1 Yard Magic Hobo Bag Free Sewing Pattern

Learn to sew a one yard bag! This free sewing pattern is for a fast and easy hobo bag with only 1 yard of fabric.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free One Yard Magic Hobo Bag Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

One year at Quilt Market, Yoko from Lecien Fabrics gave me permission to share this awesome 1 Yard Magic Pattern.

Here are some other fun sewing projects that only use one yard of fabric:

• One Yard Magic Tote Bags. Sew two bags using one yard for the exteriors and one yard for the linings. Mix and match!
• 1 Yard Magic Apron Pattern
• Sew a Tote Bag AND Hostess Apron from one yard of fabric
• You can make a fleece scarf with a cell phone pocket with less than a yard of fabric too!

This free pattern is also included in my Ultimate List of Fast and Easy Tote Bags to Sew.

Over the weekend I stitched up this gorgeous bag using Lecien’s red Flower Sugar Oxford fabric. Take note – Oxford cotton fabrics from Lecien are heavier than regular quilting cotton – they are comparable to home decor fabric.

Using home decor weight fabric for this bag makes it fast and easy. There’s no lining, but all of the seams are finished.  And it’s the perfect size (and holds just the right amount) for a shopping tote!

You will LOVE the fabric origami that you get to do when sewing this unique bag with just one yard of fabric. It makes the bag look complicated even though it’s not.

So let’s sew a Hobo Bag from 1 yard of fabric!

You will need:

• 1 yard of home decor weight fabric, such as cotton, cotton duck, cotton linen blend, etc.
• coordinating thread
• cutting tools such as rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
• a sewing machine

Cutting:

From 1 yard of fabric that’s at least 40” wide, cut:

• 1 square 30” x’ 30”
• 2 strips 2 1/2” x 24”

(Note: from the diagram, it seems like the straps are longer than one side of the square. But that was too long. When I attached my straps, 24” seemed more appropriate.)

Sew the straps:

1. Fold each 2 1/2” x 24” strip in half lengthwise and stitch the long edge with a 1/4” seam allowance.

2. Attach a safety pin or bodkin to one end and use it to turn the straps right side out.

3. Press both straps flat and set aside.

Hem the Fabric Square:

{You may hem your square any way you like, but here are my tips for perfect mitered corners.}

1. Fold and press each edge of the square over 1/2” twice to make a 1/2” hem.

See the two pressing lines on either side of my square in the photo above? They intersect to make a small square at the corner. I put dots at the corners.

2. Cut off the corner diagonally, slicing the square in half at two of the intersection points.

3. Fold the just-cut raw edge over at the point where the inside fold lines intersect. Press.

4. Re-fold the original hems that you pressed and press again. Perfect!

Repeat at all 4 corners.

5. Stitch the hem in place close to the fold.

Sew the Bag Side Seams:

Here comes the origami!

1. Fold the hemmed square in half, right sides together. Measure 8” up from the fold on each side and put a pin at the 8” mark. Pin the edges together below the 8” mark too.

2. Stitch each side from the pin at the 8” mark to the fold. Sew just inside the hemmed edges.

3. Pull the top edges apart and re-fold the bag so that you can pin and sew again for 8” down to the fold on the other two sides of the bag.

4. Press the side seams flat.

Fold and Tack the Corners:

1. Lay the bag flat to make a square. Fold each corner up to meet the start of the side seam stitching. Pin, attaching the corner to the side seam only (not through all of the layers).

2. Tack the corner to the side seam. Make sure you are not sewing through all layers. If your sewing machine has a free arm feature, this would be the perfect time to use it. Repeat on all 4 corners.

Tacking is sewing in one spot to attach something in place. Your sewing machine might have a programmed tack or bar-tack stitch. I’m using my straight stitch machine that doesn’t have any programmed stitches, so I’m just sewing a few stitches back and forth 3-4 times.

Attach the Bag Straps:

1. Fold each end of the 24” long straps over 1/2”.

2. Pin a strap to 2 adjacent corners, with the folded edges turned under and hidden.

3. Stitch in a square to attach the strap, and then sew an ‘X’ in the middle of the square, if desired.

Now go shopping with your beautiful  Hobo Tote from only 1 yard of fabric!

This is the last of the three 1 Yard Magic that Lecien Fabrics shared with me. Stay tuned for more by following my 1 Yard Magic Pinterest Board. I hope they write more soon!

Happy sewing,