Easy to Sew Travel Bags with Quilted Fabric
“I like to sew but I really don’t have the time.” Sound familiar? My Sewing With Nancy three-part series, Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares, addresses streamlining the process. Change the way you think about projects and patterns. Everything demonstrated is simply cut from rectangles and squares!
The Travel Trio
During this first episode, learn how to create a weekender tote, cosmetic bag, and luggage saddlebag. This travel trio is made using comparable sewing steps, straight stitching, and double-sided quilted fabrics.
Cosmetic Bag
Even if you’ve never sewn before, you can stitch this bag!
Weekender Tote
After learning how to make a simple cosmetic bag, apply many of the same sewing steps to create a Weekender Tote. It’s a super-sized cosmetic bag with the addition of sturdy straps and double pockets.
Luggage Saddle Bag
For ease of travel, make a saddlebag for your carry-on luggage or rolling case. Two sizes of bags are attached with connector straps.
When not using this handy accessory on your luggage, zip the bags together and it’s a handy shoulder tote.
Sewing With Nancy Trivia—This photo was quickly taken on the Sewing With Nancy set. Notice the tape on the floor? Those are the positioning marks for my chair in the Nancy’s Corner area. We had to move the chair in order to take the photo. Now you see how we keep all our props and furniture in the right place!
Watch Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares (Part One, Part Two, and Part Three) on Sewing With Nancy.
12 Complete Projects in Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares
All the projects featured in the three-part series, plus a bonus, are included in the book, Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares.
Bye for now,
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JaneH
I love the saddle bags! I never have enough hands in the airport and these would be perfect.
Carol P
I like the weekend tote, it would be what I would use the most. The saddle bags is a great idea! Never thought of that! I don’t fly a lot, but I could see where it would be these would be handy.
Sally Groff
The Weekender Tote is my favorite pattern of the 3. A girl can never have too many totes! I use them all the time! 🙂
Kimberly Hubbard
I love these bags. I have seen some of the other sew easy with rectangles and squares on some of your other shows. All of the projects are useful in everyday life. I travel regularly and the addition of the travel accessories will come in handy. Thank you Nancy!!
Bonnye
I like the cosmetic bag. It would keep all my small items organized in my purse.
Debra
The luggage saddle bag is great. I like its’ duo purpose feature–zip the two bags together and I have a handy tote! Thanks for the giveaway Nancy.
Barbara Jackson
I like the cosmetic bag. It’s just the right size to keep lots of stuff collected in one place without being bulky. Thanks for the simple projects – I can sew but it’s nice to have projects that don’t take all day!
Mary S
The cosmetics bag reminds me of one of my first projects learning to sew when I was in jhs I am a new empty nester and want to start sewing again. These are great first projects. I am thrilled that I found Nancy to help me get started. The saddlebag might also work on a bicycle.
Cheryl M
I work in a Sales/Marketing department and we are all “road warriors” and I think all of these bags are super and would make great Christmas gifts…it would take me that long to make all of them!
Mom C
Weekender Tote for me. I am always looking for the perfect bag for overnights and to carry on planes. It has to be big, but not too big, able to carry just a little or a lot and fit under my seat. I like zippers to secure things and I can always add pockets. Looks great. Thanks.
Pat
My favorite is the weekender tote. It uses the same process learned in the cosmetic bag but extends it to make the tote. I must admit I am ashamed to say I may very well use this tote as my handbag! Thanks for the cute and clever design.
Kathleen Swinkowski
I love the cosmetic bag. All are beautiful and so useful. And I really love the fabric that was used.
Nancy
I’m intrigued by the luggage saddle bag and look forward to trying it.
Lynn Aronson
I think my favorite would be the fabric bin organizers. I do wish you would make an addendum pattern for lids! I would make them to organize my craft and sewing room ( it has taken me almost 45 years to finally get after raising 5 children and my in laws lived with us for many years), not to mention gifts for others!
Marcia
I love the options of many bags. My first choice would be the weekend tote, I have a large stash and could pick my favorite colors. Thank you.
Jean
The weekend tote is on my to-do list! It would make a great gift as well.
RuthAnn
I love all of them, but my favorite is the cosmetic bag. My granddaughter is of an age where she carries needful items when she visits or goes on a sleepover. This would come in handy for her. And, as an aside, I like the way you use different colored tissue paper for each project!
Debe
I like the tote but haven’t made it, but I made the wall pockets & the baskets from this series. They went together really easy & look so nice. I added machine embroidery to the fronts of them.
Diane C
Luggage Saddle Bag
Linda Brngal
I love the saddle-bag. I don’t use too many cosmetics, but the saddle-bag looks like it would be a best seller.
Joyce
Definitely the weekend tote. It would be perfect for a plane trip!
Bertie S
I love the fabric bins, you can personalize them and the closet organizer, going to make one for my stabilizers.
Nancy, you make all projects so easy to follow with step by step instructions. Have loved watching you for years.
Brenda P
I really like the caddy and fabric boxes. I went to the Nancy’s Notions website to read more about the book and DVD also. I love ALL the projects and the variety of uses. The caddy can be used for jewelry or quilting supplies when I visit my friend up north and we sew together. Fabric + Friends = FUN!!! 🙂
Leslie Walker
I like the make-up travel bag…I currently use large ziplock bags, but have had to endure the cheeky comments of my sister and daughter…
Carol
I love the trio totes and also love the simplicity of squares and rectangles. Can never have too many bags especially with all the electronics and their accessories that we seem to collect.
Camille
Love to make bags of any kind but the cosmetic bag is my favorite in this series.
Peggy
I love the weekend tote. Such great instructions. I think this would be great to create so many uses.
ValerieB
Well, it’s really not fair to choose when I like all of them; however, since I need a new cosmetic bag, I’d really like to make that first.
Mary
The fabric totes. They work great. I agree lids would be useful. I think this will be my Christmas gift this year to the female relatives in my family. Would also be great Secret Santa gifts.
Helen Stewart
My first to make would be the fabric bin organizers as I have a small room to organize since we moved to smaller home. Then I always like to make totes of many sizes.
Karen Nelson
I love the luggage saddlebags!!
My daughter just came back from Florida. I want to make her one!!
Very innovative!!
She’ll love it!!
Sharon E
The basket would look great in my sewing room.
Starla
I love the idea of the luggage saddlebags!
Dawn
I have your book and CD for the bag patterns. However I can’t find the great quilted fabric like you used. HELP.
Louise Johnson
I agree with you, Dawn. It took me a long time to find fabric that I really liked. I love the fabric Nancy used; I would make a whole set of everything in that fabric if I could buy it!
Sherry Bartlett
I’d love to make the luggage saddlebags first, then the tote and cosmetic bag. They are beautiful!
Dawn Weideman
Love the idea of just using squares and rectangles. The weekender bag would be great for all of the “stuff” I find I need to travel with after my luggage is full.
Louise Johnson
I cannot decide which project is my favorite. I have made two saddlebags: one using a couple clearance quilted table runners and another using tapestry home decor fabric. Of course neither one is exactly to Nancy’s specific directions, but they both are great, and I have received numerous positive comments about them — lots of promo for Nancy!
Then I have also made the tote which has been an extremely practical catch-all flight bag. I added a band across one of the outer pockets to put over my luggage handle for stability while rolling through the airport. I cannot decide!
Best of all, finding or creating the perfect ribbon/fabric combo is very rewarding. One time I used a decorative stitch on a smaller plain ribbon over a larger plain ribbon to tie the whole look together better.
It is all great (and practical) fun!
Marty
I’ll make a saddlebag first!
SONJA HANSEN
Oh, that is easy, The Luggage Saddle Bag would be the first that I want to make.
Jean Palionis
What a great idea! I definately will make the weekender…so feminine
Gail Beam
I think the saddle bag is Awesome!! Perfect accessory for all types of things, such as a book, magazine, paper, gum, candy snacks, toys for kids, etc. to make layovers and airport time pass quickly and you don’t have to lug it around the airport because it fits on your luggage!!. I would love to win this book and CD.
Bear Angel
I love the Saddle Bag. I could really use it when I go to Quilt of Valor retreats. Especially with all of the extra things I have to bring besides my sewing equipment.
Sharon Kirby
Love these projects. They make great gifts as well.
Berenice
The weekender! My child travels between our house & her job twice a week. Does not need a big suitcase. Then those Saddlebags!
Tina
Wow! Really like all the projects but would pick the saddle bag if I had to choose.
Peggy
I would do the saddlebags first. Our granddaughter travels with her two little ones by herself often, her husband’s job does not permit him to stay on a visit as long as she can. She would be able to use the saddlebags in so many ways to make
traveling easier for her.
KayZee
They’d all be useful, but I especially like the Weekender Tote.
Christina Gonzalez
I love the Weekender Tote. All of them are bags I would love to make.
Joyce Fitzgerald
I can hardly wait for spring break so my granddaughter and I can make the weekend tote
Mary Wippold
My favorite is the weekend tote. I can think of so many ways to use it-a shopping tote, storage for projects in progress, a book bag, etc. Honestly, who couldn’t use another tote?
Amy
I like the saddlebag, such a great idea, with multiple functions and uses.
Michelle
I think the weekender tote looks like something I could use a lot
Lillian K
The Luggage Saddle Bag is really a clever idea. And of course I could always use another tote!!
Mary Grace Ronan
I love to sew w/rectangles & squares & quilted fabric…would sew love to win!
Margaret Kohnke
I love the week ender tote. It is so perfect in size and would be a great gift.
Enid
I have made the cosmetic bag. You cannot make it like the picture, because the instructions have the zipper on the top.
Sherry Manning
Useful and pretty projects… exactly what I love!
Jackie Taxter
Would love to make the saddle bag. Thanks for an opportunity to win the book.
Linda Napiantek
I love that cosmetic bag. That pattern can be used as a clutch with other fabrics.
Linda
The weekender bag is a perfect size for short trips to visit my grandchildren. I would love to win, I have some double sided quilt fabric that is just waiting for a pattern!
Jan
I’m nuts about bags!!
I try to make as many as I can! Your creativity blows me away! Love them all.
Mary S
All the bags are great, I can’t wait to make them all. I can see many uses for the saddlebag. Having worked in healthcare, the saddlebag would be a great accessory for walkers and wheelchairs.
Kay Strand
Saddlebag! But love all the projects
Barb
I could use a weekender bag, but I would also make the cosmetic bags. I love to make and give those with a gift card inside for Christmas, b-days, etc.
Lorij
I like the weekend toe and saddle bag. They are all really nice. Thanks for the opportunity to win. I hope that you are doing well.
connie
The saddle bag is my favorite project listed.
Kim H
I love the luggage saddle bag! That is unique.
Deanna
I love the weekends tote. Can’t wait to make it.
Deanna
I love the weekender tote. Can’t wait to make it.
Suzanne. Tetreault
I like the saddle bags attached to your luggage.