As I told you last week, I really like embroidering and I have several customization ideas that have been running through my head for weeks... Anyway, this week, I invite you to discover the realization of my embroidered fanny pack!

In 2020, I made a crazy patch fanny pack with Japanese fabric scraps that I love based on the free pattern from petit patron which has since been removed from their shop... never mind... I told myself that a fanny pack is still not complicated to pattern when you have a little/a lot of sewing experience. 

So this week, I'm telling you about my creative embroidered fanny pack adventure! 

1. The pattern 

Fanny packs are mostly made up of 3 main pieces: a front, a back, and a "top" that gives volume to the bag. 

The vast majority of fanny packs open with a zipper that can be found:

• on the front (cut) 
• between the front and the top and often then the bag opens from side to side
• on the back (cut)

Depending on the models, you can have more pieces:

• for the sides often in the context of models with a zipper on the front
• a front in several parts to create color plays, or to be able to insert piping...
• ...

Finally, you can make "mini," "midi," or "maxi" versions by reducing or enlarging the pattern. 

For my version, I chose to insert the zipper on the front because I find that it adds some flair by contrasting colors. I wanted the edges of the zipper to be perfect, so I added a clean finish strip on the ends of my zipper. 

All that was left for me was to pattern sides on either side of the zipper in order to nicely finish the fanny pack and to be able to insert straps. 

I chose to create a lined version of the bag because I find that on one hand it is much prettier and on the other hand it strengthens the whole!

2. The materials

To make a lined fanny pack, you will need:

• outer fabric
• lining fabric
• possibly some fusible interfacing depending on your choice of fabrics; S320 or H630 are good options
• a zipper of at least 30cm or a zipper by the meter (zip by the meter)
• some strap 
• hardware: buckle, ring, snap hooks depending on the fastening method you have chosen. 
• some bias tape possibly for the inner finishes
• some good quality matching thread

For my version, I chose to use jeans, I used a small coupon of the raw blue cavalli jeans that I sell in the shop 😊 and a scrap of fuchsia twill that I had left. I did not interline my fabrics because I chose two fabrics that have body. 

I chose a fuchsia pink zip by the meter matching the lining (and my embroidery) for which I mounted the sliders face to face. 

For the hardware, I chose a half-ring and a rose gold adjustment buckle of very beautiful Italian quality. 

Finally, I chose a fluorescent pink bias tape for the inner finishes. 

For an embroidered fanny pack, you will need to add to this first list of materials:

• good quality mouliné thread in colors matching the chosen pattern
• light thread if you want to add metallic effects
• good embroidery needles
• solufix or magic paper to transfer the pattern
• embroidery scissors
• possibly a hoop

For my creation, I was inspired by Japanese cherry blossoms. I chose to embroider them mainly with chain stitch, straight stitch, and knot stitch. I chose two colors of mouliné for the flowers, a soft green for the foliage, and a DMC light skein for the flower centers. 

I used solufix to transfer the pattern onto the bag. 

3. The creation steps

3a. Embroidery

I transferred the pattern onto the solufix, carefully positioning the patterns on the front of the fanny pack. 

Then, I embroidered the foliage and the flowers with chain stitch in three rows: one fuchsia, one light, and the last in soft pink. The heart and stamens are embroidered with light thread. 

After embroidering the entire pattern (and having a bit of sore fingers 😅 because the denim fabric is quite thick), I washed the jeans and the solufix disappeared to reveal the pretty pattern. 

3b. Assembly

I cut the different pieces, taking care to cut my front piece according to the patterns I had just embroidered. 

I started by placing the two sliders on my zipper by the meter facing each other. I sewed small clean finish strips at the zipper ends which I topstitched. 

I then sewed the front and the top to the zipper; then the sides to the whole. 

Before sewing the back to the whole, I made a pocket on the back lining. I like to slip my transport card in there. So I made a patch pocket whose top filling was sewn with decorative stitching. Once the pocket was placed on the lining, I finished assembling the back. 

To have nice finishes inside the bag, I edged the seam allowances with bias tape before turning my bag to see the result...

I then assembled the straps and finished the adjustment using the hardware... and tada! 

4. My feedback 

I loved combining my two passions: embroidery and sewing in the same project even though the embroidery took much longer than the sewing for this little project! 

I really like fanny packs that allow you to have your essentials safely within reach while keeping your hands free for shopping or using public transport. I really enjoyed sewing this project and thinking through the main steps of its creation. 

This version gave me new design ideas that I would like to realize in the future. It's a project that offers many possibilities and I definitely plan to explore it further! 

There you go, you know everything about my sewing project that kept me busy from September to November. I hope it will inspire you to get started! And if you want to sew your fanny pack with me at the workshop, it's now possible! And an embroidered version is possible by combining the embroidery and sewing courses... Classy, right?

Don't hesitate to check out our courses program. 

So all that's left to do is... Get your needles ready!