Learn to Sew Bags with Missouri Star: Totes, Pouches & Purses
Looking for the perfect bag to fit your style or your stuff? It can be hard to find just the right purse, tote or pouch, but there is another option: make your own! Bag making uses lots of the same skills as quilting, but it adds a few extra notions and hardware pieces, and depending on the bag, construction can get a little fiddly. That’s exactly why we put together this path through our free video tutorials. Start with a simple tote, add a zipper, try vinyl, then move up to purses with real hardware. And when you’re ready for more, there’s a huge pattern library waiting. Let’s get sewing!
⚡ Quick Answer
- Start here: a quilted tote with no closure, like Jenny’s Three Big Bags from One Jelly Roll
- Next skill: add a zipper with Misty’s Easy Quilted Zipper Tote or a small zippered pouch
- Then: try clear vinyl with the Clear Vinyl Tote Bag
- Ready for purses: Jessica Barrera of Sallie Tomato walks you through the Mia Bag, our most popular Sallie Tomato tutorial
- Every tutorial is free to watch. Some projects use a printed or digital pattern, sold separately
Key Takeaways
- ➤Learn one new skill per bag. Totes teach straps and boxed corners, pouches teach zippers, and purses add hardware like rivets, swivel clips and adjustable straps.
- ➤Precuts work for bags, too. A jelly roll makes three big totes, a charm pack makes the Charm Puff Tote, and a fat quarter bundle covers a set of zipper pouches.
- ➤Stabilizer is the secret to a bag that stands up. Most of these tutorials use foam or fusible interfacing so the finished bag holds its shape.
- ➤Kits take the guesswork out of hardware. The Mia, Clarisse and Terry kits bundle the fabric and hardware for you, so you can focus on sewing.
Start with a Tote
Ready to start your bag making journey? One of the best places to begin is an easy quilted tote. A front, a back, and some straps: easy peasy. Our favorite is an oldie but a goodie, where Jenny shows you how to make Three Big Bags from One Jelly Roll. All you need is one jelly roll and half a yard of fabric, and you walk away with three roomy totes, so you have one to keep and two to give.
▶️ Watch the free video: Three Big Bags From One Jelly Roll (36 min)
Add a Zipper to Your Tote
Now you’ve made a tote! The next step is to add a closure, and Misty shows you how to confidently place a zipper across the top in her Easy Quilted Zipper Tote tutorial. The finished bag is about 12" x 15" and uses ¾ yard of a print plus 1¼ yards of a coordinating fabric, with a Missouri Star Fancy Zip for a pop of color.
Try Sewing with Vinyl
Next on the list is adding some vinyl to the mix. It’s a bit slippery, but it’s easy to manage with the tips and tricks Misty shares in her Clear Vinyl Tote Bag tutorial. It’s a great bag for the beach, the pool, or a quilting retreat, where you want to see everything inside at a glance.
▶️ Watch the free video: Clear Vinyl Tote Bag (23 min)
💡 Pro Tip: Use clips instead of pins on vinyl. Every pin hole in vinyl is permanent, and clips hold the layers together without leaving a mark. For more help, read our tips and tricks for sewing with vinyl.
Make a Statement Tote
If you’re in search of a tote that makes a statement, check out Misty’s fabulous Charm Puff Tote Bag! Each charm square becomes a soft, puffy pillow, and one charm pack covers the outside. Pick up the Charm Puff Tote Bag Pattern to get started.
Learn to Sew a Zipper Pouch
Maybe you don’t want to start with a big bag. Zippered pouches are a quick win and a great way to hold sewing notions and projects, or to organize little things around the house. They’re also the best way to practice the biggest skill in bag making: installing a zipper!
Learn the basics as Misty shows Craig Conover how to install his first zipper in these fun boxy zipper pouches. If it’s your first zipper, too, this is the video to start with.
▶️ Watch the free video: How to Make a Zipper Pouch with Craig Conover & Misty Doan (16 min)
Or make a set of pouches for yourself (or as a gift) with Misty’s On the Go Zipper Pouch Set, rectangular pouches in two sizes. A fat quarter bundle goes a long way here, so it’s a great scrap buster. You’ll find the On the Go Pouch Set Pattern in our shop.
Ready to set your zipper on the diagonal? Designer Minki Kim and Misty show you how it’s done in this fun Two-Tone Zipper Pouch tutorial. The finished pouch is about 9" x 6".
▶️ Watch the free video: Two-Tone Zipper Pouch with Minki Kim and Misty Doan (49 min)
Want more ideas once you’ve got the hang of zippers? Browse our easy zipper pouch projects for beginners.
Purse Making with Sallie Tomato
Maybe you want to jump right into fashionable makes with a bag making master: Jessica Barrera of Sallie Tomato. We’ve teamed up with Jessica on several occasions to introduce you to a variety of crossbody and shoulder purses.
The Mia Bag: Our Most Popular Sallie Tomato Tutorial
Our all-time most popular Sallie Tomato tutorial is the Mia Bag, where Jessica shows you how to make a cute, beginner-friendly crossbody. Mia uses a feature fabric for the top and a non-woven material like cork or faux leather for the bottom, strap connectors, and tabs. Each fabric takes about ¼ yard, so it’s a great way to show off a favorite print. Want everything in one box? Grab a Mia Crossbody Bag Kit in Teal/Brown or Indigo/Navy.
▶️ Watch the free video: Mia Bag with Jessica Barrera of Sallie Tomato (47 min)
💡 Pro Tip: Cork and faux leather don’t fray, so there’s no need to finish those edges. Like vinyl, they show every pin hole, so reach for clips here, too. Our guide to sewing with cork fabric has more tips.
Upsize It: The Clarisse Bag
If you love the Mia as much as we do, you’ll want to see Jessica and Natalie return to upsize the Mia into the Clarisse, with a classic tote and a structured handbag in bigger sizes that are perfect for everything you carry. Both versions are beginner-friendly, and you can pick up a Clarisse Crossbody Bag Kit in Garden/Navy or Chambray/Cork.
If you enjoy the Mia bag, there are lots more collaborations with Jessica to explore, like the quilted Miranda and Charade bags. Find even more on our Bag Making Projects YouTube playlist!
The Terry Triple Play Bag
And if that’s not enough, Jessica, Misty, and Natalie recently teamed up for a Triple Play featuring the Terry bag. It comes in two kits, the Terry Indigo Denim Crossbody Bag Kit and the Terry Marsh Haven Crossbody Bag Kit, and you can customize it to your own style!
▶️ Watch the free video: Triple Play! 2 New Sallie Tomato Bags (1 hr 16 min)
Your Bag Making Path at a Glance
Not sure where to jump in? Here’s how the tutorials in this post build on each other, from the first tote to the first purse with hardware.
| Project | Taught by | Video length | New skill you’ll learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Big Bags | Jenny Doan | 36 min | Straps and a simple lined tote from precuts |
| Easy Quilted Zipper Tote | Misty Doan | 49 min | A zipper closure on a quilted tote |
| Boxy Zipper Pouch | Misty Doan & Craig Conover | 16 min | Your very first zipper, plus boxed corners |
| Clear Vinyl Tote Bag | Misty Doan | 23 min | Handling slippery vinyl |
| Two-Tone Zipper Pouch | Misty Doan & Minki Kim | 49 min | A zipper set on the diagonal |
| Mia Bag | Jessica Barrera | 47 min | Cork or faux leather and purse hardware |
| Clarisse Bag | Jessica Barrera & Natalie Doan | 34 min | Resizing a pattern into a tote or handbag |
| Terry Triple Play Bag | Jessica, Misty & Natalie | 1 hr 16 min | Customizing a crossbody kit |
What’s Next? Bags for Travel, Tech & More
We’ve shown you some of the best tutorials for learning to make bags, but that’s really just the beginning. We’ve got bags for all kinds of special occasions and purposes.
Travel Bags
Want to make your own bag for traveling? Start with the Traveler Bag, perfect for just the travel necessities: your wallet, passport, and phone. Create a fabulous carry-on that slides right onto your suitcase handle with the Misty Bag, which can be worn as a shoulder bag or a backpack. Or make a bag for a weekend getaway or sewing retreat: the Hamilton Duffle, inspired by our hometown of Hamilton, Missouri.
Cosmetic and Hot Tool Cases
Want to corral your cosmetics? The Bette Bag from Sallie Tomato keeps all your cosmetics safe during travel with removable dividers, an elastic holder, and a mesh zipper pocket! Need to pack a curling iron? Misty has you covered with her Hot Tool Travel Case. It’s lined with Insul-Bright insulated batting and sews up from two fat quarters, so it’s a quick beginner project.
Tech Cases and Slings
Need a case to keep your electronics safe? Our Safe and Sound Quilted Tech Cases tutorial gives you options for laptops, tablets, and e-readers, with fusible foam stabilizer to protect your devices.
Looking for a super cute sling? Misty’s Adventure Sling keeps you hands-free and makes errands easy. And her Summer Concert Bag (the Adventure Sling made in clear vinyl) is perfect for all those summer concerts and festivals with clear-bag rules! Both use the Adventure Sling Bag Pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest bag to sew for a beginner?
A simple quilted tote with no closure is the easiest place to start. Jenny’s Three Big Bags from One Jelly Roll is a beginner tutorial with just a front, a back, and straps. When you’re ready, add a zipper with the Easy Quilted Zipper Tote.
Are Missouri Star bag tutorials free?
Yes, every video tutorial in this post is free to watch. Some projects, like the Charm Puff Tote, On the Go Pouch Set and Adventure Sling, use a printed or digital pattern that’s sold separately, and the Sallie Tomato bags have kits with the hardware included.
Can I make a bag with precut fabric?
Absolutely! The Three Big Bags tutorial uses one jelly roll plus ½ yard of fabric, the Charm Puff Tote uses a charm pack, and the On the Go Zipper Pouch Set works beautifully with a fat quarter bundle.
What supplies do I need to start making bags?
Beyond your usual quilting tools, you’ll want zippers, a stabilizer or fusible interfacing so your bag holds its shape, and clips for thick layers. Purses add hardware like rings, swivel clips and rivets. Our bag making for beginners guide walks through the full supply list.
How do I sew a zipper into a bag for the first time?
Start small. A zipper pouch lets you practice the technique without wrestling a big bag through your machine. Watch Misty teach Craig Conover his first zipper in the boxy zipper pouch tutorial, then try it on a tote.
It’s All in the Bag!
Want to make your own bag? Check out all of our Tote & Purse Kits to find your next project. Or search our collection of Tote & Purse Patterns, then head over to Bag & Purse Hardware & Accessories to grab your supplies. Looking for more inspiration? Read our roundup of the best tote and purse patterns to sew.
We can’t wait to see what you make!