Add a #MeMade Touch to Any Outfit with These Sweet Bag Patterns
- Words by Peppermint
Once you start sewing, there’s a very pleasing thought that starts popping up in your head with increasing regularity – “I could make that.” It starts with a skirt in a shop window or a sundress that passes you in the street and, before you know it, you’re ripping coats off your friends in order to check out the interior construction.
Don’t let the hubris of your god-like ability to create go to your head, but, the truth is, you are even more powerful than you may know. Your domain does not extend merely to clothes. You can make bags as well!
We know the sheer possibilities seem endless! To help narrow it down, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite bag sewing patterns to help you add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit and conveniently lug your stuff around whether you’re travelling heavy or packing light!
Totes awesome
The humble tote bag is incredibly ubiquitous in bag patterns, being as it is, beginner friendly and endlessly useful. Infact, Peppermint offers our very own free tote pattern which makes a great place to start. Once you’ve built up your confidence you can move on to more complex takes on the classic, like Cool Stitches’ Scrunchie Tote or TYTKA Studio’s Triangular Frill Tote.
Pack it in
Fanny packs, bum bags, belt bags, whatever you call them, they’re back and they’re cool now. And it’s about time! Bum bags are convenient and fun and we’re tired of pretending otherwise. Try Sarah Kirsten’s fancy Fennel Fanny Pack or check out Spoonflower’s free pattern.
If you’re still worried about looking like a daggy dad, remember to wear it cross body stylez – that’s how the cool kids do it.
Shape up
Make a bag that stands out from the crowd by opting to build your design around a fun shape rather than your regular rectangle. Circle the wagons with All Well Workshop’s Full Moon Bag or channel that skater girl street cred with Dana Design’s triangular Nellie Bag.
Baby got back
Backpacks aren’t just for the babies. You’re never too old to take advantage of the ultimate in hands-free holding experiences. Especially when you make it yourself in some stylish sophisticated pattern like Merchant and Mills’ transformable backpack market tote twofer, the Costermonger, or the scandi-style Raspberry Rucksack from Sarah Kirsten.
Itsy bitsy
Or maybe you prefer an unencumbered experience and don’t want to be tied down by any big bad bags. Is it just you and your phone against the world? Check out these adorable crossbody phone bags from Minki Kim. Got a few more worldly possessions? Try the Assembly Line’s sweet little scrunchable purse pattern. Live your best Lizzo tiny bag life!
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Any New Year’s resolutions on your list? We love this from @OtterBeeStitching - “be brave enough to suck at something new”.
There’s no points for perfection, but you’ll get a trophy for trying. If nothing else this year, take the leap and try something new.
#OtterBeeStitching #Embroidery #BeBrave #TrySomethingNew #EmbroideryArt
Sunday serving suggestion ☀️
Gorgeous photos from @JolieFemmeStore - who make sweet garments from vintage bedsheets.
#PeppermintMagazine #SlowSunday #SwitchOff #Unplug #ReadAMagazine
A toast to the old you 🥂
We wholeheartedly love this post from the brilliant @EmilyOnLife:
“2026: Reinvent, burn it down, let it go (whatever it is). Year of the Snake it up. Exercise your boundaries, exercise your body, take one teeny step every day towards a life that feels better to be in.
But don’t you dare shit on your old self while you do it.
Hold yourself with reverence and tenderness and respect, because you got you this far. You did your very best with the information and tools you had at the time. You scraped yourself together, you made it work, you survived what felt impossible to survive: again and again and again.
You are perpetually in the process of becoming, whether you can feel it or not, whether or not you add it to your 2026 to-do list.“
Some very wise words from @Damon.Gameau to take us into 2026 🙌🏼
⭐️ We made it!!! ⭐️
Happy New Year, friends. To those who smashed their goals and achieved their dreams, and to those who are crawling over the finish line hoping to never speak of this year again (and everyone else in between): we made it. However you got here is enough. Be proud.
It’s been a tough year for many of us in small business, so here’s to a better year in 2026. We’re forever grateful for all your support and are jumping for joy to still be here bringing you creativity, kindness and community.
We’re also excited to be leaping into the NY with our special release sewing pattern – the Waratah Wrap Dress!
How great are our fabulous models: @Melt.Stitches, @KatieMakesADress and @Tricky.Pockets - and also our incredible Sewing Manager @Laura_The_Maker! 🙌🏼
Ok 2026: let’s do this. 💪🏼
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #MeMade #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Putting together our annual Stitch Up brings on all the feels! We feel humbled that you’ve chosen to sew Peppermint patterns, we feel inspired by the versions you’ve created and we feel proud of you.
Where to begin?! As always, there has been a plethora of Peppermint patterns flooding our feeds this year, and we wish we could showcase more than just a handful of magnificent makes from you, our clever community. We encourage you to flip through the me-made items in your wardrobe or scroll through your grid and remind yourself of the beauty you’ve created with your own two hands (and maybe a seam ripper and some choice words). Congratulations to all of us for our creative achievements this year!
We’ve put together some (but absolutely not all) of our favourites from 2025 over on our website. We hope it inspires your next make!
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Pictured: @FrocksAndFrouFrou @MazzlesMakes @KatieMakesADress @_Marueli_ @IUsedToBeACurtain @Nanalevine.Couture @PiperInFullColour @MadeByMeJessieB @SarahMalkawi @Made.By.Little.Mama
#PeppermintPatterns #SewingPatterns #MeMade #MeMadeEveryday
