What the Round Trip Duffle Pattern Is
The Round Trip Duffle is a sewing pattern for a roomy, sturdy travel bag designed to pack it all in style. The finished bag measures 12 inches high by 19-1/2 inches wide by 7-1/2 inches deep, giving you generous space for a weekend trip, a quilt retreat, or a carry-on. It is sturdy enough for all your adventures and made to enjoy for years to come. The pattern is appropriate for all levels of sewists, even confident beginners, thanks to clear and complete instructions.
Why Quilters and Sewists Use It
Many sewists make this duffle because it solves the problems of ordinary travel bags: not enough pockets, hard-to-reach interiors, and no comfortable way to carry a full load. On the exterior, a handy combination slip and zippered pocket on the front keeps essentials quick to grab and secure, while slip pockets on each side and on the back add more storage.
Inside, the main compartment opens with a double-slide zipper that extends part-way down each side, allowing easy access to the roomy interior instead of digging through a narrow opening. Inside are a full zippered mesh pocket for smaller items and three fabric slip pockets for sorting clothes, toiletries, or sewing supplies.
Carrying comfort is built in, too. Comfy side handles make short lifts easy, and an adjustable, padded carrying strap allows over-the-shoulder or cross-body carrying. On the back, a trolley sleeve slips over the handles on rolling luggage for easier carrying.
How to Use It, Step by Step
- Read the pattern through first. Review the finished size, pocket layout, and order of construction before you cut, so you understand how the pieces come together.
- Choose and prepare your fabrics. Pick fabrics suited to a sturdy bag, then cut and label every piece carefully — pocket and strap pieces are easy to mix up once cut.
- Build the exterior pockets. Make the front combination slip and zippered pocket, then add the slip pockets to each side and the back, following the pattern placement.
- Add the trolley sleeve and handles. Construct the back trolley sleeve so it will slide over rolling luggage handles, and prepare the comfy side handles and the adjustable, padded carrying strap.
- Assemble the interior. Make the full zippered mesh pocket and the three fabric slip pockets, then join them to the lining pieces as directed.
- Install the double-slide zipper and join the bag. Fit the zipper so it opens from either side and extends part-way down each side as designed, then sew the exterior and interior together, turn, and finish all edges neatly.
- Use the Add-on Video if you need it. An Add-on Video is available, designed to support specific parts of the pattern and help you learn the best techniques. It does not replace the pattern — it enhances your experience. Every paper pattern includes a coupon for its value, a $5.00 value, so you can get the video for free.
Practical Tips
Label pocket pieces as you cut — with so many pockets, labels prevent confusion. Test your double-slide zipper before final assembly to confirm both slides move smoothly. When sewing the padded strap, go slowly over thick joins. Finally, pack the bag once before your first trip to learn which pocket suits each item best.
Care and Storage
Empty all pockets before storing the bag so nothing is left to stain or stretch the fabric. Spot-clean marks promptly according to your fabric's needs, and let the bag dry fully before packing it away. Store it uncrushed, lightly stuffed if needed to hold its shape, with the strap loosely coiled and the zipper closed. Keep the pattern and its Add-on Video coupon together so both are easy to find for your next make.
Project Ideas
Sew one as a weekend duffle, another as a quilt-retreat bag for projects and notions, and a third as a gym or overnight bag. The size also suits a carry-on or a generous gift for a traveller — personalise each version with different fabrics so every bag is easy to tell apart.
Shop the Round Trip Duffle at Linda's Electric Quilters.
