BERNINA Corporate Blog -Good morning, dear friends! In keeping with the spring season and the beautifully blooming trees and shrubs, today we’ll sew a floral bag with a free pattern, adorned with flower petals. I’m providing the pattern for free – you’ll find the printable PDF in the materials overview.
In the tutorial, I show you how to use a magnetic clasp for the closure, but at the end you’ll also find a photo showing several alternative versions. I removed the leather clasp from an old garment, but a snap button is also an option.
For materials, I chose a combination of my beloved wide corduroy and linen. To provide stability, I used Style-Vil Fix by Vlieseline because it’s fusible on one side and gives the bag a nice structure. Optionally, you can sew an inner pocket with a zipper. This is not included in the pattern, but since it’s just a simple rectangle, the dimensions are provided during the cutting instructions. You can also sew the zippered pocket onto the back of the bag if you prefer.
Now let’s sew a floral bag with a free pattern – as you can see, there are plenty of options to make the bag truly unique. Now I wish you lots of fun with the sewing tutorial!
Sew a floral bag – Materials Overview
You’ll need:
- Freebook floral bag (Download here)
- Wide corduroy, linen fabric, and scraps of printed cotton
- Style-Vil Fix and scraps of fusible interfacing H250 from Vlieseline
- 2.5 cm wide webbing and 2 matching rectangular rings
- (optional) 22 cm continuous zipper and matching slider
- A magnetic clasp
- Thread used: Seralon by Amann Mettler
Cutting
Print the freebook at actual size and cut the pieces as follows:
- Flap cut on fold: 2x linen, 1x Style-Vil Fix
- Main body: 2x each from corduroy, linen, and Style-Vil Fix
- Strip: 1x each from corduroy, linen, and Style-Vil Fix
- (optional) Inner pocket from linen: 24 x 30 cm
- Two narrow strips of H250 interfacing approx. 24 x 5 cm
- Two small pieces each of H250 interfacing and 1 mm craft felt, approx. 5 x 5 cm
- 12x flower petals from cotton fabric
- 2x flower centers from corduroy
First, iron the Style-Vil Fix pieces onto the corresponding corduroy pieces and the outer flap according to the manufacturer’s instructions, applying to the wrong side of the fabric.
Sewing the Petals
Place two flower petals right sides together and sew along the side edges. Clip the corner at the bottom close to the seam allowance and turn the petals right side out. Then press the edges flat.
Repeat this step a total of 6 times.
Now fold the upper open edge into small pleats – it can be uneven, as flowers in nature are rarely identical – and topstitch it close to the edge using your sewing machine.
Attaching the Magnetic Clasp
Iron the piece of Vlieseline H250 onto the center of the inner flap, about 1 cm from the curved edge. Then attach the piece of felt and add one half of the magnetic clasp as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This part of the clasp should be positioned approximately 3.5 cm from the edge of the flap.
Now take the front piece of the main body and attach the other half of the magnetic clasp in the same way. This should be placed approximately 11 cm from the bottom edge.
Sewing the Flap with Flowers
Arrange the flower petals in a semi-circle on the outer flap, as shown here. Then sew the flower centers right sides together, turn them right side out, and fold the turning opening to the inside. Place the flower centers over the open edges of the petals. You may need to adjust the placement a bit until everything fits well.
Secure all parts well, and then topstitch only the flower centers close to the edge onto the flap.
And now the beautiful floral outer flap is complete.
Place the inner flap right sides together with the outer flap and sew around the curved edge. Clip the curve at small intervals up to just before the seam allowance, then turn the flap right side out.
Next, press the edge flat and topstitch it close to the edge.
Sewing an Optional Zipper Pocket
If you like, you can add a zipper pocket to the lining or even to the back of the outer main panel, as previously mentioned. Iron the strip of Vlieseline H250 about 1 cm from the top edge of the zipper pocket onto the wrong side of the fabric. Then use a pencil to draw a 20 cm long and 1 cm wide rectangle in the center. Now place the zipper pocket right sides together with the top edge of a main panel (here, the lining) and sew only along the pencil lines.
As shown here, cut along the rectangle and turn the pocket through the opening. This takes some patience and practice—don’t forget to iron!
Then place the zipper behind the opening and topstitch it close to the edge.
Now fold the pocket in half vertically, right sides together, and sew the three open edges (not the main lining part).
Sewing the Main Part of the Floral Bag
Place the side panel right sides together along the curved edge of the main panel and sew it in place. I prefer using Zipper Foot #4 on my BERNINA 790 PRO
Next, attach the other main panel along the long edge.
Finishing the Floral Bag
Sewing the floral bag – you’re almost done!
Cut two pieces of webbing, each 8 cm long, loop them through a rectangular ring, and topstitch close to the edge using the zipper foot. Secure the seams well.
Attach the webbing as shown, centered at the top of the side panel, on both sides of the bag.
Then place the finished flap right sides together into the outer main part, making sure the flowers face the back of the main part (not toward the magnetic snap).
Sew the lining the same way and insert it into the outer bag. Make sure the seams of the side panels align exactly. Sew all around the edge, leaving a turning opening at the front of the floral bag.
Now turn the bag right side out through the opening, fold the seam allowances inward, and topstitch close to the edge all around to close the opening at the same time.
Finally, cut a piece of webbing to your desired length (I used about 100 cm), loop the ends through the bag rings, fold them in twice, and stitch them down securely. If you like, you can also add a clasp, two snap hooks, or an adjuster to make the strap length adjustable.
Will you also sew such a shoulder bag? I ended up making three! Of course, you can skip the flowers (green-blue bag) or reduce the pattern to 2/3 (small bag in the picture).
Sew a floral bag with a free pattern and enjoy the creative process!
I wish you lots of fun sewing along,
Warm regards,
Sara
Oooh I just love the look of this bag, and despite having other handbag commitments to finish, I want to use this pattern right away – reduced to a smaller size to create something special for my great-niece. Thanks for the pattern and very explicit instructions.
Thank you so much! All the best to you, Sara