How To Sew Zipper In Hobo Bag~The Easier Way!

From my previous post about making a hobo bag , I have actually followed a pattern but it didn’t make it any easier for me!
You will noticed that in most hobo bag patterns, the instructions will tell you to attach the zipper first as well as the handle, then handstitch the lining in the last step, well not for me! Here I will show you how…


So I’d assume that you have all the necessary ‘ingredients’ to your hobo bag, and you have now sewn them all together.
This time make sure that you have left an opening on both sides of the bag, no handles yet!
Now depending on the size of your hobo bag, make sure you have a very long zipper, and don’t cut it yet!

Step 1 – Turn the lining right side out and pin the zipper on both sides of the opening with it’s zipper teeth facing down. Start the pin from the side where the zipper ends when close. Stitch using a zipper foot to guide you right up to the edge.
It should then look like this...


Invert and check what you’ve sewn and iron to flatten.
Zip inside should look like this...


Step 2 – Invert the main bag inside out and place the lining inside. This time both main bag and lining are right sides together.


Now pin the zipper in between the main bag and the lining, that is, zipper should be sandwich in between.
Of course make sure the zip is open all the time!
Using the zipper foot, stitch again right through, this time should be easier as all you have to do is go over the stitch line from the lining, that will be your easy guide!

Step 3 – Invert the bag by going through any one of the two openings on the side. (this opening is meant to be for the handles that you will attach as your last step).
It should turn out like this...


You will noticed I have done a topstitch on the edge, you can do that too.
You can then cut the zipper and adjust the length from both ends.

Hope that was easy as much as it was for me! If you have any questions, just jot down a comment!
Happy sewing and enjoy your day...
~GM xxoo