Lingerie Wash Bag

½ inch seam allowance included (¼ then ¼ for French seams) – Top stitching ⅛ inch – Basting ¼ inch

If you are using store bought bias binding, skip to step 1.4.

If you are familiar with making double fold bias tape, we are using that technique here. If not, don’t worry, just follow along here!

Fold the Zipper Tab in half, wrong sides together, matching the long raw edges. Press.

Open the Zipper Tab then fold both long raw edges to the center.  Press.  

Refold along the center edge, placing all raw edges inside.  

Trim the tails of the zipper end.

NOTE – You will need a finished zipper length of 10.5 inches for the small, 15 inches for the medium, and 19.5 inches for the large. If your zipper is longer, trim it to this length and stitch a bar tack to close the zipper.

Slide the zipper end in between the folded edges of the Zipper Tab. Pin.

Topstitch using a ⅛ inch seam allowance along the folded edge of the Zipper Tab. Stitch slowly over the zipper teeth.

Trim the Zipper Tab to just a little wider than the Zipper Tape. 

Repeat steps 1.5 to 1.7 for the opposite side of the zipper.

If you are adding the OPTIONAL Hanging Loop, follow below. If you are not adding the OPTIONAL Hanging Loop, skip to step 3.

Repeat steps 1.1 to 1.3 with the Hanging Loop piece.

Topstitch ⅛ inch along both long edges.

Fold the loop in half, right sides together, matching short ends. Pin.

Below are two methods of finishing the zipper seam allowance. We recommend following the first method from steps 3.1 to 3.8 if you are using mesh. Either method can be used if you are using fabric. 

If following the Mesh / binding OPTION, follow steps 3.1 to 3.8 then skip to step 4.

If using fabric, skip to step 3.9. 

MESH OPTION – Lay the Lower Front right side facing up. Place the zip right side down, matching raw edges. Pin.

NOTE – Mesh can be tricky to photograph. Where needed we have photographed a cotton and/or a mesh version, so that it’s easier to see.

Baste the mesh to the zipper using ¼ inch seam allowance. 

Align the bias tape with the edge of the zipper tape, right sides together. Pin.

Stitch using your zipper foot close to the zipper. 

Fold the bias tape up, away from the Lower Front. Press. 

Fold the bias tape over the zipper tape. Press.

Fold the zipper back to the wrong side of the mesh. Turn the Lower Front right side up, then topstitch along the zipper.  This will prevent the fabric from getting caught in the zipper. 

Repeat steps 3.1 to 3.7 attaching the other side of the zipper to the right side of the Upper Front.

NOTE – This will now be called the Front.

If sewing a fabric option, continue to step 3.9.
If sewing the mesh option, Skip to step 4. 

FABRIC OPTION – Lay the Lower Front right side facing up. Place the zip right side down, matching raw edges. Pin.

Stitch using a ⅜ inch seam allowance. 

Flip the zipper right side up. Press it away from the Lower Front.  

Turn the Lower Front wrong side facing up. Fold the seam allowance approximately in half, wrong sides together. Press.

From underneath the zipper tape, carefully press the seam allowance of the Lower Front approximately in half.  

NOTE – If your fabric does not fray, you can trim it approximately in half rather than folding it.

Fold the zipper back to the wrong side of the fabric. Turn the Lower Front right side up, then topstitch along the zipper.  This will prevent the fabric from getting caught in the zipper. 

Repeat steps 3.9 to 3.13 attaching the other side of the zipper to the right side of the Upper Front.

NOTE – This will now be called the Front.

If you are adding the OPTIONAL Hanging Loop, follow from step 4.1. If you are not adding the OPTIONAL Hanging Loop, skip to step 4.3.

SERGER / OVERLOCKER OPTION – OPTIONAL HANGING LOOP: Pin the Hanging Loop to the right side of the Upper Front, matching centers. Baste using a ⅛ inch seam allowance. Open the zipper approximately two thirds of the way. Place the Back onto the Front, right sides together.  Serge around outer edge using a ½ inch seam allowance.  Pull right sides out.  Press.

REGULAR SEWING MACHINE OPTION – We are going to do French seams. The reason we will be doing French seams is because it hides all the raw edges and gives a much cleaner finish. If you haven’t done these before, don’t worry, all the steps are below so you can just follow along.

OPTIONAL HANGING LOOP: Place the Hanging Loop onto the wrong side of the Upper Front, matching centers, at ¾ of an inch. Pin.

Baste using a ⅛ seam allowance. 

TIP – Basting is just like normal stitching except the stitches need to be long and loose so that they can be removed later, if needed. Stitch within the seam allowance, so that the basting stitches are not seen in the final garment, while keeping the stitches loose enough to pull out just in case they are visible. The purpose is to hold a piece of fabric in place until that section is properly sewn. Set the machine to a long loose stitch. Test it on a piece of fabric first to make sure that the stitches can easily be removed. Do not backstitch at either end. Leave the ends loose, with approximately 1 inch of thread tails at either end of the stitching.

Open the zipper approximately two thirds of the way.  

NOTE – This will keep the zipper pull out of the way while sewing. You will use this gap to turn the Bag through.

Place the Back onto the Front, wrong sides together (right sides out), matching edges. Pin.

NOTE – If you have added the OPTIONAL Hanging Loop this will be facing up and out of the way but will be stitched into the seam.

Stitch using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Trim seam allowance approximately in half.  

NOTE – Be careful not to cut through the stitches.

NOTE – If you have added the OPTIONAL Hanging Loop do not cut the loop. 

TIP – Trimming the seam allowance in half here ensures that when the seam is encased in the next step all the threads and raw edges are hidden. However, just neatening up the edge here will also suffice.

Pull the bag right side out through the zipper.  

Press as flat as you can. Make sure that the seam line is at the exact center of your fold.

NOTE – If you have added the OPTIONAL Hanging Loop this will now be inside the bag, facing towards the middle.

Stitch using a ¼ inch seam allowance around the entire bag. This will encase the raw edges.

Turn your bag right side out. 

Your Lingerie Wash Bag is finished!