Here's a great pattern for you to make for a little one. This lunch order bag can be made with or without insulation and would make a great Christmas gift, especially if you have someone just about to start school. Please read the instructions thoroughly first and look at the photos, you need to make sure you place the velcro, "hook and loop," strips in the exact places. There are plenty of step-by-step photos, so hopefully, you won't get stuck anywhere.
Here's a list of what you'll need. You can choose to use the same fabric for the lining as the outside, or you can use different fabric.
*You will need*
80 cm/ 31” Fabric (if using same fabric for outside and lining). If using a separate lining fabric you will need 40cm/15.5” of fabric for the outside and 40cm/15.5” for the lining.
40cm/ 15.5” Insul-fleece-insulation fabric (optional)
25cm/ 10” hook and loop tape, sew in- 2.5cm/1” wide
20cm/8” plastic coating
115cm/ 45” bias binding
Plus- download your free lunch bag pattern PDF file (at end of blog post)
*Note*-Seam allowance changes!
If insulating your lunch bag the seam allowances are as follows....Lining 1/2”, Insulation 3/8,” outside 1/4.”
If not using insulation seam allowances are 1/2” for all pieces.
1. Cut out pattern pieces from fabric, plastic and insulation. Mark placement of hook and loop tape and pockets.
2. Cut out pockets from plastic.
3. Pin binding all the way around the outside of each plastic piece. Sew binding onto plastic. Repeat with second pocket.
4. Cut 1 strip of hook and loop tape 15cm/5” in length. Take your piece of hook and loop tape and carefully cut the strip in half lengthways, up the centre of the tape. You will end up with 2 thinner strips of hook and loop tape.
5. Separate the hook and loop tape. Pin the “hook” strip (rough side) onto the front of the lunch bag, on the right side of the fabric, where indicated. Stitch into place. The front of your bag should now have 1 thinner “hook” strip attached to the front of your bag.
7. Pin pocket 2 into place onto the front of your lunch bag where indicated on the pattern. Make sure the “hook”side of the tape matches the “loop” side of tape on pocket 2.
8. Stitch around 3 sides of the pocket. Start on the left side as indicated on the pattern. Straight stitch down the left side, along the bottom and up the right side of pocket 2. Remember to leave the top of the pocket-where the hook and loop tape is attached- open. The front of your bag should now have pocket 2 sewn into place.
9. Pin plastic pocket 1 into place, as marked on the pattern, on the right side of the front fabric. Start at the top right hand corner and straight stitch along the top, down the left hand side and along the bottom of pocket 1, securing it to the front of the bag. Leave the remaining right side of pocket open, as shown on pattern. The front of your lunch bag will now have 2 clear plastic pockets attached to the front.
10. Cut 2cm/ 3/4” hook and loop tape. Separate tape. Pin “hook” side of tape onto front of bag, under pocket 2, where indicated on the pattern. Sew into place.
11. Pin side piece of fabric onto front of bag, along right hand side. Make sure right sides of fabric are facing each other. Stitch. Repeat with other side. Place to one side.
12. Cut another 2cm/ 3/4” hook and loop tape. Separate tape. Pin “hook” side of tape into position on back of bag, on right side of fabric. See pattern for correct placement. Stitch around tape and secure.
13. Pin back piece to one side of bag as shown in diagram below. Make sure the velcro “hook” tape is at the top of the bag.
14. Sew along length of side.
15. Pin opposite, open side of back piece to left hand, open side of bag, along the length. Stitch down side.
16. Keep bag inside out- wrong sides facing outwards. Pin bottom piece into place- right sides of fabric facing inwards. Take care to match sides and corners together. Straight stitch around base, securing onto bag. Clip corners. Turn bag right side out. The outside of the bag is now completed. Press with a hot iron and place to one side.
Assemble lining pieces together, as per assembly instructions for outer bag.
17. Pin side piece of lining to front piece of lining, down the length of the bag. Right sides facing. Stitch.
18. Pin other side lining piece to opposite side of front piece of lining, right sides facing. Stitch.
19. Pin back piece along one side, attaching back piece of lining to side piece of lining.
20. Pin together open edge of side piece to open edge of back piece. Stitch along length of side. You should now have a rectangular piece of fabric. Right sides facing inwards.
21. Pin base piece to bottom edge of lining. Pin all the way around four sides of the base. Stitch. Clip corners. Leave lining with wrong sides facing outwards. Press seams open.
*Insulation is optional*
Cut out pieces for insulation, following pattern. Sew together as per instructions for lining. Remember to make sure the silver side of the insulation is facing inwards, and the fluffy “white” side faces outwards. This is so the heat/cold is reflected back into the bag and keeps the food hot/cold.
Trim 1cm/ 1/2” off top of insulation bag.
1. Take your outer bag, right side facing outwards. Insert insulation bag inside outer bag (skip this step if you aren’t insulating your bag).
2. Take lining bag, wrong side facing out. Insert lining bag inside bag with insulation.
3. Fold excess fabric of outer bag piece over insulation bag and pin in place. Fold over 1cm/ 1/2” seam of lining bag- fold towards insulation. Pin. All open edges should match and form one edge. Put bag to one side.
4. Take strap piece. Fold in half, lengthways, right sides facing. Pin down long side of strap. Stitch.
5. Turn right side out. Press. Tuck raw edges of one end inside strap. Sew across end.
6. Take 2cm/ 3/4” “loop” side of tape and pin at stitched and tucked end of strap. Sew loop (fluffy side) tape into place.
7. Insert raw edges into the centre of the front piece of the bag along the top edge of bag- between the layers. Refer back to pattern for correct placement. Insert strap into position, about 3cm/1” into seam of bag. Pin.
8. Stitch all the way around the top edge of the bag, remembering to remove all the pins. Press lightly with a warm iron.
Measure and cut some paper for inside pockets. Pocket 1 is for the name and class information. Pocket 2 is for the lunch order and money. You may like to print information on computer.
Your bag is now finished!
Place your order and money inside pocket 2 and roll up bag as shown above. Secure with velcro strap. Lunch order is now ready to be handed into the canteen. The canteen removes the money, pops in any change if needed and unrolls the bag. Luch gets placed inside the bag and strap is secured over the top, holding bag together, ready to be delivered back to yourhungry child for lunch.
It's easy to wash and keep clean, just remember to remove paper strips first.
You make then in lots of great fabrics. Make one for boys and for girls! Lots of options available.
Remember that a lot of time went into this pattern and I'm making it available for free. Please don't abuse it. The pattern is free for personal use ONLY! Please enjoy.
Lastly....here's your free PDF pattern ready for you to download. It's quite lengthy.
Download your free PDF Lunch bag pattern assembly instructions
Download Free lunch order bag pattern by Red Brolly
how clever is that beats a brown paper bag
Posted by: Lianne | November 11, 2013 at 06:17 PM
This is a great lunch bag! My grandson just started kindergarten in August. Lovely tutorial as usual, :0) Thanks Bronwyn!
Posted by: Daryl | November 12, 2013 at 02:46 AM
Great lunch bag. Thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Maja | November 13, 2013 at 08:08 PM
Clever idea, Bronwyn. Now I wish I had someone to make it for but I'll keep the pattern on file for the future. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Posted by: Kate | November 13, 2013 at 11:36 PM