straight stitch the sides to the vinyl piece then top stitch.

Straight stitch the top and bottom pieces to the vinyl and top stitch.

Grab the top piece of the bag and the zipper. You will need to open the zipper to move the pull tab. Place your needle in the down position and slide the tab backwards when you get close to it. Continue straight stitching until you reach the end of the zipper. Top stitch.

Straight stitch the other side of the zipper to the parts with the vinyl. Use a tight zig-zag stitch, if you wish, at the beginning of the zipper to help with the next step.

Open the zipper. Place Wonder Clips around the bag to hold the front and back together. Straight stitch around the perimeter of the bag. Fix the stitch or back stitch where you start and stop sewing.

Trim your strings, clip your corners, and flip the bag right side out. 

Now the fun part…. find some goodies to put in your mini notion bag. Here are 30 useful ideas: 

For Seamstresses/Quilters:

Plastic snap sets (holds a bag of 60)
Wonder Clips (holds approx 40) 
Small thread spools (holds 4)
English paper piecing templates
Alphabitties
Buttons
Key fob hardware
Sewing machine & hand sewing needles
Tape measure
Basting pins
Embroidery floss

    Stitch markers
    Cable needles
    Tapestry needles
    Row counters
    Beads
    Blocking pins
    Needle gauges
    Stitch holders
    Mini skeins

For Kids:

    Coins
    Legos
    Crayons
    Pacifier

For Traveling:

    Cell phone charger & earphones
    Travel medications
    Hair ties, bobby pins, etc
    Travel shampoo & conditioner
    Nail clipper & Tweezers
    Band-Aids & Neosporin

These bags measure only 3.75″ wide and 4.5″ tall when finished, but what they lack in size they make up for in function.