Stowe Bag Sew-Along

Sew the Stowe Bag with confidence using our detailed tutorial series! This project bag features a roomy main compartment and organizing pockets for tools, patterns, and notebooks. Available in two sizes, you'll master bias binding and bag construction techniques through step-by-step photo tutorials to create your perfect organizer for knitting, sewing, travel, or any creative pursuit.

Lesson 1

Introduction & Supply List

Woman smiling beside the Stowe Bag pattern envelope, fabric selections, and a flat lay of sewing supplies including scissors, rulers, and marking tools

Get started with an overview of the Stowe Bag's design, sizing options, and what makes it such a versatile project. You'll also get a complete rundown of everything you'll need before sewing, from fabric selection and bias binding to tools, marking supplies, and machine feet.

Get Started

Lesson 2

Printing & Assembling Your Pattern

Woman smiling beside a printed PDF pattern page with a gridded ruler showing the scale check square

Printing and assembling a PDF pattern is easier than it looks, and this lesson walks you through the whole process. You'll learn how to print at the correct scale, trim and tape your pages together accurately, and cut out your finished pattern pieces.

Print Your Pattern

Grab the Stowe Bag Pattern

  • Person holding four sizes of handmade Stowe Bags in various colors while standing indoors.

    Stowe Bag

    Stowe Bag

    From $18.00 USD
    From $18.00 USD
    Available in PDF

Lesson 3

Cutting & Marking Your Fabric

Hands holding a chalk pencil marking pocket lines on cut purple printed canvas Stowe Bag fabric pieces shown from above

With your pattern assembled, it's time to cut and mark your fabric. This lesson covers pretreating your fabric, understanding grain, laying out your pattern pieces, and transferring the pocket stitching lines.

Start Cutting

Lesson 4

Making & Attaching the Pockets

Woman smiling beside a flat lay of cut Stowe Bag body pieces and purple printed pocket fabric on a marble surface

Time to start sewing! This lesson covers hemming the pocket tops, attaching the pockets to the bag body, and stitching in the pocket dividers that create the bag's organized interior compartments.

Start Sewing

Lesson 5

Making & Finishing the Handles

Woman holding up a nearly finished Stowe Bag in purple printed canvas with teal bias binding around the handles and neck

Your bag body is sewn and it's time to finish the handles and bind the neck opening. This lesson covers sewing the bag body seams, applying bias binding to the handles, and attaching the circular binding around the top of the bag.

Create the Handles

Lesson 6

Making Double Fold Bias Tape

Woman holding coiled mint green bias tape beside two rolls of folded bias tape in coral and navy prints wound on cardboard

Whether you skipped ahead from Lesson 5 or are following along start to finish, this lesson is for anyone who wants to make their own bias binding. You'll learn what bias is, how to cut strips on the true bias, join them together, and fold them into double fold bias tape using a bias tape maker.

Make Your Binding

Lesson 7

Creating the Bag Gussets

Woman holding up a finished Stowe Bag in mauve printed canvas with teal binding beside a completed Field Bag on the table

The final lesson! Fold and stitch the bottom gussets to give your Stowe its shape, then learn about the optional permanent gusset so you can decide whether you want a bag that stands up on its own or folds flat for easy storage.

Finish Your Stowe

Extras

  • Two Stowe Bags hanging on wooden rod showing gray bag with permanent gusset and navy geometric bag without gusset

    Optional Permanent Gusset

    Need more clarity on the optional Step 15? This video tutorial demonstrates how to create a permanent bottom gusset by stitching through the bottom layers from inside the bag. Learn why this step is optional and how it affects your bag's ability to fold flat when not in use.

    Add a Permanent Gusset 
  • Pink bias tape strip with yellow bias tape maker tool ready for folding into double-fold binding

    How to Make Bias Tape

    Learn to cut and fold your own bias tape for the Stowe or any project! This comprehensive tutorial covers cutting strips on the true bias, joining pieces together with angled seams, and using a bias tape maker to create perfectly folded single or double-fold binding with crisp creases.

    Make Bias Tape