Cosmetic Bag :-)

Dear sewing enthusiasts,

After my 4 1/2-year-old granddaughter asked me the other day if I could sew her a little pouch for her hair clips and hair ties, I tried my hand at a design yesterday. The pouch was made freehand. Since it’s a test piece, I got to choose fabric that I liked.

I’ll be adding a pretty charm with strung beads to the zipper of my granddaughter’s pouch. Of course, the pouch is lined and reinforced for better structure. 

The requested specifications were:

• not too big (mine is 14 cm wide x 7 cm tall)
• wide base (mine is 6 x 14 cm)
• zipper

Do you have any other suggestions for me?

I’d also love to see pictures of the cosmetic or makeup pouches you’ve sewn. Maybe I can pick up a few ideas from them. Probably all women love these little pouches and are happy to see this thread.

Thank you very much and best regards, Ina

Well done, Ina—your granddaughter will love it

Best regards, Inge

Dear Ina,
your pouch turned out really pretty.
Even the zipper matches the fabric perfectly!

I’m not very skilled at sewing, so my pouch would probably end up as flat as an envelope. :-)

You asked for suggestions:
How about a small pocket on the outside or maybe on the inside?

I’d love it if you wrote a blog post about it.
Maybe then I’ll dare to try making a pretty little bag like that myself.

Best regards from Mona (Froschoma_Mona)

Thank you both.

I have to admit, I love little bags too. You can easily fit all your treasures inside them. And if you sew one yourself, you can even choose the fabric and colors. 

Hmm… a pocket on the inside or the outside?
I think the bag is too small for that, at 14 x 7 cm. An outside pocket would cover up too much of the pattern. And inside, it’s already pretty tight. Since the zipper opens about 13.5 cm, her little hand fits inside—but reaching into a specific compartment would be too tight. 

Somehow, I still feel like it’s missing something to hold onto. The bag fits perfectly in my small hand now. But how is Lisann supposed to carry it from A to B? Should I let the zipper stick out a bit at the end so it acts as a pull tab, so to speak? 

I need your ideas!

Best regards, Ina

Hi Ina, I’m also a fan of little bags for the “big treasures” :-). Your bag turned out very pretty, but you’re right—a little loop like that wouldn’t be a bad idea. My suggestion would be to try sewing a small loop out of the same fabric—or, if that’s too stiff, out of a fabric that matches in color. - About this size or a little bigger, like you’d make for a pot holder, and sew it into the side seam or at the end/beginning of the zipper. Then your granddaughter could carry the bag easily and also hang it on a hook if she wants to. 

Best regards, Jana

Dear Petra, I think the idea with the cuff sleeve is great! First, it’s colorful; second, you sewed it exactly to fit the size of the cards. And what I like best is that one corner already has a rounded shape, so taking the card out is much easier. I wouldn’t be so fond of buttoning it with the small buttonholes, but at least the closure is already finished. 

Thanks for the photo and the inspiration. I’m sure many people will make one too.

Best regards, Ina