To Grandma's House We Go Travel Bag Pattern & Tutorial | Sew Simple Home
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To Grandma's House We Go Travel Bag Pattern & Tutorial

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

I don't know about your children, but mine LOVE to go for overnight visit at Grandma and Grandpa's.  They love taking their little bag and heading out the door.  On the drive over my son will tell me how he will go inside and I will stay in the car and go home.  It is funny to hear him talk about all the fun he will have without his parents around.  My baby girl just loves to play with her Grandparents.  She is always happy to visit.  That is how the "To Grandma's House Bag" was born.


This cute overnight bag is really great for any little one.  Your kids or grandkids will love this bag, plus you can make it especially to their tastes.  We used my baby girls to pack all her things on our recent road trip to see her aunt.  She loved dragging it around the house.  

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Even if your trip is short, this is a great bag to carry on to the plane or just pack toys and snacks.  Has some great pockets on the inside and a fun curved pocket on the outside.  Pretty much too fun and really functional.

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Materials Needed:
-3/4 yard fabric such as cotton, lightweight bottom weights or denims (If you want contrasting fabrics, you'll need more)
-2 - 12" pieces of ribbon/webbing for straps
-2  - 22" Separating Zipper (or longer)
-3 yards bias tape
-3 pkg piping
-15" of 1/4" elastic
-Heavy weight Interfacing (iron on or sewn on)
-Thread

Begin by cutting out all your pieces.  Use the chart below to help:

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs



Step 1
Match your interfacing pieces with the correct fabric pieces.  Either iron or pin pieces together to help make the process faster.
To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs


With Right Sides Together (RST), place two outside pocket pieces together.  Draw a curved shape on the two.  Stitch along the curve.  Cut a 1/2" seam allowance next to the curve.  Clip every 2-3 inches around the curve.  Turn the pieces right side out and press.  Topstitch along the curve.

Repeat with the other large outside pocket.
To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Step 3
Place outside front layers together.  First, interfacing, Outside bag front, large outside pocket, small outside pocket.  Stitch around the 4 sides at 1/4" to keep layers together.

Repeat this step with the bag back and interfacing.
To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs


Step 4
Grab your bias tape and piping.  Place piping inside the bias tape and stitch in the ditch to create your piping. 

Check out this tutorial on making your own bias tape.
To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs
Step 5
On the center top pin down your handle.  Next pin the piping around the outside of the bag front.  Make sure the raw edge of the piping is matched to the raw edge of the bag front.  Overlap the piping on the bottom of the bag front.
  
Repeat step with bag back, handle and piping.


To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs
Step 6
 Next take the long bag middle piece.  Fold in half and stitch the ends together.  Repeat with other middle piece and middle lining pieces.

With RST, pin it around the bag front.  Similar to the last step you will match the raw edges of the piping and the middle pieces.  Repeat with bag back.

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Step 7
Unzip separating zipper.  Place one side of the zipper around the middle piece of front bag.  The ends of the zipper should overlap at the top of the bag.  There will be a "gap" at the bottom of the bag where the zippers won't touch.  We will address that later.  Stitch zipper to bag.  Repeat with opposite side and opposite zipper.

With RST, take the middle lining piece and pin it to the zipper matching raw edges.  Stitch in place around the bag.  Repeat with bag back.
To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Step 8
Next, take your inside pocket piece.  Iron or sew on your interfacing.  Fold the top long edge of the pocket down 1/4" and then down 3/4" and press.  Stitch across the  fold to make a casing.  Take your elastic piece and thread it through your casing.  Stitch down one side of the elastic and then continue threading elastic through casing.  Stitch down your elastic at the other end of the casing.

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Step 9
Place the inside front right side up on the table.  Place the pocket over the front.  stitch around the pocket outsides.  Then stitch down the pockets to create smaller pockets if desired.

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Step 10
Place bag front with right side up on the table.  Place the inside front wrong side up over the front.  Pin and stitch around the outside.  Leave a 4" hole for flipping later.

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Step 11
Turn bag front right side out though the hole.  Press.  Pin the hole together and stitch closed.

Repeat steps 10 & 11 for the bag back and inside pieces.


To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

Step 12
Zip your bag front and bag back pieces together.  Take the bottom rectangle piece and press all the raw edges towards the wrong side 1/2".  Pin to the bottom of the bag and stitch around to cover the zipper and any opening on the bottom of the bag.



To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs



Now you're done!  My little girl loves it.  So does brother.  In fact, they have used it several times.  Would make a really great Christmas or birthday present too!  Enjoy!

To Grandma's House Bag Pattern & Tutorial by GYCT Designs

To Grandma's House We Go Travel Bag Pattern & Tutorial

13 comments

  1. This is so perfect. A Grandmother in Oklahoma!

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  2. This is my project today for a 12 almost 13 year old Granddaughter that I don't know as well as my other ones. I'm using Paris fabric can't wait to see it done. Thank you for such a great tut

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  3. I'M JUST GETTING THE URGE TO TRY MY HAND SEWING AFTER A 40+ YEAR HIATUS, SO I WON'T BE STARTING WITH THIS PROJECT (EVEN THOUGH I THINK YOUR TUTORIAL IS GREAT). BUT, I DO LIKE YOUR BLOG AND SEVERAL OF YOUR PROJECTS SEEM EASY ENOUGH FOR MY FIRST EFFORT.. THE TERM YOGA WAISTBAND IS NEW TO ME, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT AND HOW IT IS MADE?

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    Replies
    1. Ethel, a yoga waistband is one made with a good knit or stretch fabric and no elastic. You'd want the waistband to be several inches shorter than what the actual waist measurement was. Glad you enjoy the blog!

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  4. This is such a fantastic bag - and great for children to pack for a visit to Grandparents - I had better get busy making 5 of these for my grandchildren!! thanks
    Pauline
    perry94022 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can't wait to see what you make Pauline! Make sure to share your finished projects. You can join our GYCT Facebook group if you need help and to share. https://www.facebook.com/groups/609321419143029/

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  5. This is a great little bag. I plan to make a few for my grandchildren! Thanks for a great project.

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  6. Please tell me what the 3 dimensions are for the finished bag. I may need to make mine wider to hold my Mah Jong tiles and racks. I'll also use a sheet of heavy plastic as a stiffener on the non-pocket side.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Marcia, the bag is 16"w x 12"L x 4" D. It is a good size, but depending on what you are planning to use it for, may need to be wider.

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  7. Hi,
    Can you estimated how long this project took you?

    thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Chanes, I couldn't say for sure. Probably 3-4 hours. Mostly because I was planning and taking pictures as I went. If you are an experienced sewer, you probably could do it in less time.

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  8. Thank you so much! My granddaughter will love this suitcase.

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  9. Love this bag . Its what my daughter wants for her son. Since I love to sew , I plan to make one for my grandson.
    Thanks very much for the tutorial

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