Today is finally here and I get to share my newest project, the travel cosmetics case tutorial, with you! Over the summer (and beyond) I’ll be doing project posts in collaboration with my sponsors. Its an awesome way for you to learn a new skill or make a new item, and a great way to me to show you what these shops have to offer. For today’s project, I’ve partnered up with DuckaDilly to bring you the travel cosmetics case in Liberty. Because what is better than Liberty, really? 

For this project you’ll need the following:

• 1/2 yd main fabric (I used Strawberry Thief H – one of my very favorites!)
• 1/2 lining fabric (I used Jody C)
• 1.5 yd heat’n’bond iron on vinyl (optional, but great if you want to protect your case from liquids or makeup)
• 1 yd SF 101 from Pellon (in additon, you can use another layer of interfacing like 808, or batting if you want to make your case stiffer)
• 4 zippers: (1) 30″ zipper with head to head sliders (1) 12″ zipper (2) 6-7″ zippers (if you have longer zips, you can cut them down to the proper size, BUT you do need the exact size for the 30″ exterior zipper)
• a cup or can or some round object to round the corners on the bag

Let’s get started! 

•  12.5 x 7.5″ main : 2 exterior, 2 interior, 4 SF101, 2 HeatnBond vinyl
• 4 x 7.5″ : 2 of either main or contrast fabric for straps (you may want to adjust length depending on the size of your hands)
• 7.75 x 5″ spine : 2 exterior, 1 SF101
• 30 x 2.5″ zippered side : 2 exterior, 2 interior, 2 SF101
• 12.5 x 2.5″ main pocket top : 1 interior, 2 HeatnBond
• 12.5 x 5.5″ main pocket : 1 interior, 2 HeatnBond
• 7.5 x 2.5″ small pocket top : 2 interior (optional 2 HeatnBond)
• 7.5 x 3″ small pocket: 2 interior (optional 2 HeatnBond)
• 5.5 x 5.5″ brush pocket : 1 interior

Go ahead and fuse SF101 to the corresponding exteriors, and fuse to Main interiors too. Fuse SF101 to the interior print for the zippered side panels since they will be switched with the exterior fabric for a pop of contrast. Fuse HeatnBond to the corresponding interior fabrics. Be sure to follow manufacturers instructions and that your iron is on Medium! I fused the HeatnBond to both the right and wrong sides of my large pocket and large pocket top pieces.

Once your pieces are prepared, round the corners of your main pieces by tracing the curved edge of a can onto the fabric and cutting.

We’re ready to start sewing!

1. Attach zipper to zippered side piece of the interior (contrast) fabric by placing the zipper right side down on the right side of the fabric. Use your zipper foot and sew about 1/4″-3/8″ from the edge. Press fabric away from zipper and repeat for the remaining side. 2. Sew zippered panel to spine by placing the short ends right sides together and sewing with a 3/8″ seam (remember not to sew right on the zipper teeth!). Trim any excess width from the spine piece. Press seam toward spine and edgestitch the short ends of the spine. Set aside.

3. Prepare your exterior (which will actually be the contrast on the interior) zippered sides by sewing a 3/8″ seam of basting stitches down one long side of each piece. Use that line as a guide to fold and press. 

4. Sew these pieces to the interior spine by folding your spine in half lengthwise. Place the folded edge of each piece 1/4″ from the center on either side of the fold and pin in place. Sew together with a 3/8″ seam and press seam allowances toward spine. Egdestitch the short ends of the spine. Set aside.

5. Prepare the straps by folding them in half lengthwise and pressing. Fold the raw edges to meet at the center and press again. 

6. Edgestitch the long edges of the straps. 

7. Attach straps to main exterior. Fold main exterior in half width wise, and pin strap piece 2″ from either side of fold. Baste in place with a 1/4″ seam. Repeat for other side. 

8. Now we’re going to attach the zippered side panel to the main exterior pieces. This is the trickiest part, so take your time. Begin by folding the zippered panel in half so that you can press a fold at the center of the spine and the center of where the “front” of the bag will be. Then fold in half so that you can mark where the center of the sides will be. Now press the main exterior in half both lengthwise and widthwise so you can match up the pressed marks. This is serve as a pinning guide so that the panel is distributed evenly around the bag. Place the zippered panel and main panel right sides together. With the zippered side facing you, pin all the way around the bag beginning at the marked centers and working your way out to the corners. When you reach the corners you may discover the zippered panel pieces seem too short to go all the way around. Simply clip into the panel piece no more than 1/4″ in a few places so that the panel can stretch around the rounded corner of the main piece.  Sew around edges with a 1/2″ seam. Be sure to backstitch or overlap your stitches. 

9. Repeat step 8 to attach the zippered panel to the remaining main piece, and make sure the zipper is open a few inches so you can turn the bag right side out.

10. Attach your 12″ zipper to the large pocket piece by placing the zipper down on the right side of the fabric and sew a 1/4″ seam. Finger press the seam so that the pocket is away from the zipper. Attach the zipper to the top in the same way. Just remember not to press any pieces that you have applied the HeatnBond to!

11. Using a 1/4″ seam, baste your large pocket to an interior main piece, and round the corners to match the main piece. 

12. Fold the small pocket tops in half lengthwise and press. Just as you have sewn the other zippers, sew the zippers to the raw edges of the pocket top piece using 1/4″ seams. Press seam away from zipper. 

13. Sew the small pocket pieces to the remaining side of the zippers and press seam away from zipper. Set aside. 

14. Make the brush pocket by folding one edge of the 5.5″ square to the wrong side by 1/4″ and press. Fold it in another 1/4″ and sew a 1/4″ seam along this line. 

15. Assemble pockets to interior main piece. First place your brush pocket piece on the main interior piece at one corner. The folded edge should be toward the center of the bag. Pin in place along the outside edges. Now overlap the raw edge of the brush pocket with one zippered pocket top. Pin in place. Overlap the bottom of that pocket with the folded top of your remaining zippered pocket and pin in place. 

16. Baste all the pieces in place along the outside edge, then edgestich the folded edge of the zippered pocket tops in place. You can also sew some vertical seams on the brush pocket to make separate compartments. 

17. Attach the side/spine panel pieces to the interior main pieces by repeating step 9. 

18. Pin the interior to the exterior by placing it inside and pinning along the zipper. Use a blindstitch to attach the interior side panel to the zipper, but be sure not to let your stitches show on the outside of the bag. 

You are all finished! Customize the size of the bag and the interior to make it perfect for your needs. You can even use it as a travel craft case to hold your EPP supplies, scissors, and thread. Add a pocket to the exterior, quilt the exterior, or even try some patchwork!

Now head over to DuckaDilly and pick out some fun fabrics! You could even buy a bundle and use a great mix of prints on the interior and exterior!

I’d love to see your travel case! Use #OJHtravelcase on social media so I can see what you are making!

-Meredith