The Ruffled And Ready Bag – FREE Bag Pattern

free easy bag pattern

Do you remember the Made in a Snap Bag pattern? It's a cute little purse but it is small, designed as a bag for your essentials. What if you need a little more room, have a lot of ‘essentials' or just prefer something in a different style? Well, the purse frame on the Made in a Snap Bag is completely removable, so it makes great sense to make several covers in different styles and fabrics.

I've never seen this type of easy bag pattern before. Love those handles!

Here is the Ruffled and Ready Bag, a free easy bag pattern, using exactly the same purse frame – looks completely different and has a flat bottom with more volume so you can carry more ‘stuff'. Good news – its simple to sew.  No closures, zips, snaps etc – just sew the fabric bag and slide in the frame.  The frame snaps closed and has a place to even add a chain or strap if you want to.

free easy bag pattern

free easy bag pattern

Materials you will need:

  • Outer fabric and lining fabric – a piece 11 inches tall by 33 inches wide for each, more for pattern matching/pockets
  • Matching threads
  • 6-inch half-round purse frame
  • Interfacing and fusible fleece of your choice
  • Fabric marker – erasable such as this heat-erasable Frixion Pen
  • The pattern pieces – download below

Fabric recommendations









How To Download

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free easy bag pattern

How to Sew the Ruffled and Ready Free Bag Pattern

Use your pattern piece to cut four pieces of fabric.  Two outer and two lining pieces.  Remember to place the pattern piece on the fold to cut.

Add a fusible interfacing of your choice depending on what you have available, or how sturdy you want your bag to be.  I used a very lightweight interfacing on my lining fabric, then a stiffer interfacing plus the fusible fleece on the outer fabric.

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If adding the fusible fleece, only add this to the lower portion of the bag, as shown in the photo as you want the top to remain flexible to make it easier to fit to the frame.

If you want to add any internal pockets, cut some additional fabric for this.  The size will depend on what you want to carry.  You can follow this tutorial on how to sew a simple slip pocket for your bag.  My pocket is sized perfectly for my (old fashioned) phone, a pen and my notepad.

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Match up one outer piece with one lining piece, right sides together, and pin along the top edge.

See where I have marked on the approximate stitching lines in this picture?  We need to stitch from the pointy part over on one side all the way across, up, over the top and down the other side BUT leaving an area NOT stitched on each side, between where the dotted lines are printed on your pattern.  Where I have marked the X, leave a gap unsewn for about a 1/2 inch on each side.  Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

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This gap is where the casing for our purse frame will be later on.  Repeat this for both pieces of fabric.

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Trim the top corners and notch the lower corners on both sides and for both pieces.  This will help us get nice crisp corners when we turn the cover the right way out later on.

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Now match both sides of the bag together, matching outer right sides together, lining right sides together and making sure the seams where the outer meet the lining are matching on each side.  Pin all the way around.  Stitch all the way around the outside leaving a gap of 5 inches or so in the bottom of the lining so you can turn the bag right side out.  Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

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Now it's time to add volume and a flat bottom to our bag by boxing the corners.  If this is new to you, you can watch a helpful video here on 3 Methods to Box the Corners on a Bag.

Open out the squares cut in the bottom of the bag and note the bottom and side seams.  These need to match.

Easy to sew free bag pattern. The frame can be removed to use in other bags too so you can make lots of different covers and swap them out.

Match the bottom seam to the side seam and pin in place.  When you sew, you will want to press one seam allowance to one side, and the other seam allowance the other way to avoid a bulky seam.  Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Easy to sew free bag pattern. The frame can be removed to use in other bags too so you can make lots of different covers and swap them out.

Repeat this step for all 4 corners – the two in the bag outer and in the lining as well.

Pressing

Turn the bag the right way out and close the gap in the bottom of the lining by hand or by machine.  Give it a good press and pay attention around the top of the bag inside and out to get a neat edge as you press.

Easy to sew free bag pattern. The frame can be removed to use in other bags too so you can make lots of different covers and swap them out.

Top stitch around the entire top of the bag EXCEPT for the 1/2 inch you need to leave unsewn on the side for the purse frame casing.  Leave a space unsewn on all 4 sides to allow the purse frame to slide through.

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Use your erasable fabric marker to draw a line down from the edge of the top of the bag at 1.5 inches and then another line parallel a quarter of an inch under that first one.  This will be where the casing will fall for your frame.  Check that it lines up with the gap you left when topstitching!

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The bag should look like this with the two lines straight across on each side.  These will be your stitching lines to create the casing.

Easy to sew free bag pattern. The frame can be removed to use in other bags too so you can make lots of different covers and swap them out.

This is what it should look like when both lines are sewn. This narrow channel is open on each end.

Easy to sew free bag pattern. The frame can be removed to use in other bags too so you can make lots of different covers and swap them out.

Unscrew the little nut from the end of the bar and pull it out.  Then the bar goes through the first ring on the side of the frame and then through the casing in your bag.  It should be reasonably snug and you'll need to gather the fabric a little as you go.

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Once the bar comes out the other side, thread it through the hole in the frame and then add the nut back on.  That one side is finished.  Repeat exactly the same to add the bar to the other side of the bag and through the casing.  Adjust your gathers and now your Ruffled and Ready bag is completed!

Easy to sew free bag pattern. The frame can be removed to use in other bags too so you can make lots of different covers and swap them out.

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Easy to sew free bag pattern. The frame can be removed to use in other bags too so you can make lots of different covers and swap them out.


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Karena Murray
Karena Murray

I made the most beautiful bag Thank you

normajerry
normajerry

Hi. I am, I guess, late to find this sweet bag. Unfortunately I did no read the comments before cutting the pattern out and getting to sewing the ‘box’ to add the bottom shape. Sounds like you knew about it but,….the patter is sill wrong. Please try. ad fix it for the next person. Thanks so much!!! Norma

Wendy Foreman
Wendy Foreman

could you please tell me what are the dimension sizes of this bag. Im not sure if my scanner copies the exact sizes. I have my handles so im ready at go.
Many thanks

Terri Brantley
Terri Brantley

Could you please tell me if this sizen is good for toddlers? If not, what size frame should I order? Thank you!

Peggy Hill
Peggy Hill

This is a cute and delightfully easy pattern. The end result is so cute. Thanks for clear and precise directions. I have made this up in hardly any time at all. As usual, the prep time is longer than the sewing time.

Kaaren
Kaaren

Oh I so love this adorable purse! Can’t wait to make one. Don’t have the frame yet, but I’ll have the purse ready to slide on the frame. I just may make a whole lot of them.

Myrna H
Myrna H

I have just ordered the hardware for this bag and can’t wait to make one (or two). I think that it will be possible to make several bags that I can interchange with the hardware. It looks very easy to put the hardware on and to remove it. This will be a very versatile bag (if I’m correct).

Marilyn Vallette
Marilyn Vallette

Love this bag! I have never made a bag before & think this will be perfect for a 1st attempt. I am wondering if you are using quilting cotton or something heavier. What would you suggest for fabrics? Thanks!

Batik lover
Batik lover

I don’t remember seeing the first tutorial for the smaller bag, where can I obtain this neat purse frame?

So Sew Easy
Admin
Active Member
Reply to  Batik lover

Hi Batik Lover, I’ve added a link to where you can get this purse frame. Hope that helps.

Did you see our article on Batik? https://so-sew-easy.com/batik-printing-technique/

Kind regards, Mayra

Patricia L Williams
Patricia L Williams

So cute!
Where does one find the hardware for the bag?

So Sew Easy
Admin
Active Member

Hi Patricia, I’ve added a link to where you can get this purse frame. Hope that helps. Kind regards, Mayra

Brenda
Brenda

Hi Mayra, Love this pattern but would like to see a video tutorial for it

Liz
Liz

Hello Deby,
I’ve made a couple of these bags. What a great pattern – thank you. I have a question. Either I am cutting incorrectly, or the bottom box does not match up. It seems the top of the box measures at 1.5″ when cut, but the bottom (or side) of the box measures at 1 7/8″ when cut. I can’t get the seams to match up when sewing. Am I missing something here, or are the seam allowances supposed to be different for the sides and bottom of the bag? Thank you.

Liz
Liz
Reply to  Mayra Cecilia

Hello Mayra,
Yes, the issue was with every bag because the pattern I printed didn’t have equal length to the box bottom. I got the pattern from Craftsy. What I did for my pattern, when it printed out, was to trim the bottom part so that it’s box bottom depth matched the side depth. I think I trimmed it to 1.5″ Does that make sense?

Thank you..Liz

Sharon
Sharon
Reply to  Liz

Take the pattern and fold in half, side to side and then you can see if pattern is off.if on side is smaller cut the pattern in half and only use that side of pattern then re-draw pattern and cut out.

JUDY
JUDY

Hi Deby, I was wondering if the instructions for the Ruffled & Ready bag can be downloaded as a PDF?

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  JUDY

The download for this one is only the pattern. I’ve had a LOT of trouble with people stealing my content and patterns and putting them on their websites, or even selling the pattern PDF files over and over again, so to try to protect the content, for the free patterns, many of them will just be the pattern file going forward and the instructions will remain on the website here. Sorry, I wish I didn’t have to do this but there are so many dishonest people out there. You can select the blog article content and copy it across to a Word Document on your own computer to save it and read offline.

bernsteinchen

Very nice bag and very nice tutorial. Suuuper.
Bernsteinchen

Ruth
Ruth

Beautiful design…. really cute.

I remembered you telling us about this seller before and contacted them to see whether they would ship to Jamaica. Oddly enough, they said no. :-/

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Ruth

Oh that is such a shame! They do ship to me here in Cayman and we are basically neighbours. I guess it all depends on what the service is like from their end. There must be a reason for it.

Gail Beam
Gail Beam

Loved your tutorial with your detailed pictures and easy to understand written instructions. This is a really neat pattern. Thank you! Your green fingernail polish adds some fun to your tutorial! I am always buying fun and funky fingernail polish and fingernail decorations for my granddaughter. They have some really neat fingernail add ons by Sally Hansen and others to decorate the nails with. Glitter, tiny balls, outline pens and stick ons are just some of the fun and funky fingernail items available! My granddaughter painted volleyballs on her nails as she plays volleyball for her high school.
Gail

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Gail Beam

That lime green WAS a bit bright and it took me a while to get used to it. Now I’m on a rich purple, and next time a blue I think. Brightens my day! The volleyballs sound fun.

Helen Marshall
Helen Marshall

The clicking sound you hear is me drumming my fingernails on the table waiting for the frames to arrive. They been ordered for 15 minutes so far. Love the bag.

Maria@SewTravelInspired

Deby,I loved this bag post so much I shared it on my Facebook page. I have enjoyed reading your blog and watching you grow in your sewing skills. Also the fact that your fingernail polish matched your fabric made me smile.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member

Thanks so much for the share Maria. I’m brightening up 2015 with bright nails and they’ll be new crazy colors all the time this year. Hell, I got bored with being middle aged and decided to go back to my teens!

Jane
Jane

Right on! You GO, Deby!

anneweaver1974

Pretty!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later this morning that links to your pattern: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-ruffled-and-ready-bag/2015/01/24/
–Anne

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  anneweaver1974

Thanks so much Anne, I love all the support you give the site, thank you.

Pam @Threading My Way

A very clever design, Deby!!!