Machine Embroidery Designs at Embroidery Library!

Insulated Lunch Bag

Bring your lunch on the go with a chic embroidered lunch bag. An insulated lining keeps food cool while beautiful embroidery and fabric choices tailor it to your personal style and interests. Kids and adults alike will love using this handy lunch bag.

Project Needs & Notes:

- 1/3 yard lightweight canvas (for outer shell)
- 1/3 yard nylon (for inner lining)
- 1/3 yard Insul-Bright insulated lining (for for inner lining)
- 1/4 yard sturdy cotton fabric like twill, denim, or lightweight canvas (for front embroidered piece)
- Medium-weight cutaway stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive
- Air-erase pen for marking
- 12" of 1" wide strapping (for handle)
- 3/4 yard decorative trim
- Fabric glue
- Extra-wide double fold bias tape
- 5/8" snap and snap tool
- Scotch tape

The design used in this tutorial is M6857, Let's Eat.

Finished Size:
8 1/2" wide x 11" high x 6 1/2" deep

Cut a piece of twill a bit larger than your hoop.

Hoop the fabric with one piece of cutaway stabilizer, lining up the marks on the towel with the marks on the hoop.

Free project instructions to create an insulated lunch bag.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design.

Embroider the design.

When the design has finished, using an air erase pen or dressmaker's pencil, measure and make marks 1" out from the outer edges of the design.

Draw lines connecting the marks.

Free project instructions to create an insulated lunch bag.

Cut out the shape.

Instead of cutting the stabilizer away, this tutorial leaves the stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery to help give the fabric more support.

This finished fabric piece is 4 3/4" x 5 3/4". You can make the embroidered fabric piece as large as 6 1/2" x 7 1/2".

Set the fabric piece aside for now.

To prepare the outer shell fabric, print the PDF of the pattern pieces.

There are three pattern pieces that will print on three pieces of 8 1/2" x 11" paper.

Cut out the pieces and tape the side section pieces together following the instructions on the pattern pieces.

For the front of the outer shell, pin the side section pattern piece onto the lightweight canvas and trace the shape.

Cut out the shape.

Center the embroidered fabric piece on top of the front piece, right sides facing up.

Pin in place.

Zigzag stitch around the entire outer edge of the embroidered piece.

For an added pop of color add decorative trim around the outer edge of the embroidered piece.

Use fabric glue to glue the trim in place, or stitch it in place by sewing a seam down the center of the trim.

Next, cut a piece of lightweight canvas using the bottom section piece.

Also, using the side section, cut another piece of fabric for the back side of the outer shell.

Lay the front piece flat with the right side facing up.

Align the bottom piece on top, right sides together.

Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the bottom curved edge, only starting and stopping 1/2" from each end.

Align the back piece on top of the front/bottom piece, right sides together.

The curved bottom edge of the back piece should match up with the curve of the bottom piece.

Sew a 1/2" seam along the curved edge of the bottom piece starting and stopping 1/2" from the ends.

Also, sew a 1/2" seam along each straight side edge -- leave the top curved edges open.

Clip the seam allowances of the bottom curved edges about every 1/2", being careful to not cut the seam. Turn the outer shell right side out.

To add the handle, turn the ends of the strapping in 1/2" and pin them in place. The folded ends of the strapping should be 1/2" down from where the straight sides meet the top curved edges and about 2" in from the side edges.

Secure the strapping in place by sewing a 1" square along each end of the strap with a "x" sewn through the square.

To prepare the inner lining, lay the Insul-bright insulated lining flat with the shiny side facing up. Place the nylon on top, right side facing up.

Using the pattern pieces, cut two side section pieces and one bottom section piece. Pin the layers together and sew a 1/8" seam along the entire outer edge of each piece (sew with the Insul-Bright side facing up as the sewing foot glides over this layer much better than the nylon).

Then, assemble inner lining just as you did the outer shell, but do not turn it right side out.

Insert the inner lining inside the outer shell, wrong sides together.

Align the side seams and the top raw edges together and pin along the top edges.

Wrap bias tape around the top edges of the bag (starting along one of the side seams).

Pin in place, and sew a seam along the inner fold of the tape.

To add the button portion of the snap closure, measure and mark the center of the front of the bag and add the snap at the mark.

To add the bottom portion of the snap closure, first tuck the top flap of the back of the bag inside. Then, fold the flap of the front of the bag down over the back and mark the fabric at the snap.

To finish, roll the back flap down and add the bottom portion of the snap at the mark you just made.

To store the bag flat, lay the flaps flat and fold the bottom in as shown.

This lunch bag is perfect for the kids at school, for work lunches, or meals on the go. Pick your favorite fabric and embroidery to add a custom look!

This project is featured on the Embroidery Library Pinterest page.

Pin it yourself using the "Pin It" button on this page.

Questions or comments? Let us know! Send an email to us; the address is stitch@emblibrary.com.

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