Woohoo!! It’s a Mini Sew Together Bag!
A Mini Sew Together Bag has two pockets and is smaller than its big sister.
(Two Regular Sew Together Bags and Four Mini Sew Together Bags)
While I love my regular-sized bag, I really wanted one that was just a bit smaller.
UPDATE: I have re-written the pattern completely into a stand-alone pattern. It can be found on PayHip.
Here are some photos of the bag in process…and completed! For more information, refer to this post.
I was able to crank out four Minis in about a day and half; I think it went so quickly because I had already made a couple of the bigger bags. Before I wrote the new pattern, I had to refer to The Quilt Barn’s Tutorial when I became stuck.
Now everything is included in the pattern.
For the tab ends, I didn’t necessarily slide them all the way to the end of the zipper before I sewed them on (and by the way, refer to the pattern for an easier way to make them, rather than the tutorial). Instead I played with the tab ends a bit, sliding them up and down the zipper, seeing how big of a “handle” I wanted. Most of the time I placed the zipper about halfway into the tab end.
And that shiny thing in front? For adjunct teachers who use white board markers, you know what a mess the eraser makes in your tote bags. The Community College administrators where I teach give us the white board markers free at the beginning of the school year, but we buy our own erasers. If you leave yours in the classroom, you can kiss it goodbye, so we carry the erasers (and markers) back and forth to class.
To keep my sew together bag clean, I made a clear vinyl pouch, sewing a self-binding fabric strip around the top to hold my eraser. The dimensions were 7″ by 6 1/2″ of clear vinyl; sew two folded strips along the 7″ sides, then with WST, sew the side seams. Yes, I did a tiny “boxing in” of the bottom corner to accommodate the eraser.
Mini Sew Together, fully loaded for school. But this would also be great stacked with hexies, or other smaller hand-sewing projects. Because the Mini is a smaller size, it will fit into…smaller places!
I also made a matching tote bag to go with this for a gift, as California will be phasing out our plastic grocery bags. I used my Grocery Bag Tutorial, found *here.* The usual request applies: don’t embed the pattern on your blog, refer your friends back to OPQuilt.com to download their own. And if you Pin anything from this post, please use the correct post address. These little Minis are fun to make and fun to use, and sew up quickly for a cute and fun Christmas gift!
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In case you are looking for the Circle EPP Quilt-A-Long, because I gave you two renditions of the block in November, we are taking a vacation in December. Merry Christmas all you EPP-ers and we’ll see you in January.
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I get my zippers from ZipperStop in NYC. There are other places to locate good quality, inexpensive zippers mentioned on other quilty blogs and in the comments (so check them out), but I can highly recommend Zipperstop, having placed several orders from them. The zippers arrive quickly, and in the color range I like and I like the prices.
OccasionalPiece--Quilt! 
SEWING LADY!!!! You have been so busy….your bags are beautiful. Christmas must be around the corner. I love the smaller bag. Thanks for all the hints and inspiration.
I can’t wait! I didn’t get any cut out tonight, but I did get most of my Christmas decorating finished…I was just going to do the tree, but then I kept going and it seemed silly to stop. Mini Sew Together bags soon, though!
Lovely bags, I love lots of pockets and this is the ideal thing for keeping everything organized, whether for classes or sewing stuff. I would love to make these, I will put them on my long to-do list. Thanks for sharing,
Jodie
I just love this little bag! Have all the zippers for the big one, but this mini may actually get made for Christmas.
P.S. I need to get my Sew Together Bag pattern yet — been meaning to ever since we had our discussion last summer. Also, Wawak’s Sewing Supplies is a great source for all kinds of zippers in all kinds of sizes. Great prices.
Wawak’s also has metal (and plastic, I think) zipper stops and tops and pulls for that more professional look.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my mini bag and am so honored to be a recipient. It’s the perfect size for so many things–how will I choose how to use it? You are not just a great quilter; you are a genius seamstress as well.
thank you
I have made 18 Sewtogether bags and the only change I’ve made is making it narrower (due to a cutting error or because I bought zippers the wrong size)…..I am so excited to have this two pocket version! Thank you!
Aren’t you a clever thing? This is a great idea! A smaller one will certainly more useful! It is going on my Summer Stay-cation To-Do List! Thank you again, for sharing your expertise Elizabeth!
These are so so cute. It’s really funny to think of you carrying around your own eraser. I find it hard to motivate to make “other” things, although I just finished my first ever pincushion for our guild Christmas party swap.
You are amazing. Enough said.
I love sew together bags…and now a mini!?!?!?!?! Thank you soooo much!
My gosh, you’ve been a absolute sewing machine!!!!!
Thank you for sharing this tutorial. I love my Sew Together bag and now need to make some minis after seeing yours!
Way cute! Can’t wait to make one!
Having made two of the original bag I can’t wait to try this version! Thanks so much!!
Thanks for the mini directions! I just bought the pattern and am dying to make my first one, now I need to make a mini me too 🙂
genius! i was literally wishing for a mini after making 20+ as gifts! thank you for doing the hard work. i really enjoyed your quiltcon post as well!
Thank you for the mods, and thank you for doing it in a way as to respect the original pattern!! We Are $ew Worth It!!
Love your minis! I have not yet made my Sew Together Bag but when I do, I’ll be able to make my mini as well. Thanks for figuring this out and sharing with us!
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for your mini bag addition to the regular Sew Together bag. I love the Sew Together bag and know I’ll love the mini as well. I like to sew gifts year round.
Genius! Love every part of this bag and tutorial. Thanks for the calculations!
i have found that that a cheap pack of washcloths are more economical and work better than white board erasers. Thanks for the bag pattern.
I’m a native English speaker and I don’t get it either… It measures 9.5″ from the lower (widest) part of the trapezoid to the other side when I match up the dotted lines. What am I doing wrong? I’ve cut everything out except this piece. Do you mean that the end of one template should match up to the dotted line of the other template? Because that equals approximately 12″….. Then, do I not cut the fabric from the original template? Use the trapezoidy thing to cut it?
Ellevala, I have tried to write to you but you left me an incorrect email address.
Please leave me a comment with the correct email and I’ll explain how to work through your confusion.
Elizabeth
On Wed, Jul 15, 2015 at 4:45 PM, OccasionalPiece–Quilt! wrote:
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Thank you for this lovely modification! I love how you’ve made sure that Sew Demented gets all the credit (and pattern purchases) as is her due as well!
Just found your Tutorial for the Mini Sew Together Bag. I am Sewing a regular at the Moment and have been trying to work out how to make a smaler Version. This is perfekt!! Thankyou so much!! I want to make one for my mum to Keep her Jewlry in when she is on her Travels. Can not wait to make this!!
Thank you for sharing your mini tutorial. I have a good use for one a bit smaller than the original. Can you say what the dimensions are of the mini? I’ve tried to sort it out from the write up but I’m not clear why is accurate.
Thanks to anyone who can answer this question.
Michelle
thanks so much for the mini measurement chart – I’m just finishing up a standard for my mum then I’ll be making a mini or two for me !! oh and I made up the side panels from your explanation – perfect !!! thanks again 🙂
Thank you for sharing your tips on how to make a smaller version. I have just finished my first full sized STB and can’t wait to make another one.
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Beautiful bag, I will try to sew soon. The fabric with the little squares is very nice. Can you tell me what his name is?
Please help. Blueprint is no longer selling so I can not gate the mini version of the sew together bag.
Can you tell me how to purchase this pattern now that blue print is closed? Thanks