How to Make a Travel Shoe Bag

It is time to start traveling again and this travel shoe bag is perfect to take on your next trip. I like these shoe bags because they protect your clothes from your shoes and they are really simple to make so you can make a lot of them if you need to. This is a beginner sewing project that anyone with basic sewing skills can make even though it has a zipper. These make great gifts too. If you would like more travel projects check out my travel tote to take along with your shoe bag.

I chose plain cotton fabrics for my project but you could use ripstop nylon for the interior of your shoe bag to make it water resistant. I also chose a continuous zipper for this project but you can use a regular zipper that you will shorten instead. The continuous zippers are nice because you can make them any length you want and you can choose fun zipper sliders to go with them.

I purchased my fabrics at Joann’s but you could head to Fabric.com or onlinefabricstore.net to get exactly what you need for your project. I got my continuous zippers and zipper sliders from Etsy. This post contains affiliate links that if you click on them and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What you will Need: How to Make a Travel Shoe Bag

• 1/2 yd outer fabric
• 1/2 yd lining fabric
• 14 7/8″ zipper

Step 1: Cut Your Fabrics

Cut the outer and lining fabrics to measure 24 7/8″ x 14 7/8″. Cut two pieces of either outer or lining for binding that measure 1 7/8″ x 8″ and an outer piece that measures 3″ x 9″ for the handle.

Step 2: Add Zipper

Find the center of both short ends of the outer and lining fabric and make a mark on each end. Find the center of the zipper. Place the outer fabric right sides up on your work station. Lay the zipper wrong sides down on one short end of the outer fabric matching the center marks. Place the lining fabric right sides down on the zipper creating a zipper sandwich again matching the center marks. Stitch through all layers. Open to the right side and press. Topstitch along the zipper.

Fold up the other short end so that it is right sides up on your work station. Place the other side of the zipper wrong sides down and the lining right sides down and stitch. Turn right sides out and topstitch along the zipper. This is a little fidgety but take your time and it will be fine.

Step 3: Create the Handle

Take the 3″ x 9″ piece of outer fabric and fold the long raw edges to the center and press. Fold in half to enclose the raw edges and press again. Stitch along both sides.

Step 4: Add the Handle

Measure 2 1/2″ on each side of the zipper and make a mark. Place the short ends of the handle on each mark and stitch to secure.

Step 5: Fold the Sides

Fold the bag in half so that the zipper is at the top. Mark the bottom folds as that is the new center. Turn wrong side out. Fold the bag so that the zipper is in the center matching the marks you just made. Turn the bag over. Measure in from each side 2 7/8″ and make a mark. Fold each side on the 2 7/8″ mark and press. Stitch on the short ends along the folds only using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 6: Add the Binding

Place one piece of binding right sides together with the short side of the bagged stitch using a 3/8″ seam allowance. Fold the binding over the raw edge. Fold under the short edges of the binding and double fold the long edge of the binding and clip. Stitch the binding. Repeat for the other end.

Step 7: Turn Right Sides Out

Open up the zipper and Turn the bag right sides out. Poke out the corners and add your shoes. You have now finished your Travel shoe bag.

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