Lunch Bag Pattern Maker
A lunch bag is a boxed bag that stands up, with a top that closes and a handle to carry it by. This one comes as a zip-top bag with a handle or as a roll-top bag, sized to the lunch it has to hold.
Set the width, height and depth, choose the top, and add an insulated layer if you want one. The roll-top height and the number of rolls are yours to set, and so are the handle and the lining.
Make it yours: Change the width, height, depth, the top (open, drawstring, roll-top, zip), the handle length and the pockets.
Make this pattern in your size →When to choose this one
Choose this one for a boxed bag that stands up and closes properly: a zip across the top, or a roll-top folded down and fastened. Set the roll-top height and the number of rolls, and decide whether to add an insulating layer and a carrying handle.
Anything that will touch food needs a lining made for it. The maker makes no promise that the layer is food safe, so check how your materials should be washed.
What you can change
Size
- Width: 6–70 cm (2⅜–27½″). Finished, side to side across the base.
- Height: 8–90 cm (3⅛–35⅜″). Finished, from the base to the top edge.
- Base depth: 0–30 cm (0–11¾″). Front to back across the base. Sets how deep the boxed corners are.
Sizes are typed in centimetres, millimetres or inches. The starting size is Width 22 cm (8⅝″), Height 19 cm (7½″), Base depth 13 cm (5⅛″).
Options
- Base: flat, boxed or round
- Top: open, drawstring, roll-top, fold-over cuff, zip or flap
- Layer: None · Padded or stiffened · Insulated
- Switches: Zip tabs, Handles, Lined
- Measurements and counts: Roll-top height, Number of rolls, Zip tape width, Handle length
Starting points
These are sizes and settings to begin from, and every one stays fully editable. Type your own measurements, or start from the nearest one.
| Starting point | Finished size, cm | Same starting point in round inches |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch bag | 22 × 19 × 13 cm | 9 × 7½ × 5″ |
| Roll-top lunch bag | 20 × 16 × 12 cm | 8 × 6¼ × 4¾″ |
The bag pattern has 23 starting points in all; the other 21 are in the maker.
Cutting list
At the starting size (Width 22 cm (8⅝″), Height 19 cm (7½″), Base depth 13 cm (5⅛″)) the pattern has these pieces. Fabric sizes include seam allowance, interfacing is cut to the stitching line, and pieces cut on the fold are shown opened out. Each size is the width and height of the piece as cut.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut | Size to cut | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front and back | Main fabric | 2 | up to 37 × 26.45 cm (up to ≈14⅝ × ≈10⅜″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Front and back | Lining | 2 | up to 37 × 26.45 cm (up to ≈14⅝ × ≈10⅜″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Front and back | insulated batting | 2 | up to 35 × 24.85 cm (up to ≈13¾ × ≈9¾″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Handle | Main fabric | 2 | 10 × 35 cm (≈3⅞ × ≈13¾″) | Strip: cut by measurement |
| Zip tab | Main fabric | 2 | 3.7 × 8 cm (≈1½ × ≈3⅛″) | Strip: cut by measurement |
You will also need: Zip; Handles (alternative); Insulated batting; Thread. The cover page and materials list give the amounts for your size.
The maker’s fabric estimate at this size: Main fabric about 0.4 m of 112 cm fabric; Lining about 0.3 m of 112 cm fabric.
How it goes together
These are the maker’s own instructions at the starting size. They change with the options you pick, and the PDF carries the full set with the cover, cutting list and materials list.
- Attach the insulated batting to the wrong side of every outer piece: fuse it if it is fusible, otherwise baste it within the seam allowance. It is cut to the stitching line so the seams stay thin. Use a longer stitch from here on.
- Make the handles: press the strip in half lengthwise, open it, fold both long raw edges in to meet at the crease, then fold in half again so it is 2.5 cm wide. Edgestitch along both long sides. Make both the same length.
- Make the zip tabs. If your zip is longer than 32.6 cm, shorten it first. Press the short ends of each tab 0.6 cm to the wrong side, press it in half, slip one end of the zip into each tab and edgestitch across.
- Press the handle ends 1.2 cm under and pin each to the outside of the outer front and back between the notches, its end 2.15 cm below the top edge, untwisted. Sew a box with a cross through it on each end.
- Lay the front outer right side up with the zip face down along its top edge, tape edge level with the raw edge. Lay the front lining on top, wrong side up. Sew 0.6 cm from the edge with a zipper foot, then press both away from the zip and topstitch beside it.
- Sew the back outer and back lining to the other side of the zip tape the same way, then open the zip at least halfway.
- Arrange it so the outer is right sides together with itself and the lining right sides together with itself, the zip between them with its teeth toward the lining. Match the notches. Sew the side seams and the bottom seams at 1 cm, stopping at the corner cut-outs, outer and lining, leaving the gap in the lining’s bottom between the notches open.
- Box the corners: pinch each corner cut-out flat so the side seam lies on the bottom seam, and sew straight across at 1 cm, outer and lining.
- Turn the bag right side out through the gap in the lining, edgestitch the gap closed and push the lining inside. Press.
Fabric suggestions
Outer: Canvas, duck, denim, heavy linen, upholstery-weight cotton, or quilting cotton with interfacing.
Lining: A wipe-clean, food-safe lining: laminated cotton, or food-grade PUL or coated nylon.
Interfacing, padding or other layers: Medium fusible interfacing or fusible fleece on lighter outers. Interface the handles too unless they’re cut from canvas. Insulated: line it with something that wipes clean and is sold as food-safe (laminated cotton, or food-grade PUL or coated nylon), and put a thermal or insulated batting between outer and lining.
How each fabric family suits it
- Stable woven: great choice. Add interfacing to the outer and handles so it carries weight.
- Heavy or stiff: great choice. Ideal: strong and keeps its shape.
- Stretchy knit: not recommended. A stretchy bag sags and its handles stretch out under load. Choose a woven fabric for this one.
- Slippery or fine: possible, with care. Works as a lining, or as a light shopper made from ripstop. Interface the handle ends.
The maker’s advice adjusts to the fabric family you pick in the Fabric tab.
Printing it
At the starting size the printed pieces take 2 A4 pages, taped together using the page labels, alignment marks and page map. For a print shop, choose a sheet from A0 to a 36″ roll: the pieces are packed onto as few sheets as they will fit on, and if one is too big for the sheet the maker says so. How printing, tiling and the test square work.
Frequently asked questions
Is the insulated layer food safe?
The maker makes no promise about food safety. If food will touch the lining, choose a lining fabric made for that, and check how the materials should be washed.
What size can I make?
The lunch bag pattern takes width from 6–70 cm (2⅜–27½″); height from 8–90 cm (3⅛–35⅜″); base depth from 0–30 cm (0–11¾″). It starts at Width 22 cm (8⅝″), Height 19 cm (7½″), Base depth 13 cm (5⅛″), and you can work in centimetres, millimetres or inches. This page starts from Lunch bag and Roll-top lunch bag. Every starting point stays fully editable.
Which fabric suits the lunch bag pattern?
Canvas, duck, denim, heavy linen, upholstery-weight cotton, or quilting cotton with interfacing. In the maker’s fabric advice, stable woven and heavy or stiff are a great choice; slippery or fine is possible with care; stretchy knit is not recommended.