The Little Sling Bag You'll Actually Use
You know those days when it's too hot (or you're too tired) to lug around a giant tote, and all you really need is your phone, keys and wallet? That's exactly where the Sadie Sling came from. I wanted something light and cute that still worked hard for my everyday life, and I couldn't find a sling bag that felt quite right. So I made one.
If you've been eyeing sling bags but feel a little intimidated, this post is for you. Here's why I think a small sling is the perfect bag to sew next, plus everything I learned making a lot of Sadie samples.
Why a sling bag?
Sling bags are the in-between bag nobody tells you you need. They're smaller than a tote, more secure than a pouch, and they sit right against your body, so your things are always within reach.
- Hands-free. Wear it across your chest at the market, a concert or an airport.
- Secure. Everything stays close, and a back pocket that rests against you is the safest spot for your phone or passport.
- Quick to sew. Small bags mean less fabric, less cutting, and a finished project in a weekend.
- Giftable. One sling makes a lovely handmade gift for almost anyone. And its the project I most frequently get asked to make for other people.
Meet the Sadie Sling
Sadie is a quilted crossbody sling that comes in two sizes: Small (8" x 5" x 2 ½") and Medium (10" x 7" x 3"). My favourite part is the hidden zipper pocket on the back panel. It rests right against your body, so it's the perfect secret spot when you're travelling or in a crowd.
Inside there's an elastic slip pocket for the little things. The D-ring can go on either side, so you can wear it on your left or right shoulder!
The pattern comes with print-at-home templates (US Letter and A4), an A0 copy shop file, and a full video tutorial that you can watch before you buy. Here it is if you want to see the whole process:
Choosing fabric for a sling bag
A sling gets a lot of handling, so fabric choice matters more than you'd think.
- Exterior: medium to heavy weight wovens like cotton canvas, denim, quilting cotton or faux leather all work well.
- Gusset: a heavier fabric gives the bag structure without adding bulk (I love waxed canvas).
- Lining: light to medium weight quilting cotton keeps things easy to sew.
Don't have waxed canvas? No problem. The pattern includes a note on using regular fabric with fusible foam instead.
My best tips for sewing your first quilted bag
I'll be honest, a few parts of this bag took me some practice. Here's what helped the most.
Use a walking foot for quilting. It feeds all the layers through evenly so nothing shifts or puckers. A stitch length of 3-3.5 is my sweet spot.
Take the curves slow. When attaching the gusset, sew with the front or back panel against the needle plate and the gusset on top, so you can guide the fabric around the curve as you go. Stop with your needle down and pivot often.
Give yourself grace on the binding. It's the trickiest part of this project, and it's where I really take my time. If machine stitching feels fiddly, hand finishing is totally valid (and almost invisible).
Practice zipper pulls on a scrap. If you're using zipper by the yard, slide your pull on a scrap piece first. It takes the guesswork out of the real thing.
Ready to sew your own?
If a simple, quilted everyday bag sounds like your next project, you can grab the Sadie Sling PDF sewing pattern here.
I'd love to see what you make! Share it with #SadieSling and tag me @milkandhoneyquilt.co.
Happy sewing, Liz
