BERNINA Corporate Blog -Dear friends, today I’m thrilled to share one of my favorite tutorials with you! I always felt I lacked the perfect, stylish bag for my needs. Whether for sports or a short trip, I never had the ideal bag on hand. My bags were either too big or too small. But now I’ve found the perfect solution: the Weekender bag by Leni Pepunkt. I’ll show you how to sew this spacious bag, and the pattern is free!
The Weekender bag is the perfect size, something I couldn’t find in stores for a long time. Being a huge fan of quilted fabric, I chose this material, combined with a cool leopard print lining. Now, I want to get started with lots of pictures and a detailed tutorial.
For sewing support, I used the BERNINA L 850 overlocker and the BERNINA 590 sewing machine.
The BERNINA L 850 is an overlocker with an automatic air threading system. Additionally, it has a free arm and an amazing extension table, increasing the work surface.
The BERNINA 990 is a compact sewing and embroidery machine with everything a sewing enthusiast needs. It offers maximum comfort and precise stitch results. With jumbo bobbins and an automatic thread cutter, it requires fewer interruptions. I also love the perfect fabric transport and the large, user-friendly touchscreen.
As an additional tool, I used the Zipper Foot #4, which is perfect for sewing zippers.
On my Instagram profile, I share content about sewing, crafting, and plotting. You’ll find plenty of reels with great tutorials on a variety of sewing projects and topics.
Sewing a Bag – Weekender Tutorial
Materials Used
- Quilted fabric
- Scissors
- Sewing thread
- Pins or Wonder Clips
- Measuring tape
- 45 cm zipper
- Pattern Weekender
Please note: My website is only in German! Use online translation services if you don’t understand something. When check out, please do not choose Paypal! Paypal can put you in a neverending loop if the total of your shopping cart equals 0.00 €. Please choose “Vorkasse” during the check out process.
Individual Pattern Pieces
- 2 x side panels
- 1 x bag panel (outer fabric)
- 1 x bag panel (lining)
- Strap webbing 2 x 80 cm
Attaching and Securing the Straps
First, transfer the pattern markings onto the fabric. Place the straps in the center and secure them. Before sewing the straps down, I added a cool label, sewn on carefully with a short stitch length. Following the markings, sew all four sides of the strap in place and trim any excess corners.
Attaching the Zipper to the Outer Fabric
To attach the zipper to the bag:
First, ensure the zipper is the right length. Mine was perfect; if not, trim to size. Prepare a zipper finishing by attaching two small lining fabric pieces 3 cm away from each side. Place the zipper right sides together on one of the short bag edges, pin it in place, and sew using a zipper foot.
Adding the Side Panels to the Outer Bag
Grab the side panels, divide them into sections, and pin them right sides together. Use the overlocker to attach both side panels to the bag in one go.
Sewing the Inner Pocket of the Weekender bag
Place the lining pieces right sides together, folding the two short edges 1 cm inward and pin. Sew the side panels with this 1 cm gap.
Attaching Outer Bag and Inner Bag to Complete
Insert the lining into the outer bag, wrong sides together. Carefully pin the open edge of the lining to the left side of the zipper. Topstitch from the right side of the Weekender bag using the zipper foot.
And your beautiful bag is complete!
I hope you enjoyed my tutorial. Perhaps I’ve encouraged some beginners to try sewing this cool Weekender bag? I had a lot of fun and can wholeheartedly recommend Leni Pepunkt’s free pattern.
Tip: You can also reduce this pattern to 70% for a smaller version. I’ve done this before, and it works great!
Happy sewing and good luck,
Yours, Jenny
I have failed – again to be able to down load a Bernina pattern! The German website simply doesnt seem to work. Why oh why is it sooo difficult to navigate, read, & download from the Bernina website? Bernina is supposed to be an advanced technical machine – the website is awful and really does need to be re-designed to be as good as the machines!
Dear Jennifer
I have tested the process and I was able to download the freebie without any problems. However, I also understand that it’s complicated as the site is not in English. By the way, please note that this is not a BERNINA site, but an online shop of a blogger from the German BERNINA blog who was kind enough to translate and publish her content on to the English BERNINA blog.
Please proceed as follows to download the freebie:
1) After adding the freebie to the cart, register as a new customer and add a first / last name, address etc.
2) Select the payment method “Vorkasse”
3) Then you have to confirm both terms and conditions and click on “Zahlungspflichtig bestellen”
4) Return to the store and click on “Sofortdownloads” in your customer account to download the files. The instructions are only available in German, but there are very reliable online translation tools like deepl.com.
Hope this helped!
I tried to download the pattern & thought it was going through but never could get it. Couldn’t figure out (in German) if it on the website under my name? It looked like it was going through. Huh. Would love to have it. The tutorial is terrific!
Dear Alleta,
after you have placed the freebie in your shopping cart, you must first create a customer account. Select the payment method “Vorkasse”. Then you have to confirm both terms and conditions and click on “Zahlungspflichtig bestellen”. Return to the store and click on “Sofortdownloads” in your customer account. The instructions are only available in German, but there are very reliable online translation tools like deepl.com. Hope this helped!
What an awesome project! Great descriptions! Going to make this soon! Thank you.
I clicked on the link for week ender pattern. It took me to a German site, which I used a trans later. I thought I was ordering the free pattern, but received in my e mail a form to complete . I was unable to get the form to translate. so no free pattern was provided.t
Dear Judith,
after you have placed the freebie in your shopping cart, you must first create a customer account. Select the payment method “Vorkasse”. Then you have to confirm both terms and conditions and click on “Zahlungspflichtig bestellen”. Return to the store and click on “Sofortdownloads” in your customer account. The instructions are only available in German, but there are very reliable online translation tools like deepl.com. Hope this helped!