DIY Crossbody Cell Phone Purse – Sewing Tutorial
Sew a DIY crossbody cell phone purse with zipper closure and front zipper pocket using this sewing tutorial.
The DIY crossbody cell phone purse is the perfect little bag for when you are on the go. This purse features a zipper closure, a front zipper pocket, and a removable strap. The zipper phone case is just the right size for your phone, cash, lipstick, and other small essentials.
You might enjoy sewing a matching business card / gift card holder to hold your business cards, credit cards, gift cards, or cash. Make a lip balm / lipstick holder or a mini zipper pouch key chain and attach to one of the strap D-rings.
Here are the instructions on how to make a zipper cell phone crossbody bag:
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***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 20 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
Cell phone purse supplies needed:
Outer fabric pieces:
- 1 – 6.5″W x 8″H – my favorite fabric shop
- 1 – 6.5″W x 3″H
- 1 – 6.5″W x 5″H
- 1 – 2″W x 48″H for the long strap
- 2 – 2″W x 2.5″H for the short straps
Lining fabric pieces:
- 3 – 6.5″W x 8″H
- 1 – 6.5″W x 3″H
- 1 – 6.5″W x 5″H
Other supplies needed:
- Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter
- Clear ruler
- Fusible interfacing – Pellon P44F Fusible Interfacing
- Two 5-inch or longer zippers – my go-to zipper shop
- Two 1/2-inch D-rings
- Two 1/2-inch swivel hooks
- Straight pins or sewing clips
- Sewing scissors
- Sewing machine
Measure and cut your fabric
Using your cutting mat, clear ruler, and rotary cutter, cut one piece of outer fabric and three pieces of lining fabric each measuring 6.5″W x 8″H, one piece of outer fabric and one piece of lining fabric each measuring 6.5″W x 5″H, and one piece of outer fabric and one piece of lining fabric each measuring 8.5″W x 3″H.
Cut one outer fabric piece measuring 2″W x 48″H for the long strap.
Cut two pieces of outer fabric measuring 2″W x 2.5″H for the short straps.
Attach the interfacing
My go to interfacing is Pellon P44f Fusible Interfacing but any lightweight fusible interfacing will work. The interfacing provides more durability.
Cut four pieces of interfacing measuring 6.5″W x 8″H, two pieces measuring 6.5″W x 5″ H, two pieces measuring 6.5″W x 3″H, and two pieces measuring 2″W x 2.5″H. Cut as many pieces as needed for the long strap to equal 47 inches (see note below).
NOTE: Cut the interfacing for the long strap about 1/2 inch shorter (47 inches) in length on each end for hemming (see above picture).
Attach the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of ALL fabric pieces following the package instructions.
Make the short straps
Place one of the short straps face down on your ironing board.
Fold the strap in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.
Open the strap back up and fold the outside edge to the center fold you just made and press.
Turn the strap around and repeat with the other outside edge and press.
Fold the strap in half again and press.
Sew along each side lengthwise.
Repeat these steps with the other short strap.
Make the long strap
Repeat the same steps for folding the long strap.
Once the strap is folded, open up each short end.
Fold the end in to create the hem.
Then fold the strap back up again.
Sew along both sides lengthwise, backstitching at the beginning and end.
The above picture shows the finished straps.
Add front zipper pocket
The zipper I’m using for this cell phone purse is 7 inches. I’ll be sewing over the zipper and then cutting off the excess. If you are using a zipper longer than 5 inches and want to shorten it before sewing, follow these instructions on how to shorten a zipper.
RULE OF THUMB: The zipper is measured from the top metal stop to the bottom metal stop. The width of your fabric should be 1.5 inches wider than the length of your zipper.
Place the zipper face down on the outer 6.5″W x 5″H fabric piece (right side up).
Place the 6.5″W x 5″H lining fabric piece right side down on top of the zipper. Pin to hold in place. The zipper should be sandwiched in between the fabric pieces, right sides together.
Be sure the upper thread matches the outer fabric and the bobbin thread matches the lining fabric.
Before sewing the zipper, open the zipper up about an inch – this will help with a smooth line of sewing.
Use your zipper foot for sewing the zipper. Begin sewing the zipper, then when you get to the place almost to the zipper pull, with the needle down, lift the zipper foot and move the zipper pull back to the top. Then lower the foot and continue sewing.
The above picture shows what the first side of the sewn zipper looks like at this point.
Top stitch along the zipper – be sure the corners and edges are lined up. This gives the cell phone bag a finished look and keeps the fabric from getting caught in the zipper.
You now have one side of your cell phone purse zipper finished!
Repeat with the other front fabric pieces
Place the zipper on top of the 6.5″W x 3″H lining fabric piece – lining fabric pieces right sides together.
Now place the 6.5″W x 3″H outer fabric piece on top of the zipper – outer fabric pieces right sides together. Pin to hold in place. NOTE: if you are using directional fabric, place the outer piece on the zipper with the pattern upside down.
Sew the zipper – repeating the same process of opening and closing the zipper to sew a smooth line.
Top stitch alongside the zipper.
The front of your cell phone bag is finished.
***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 20 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
Baste the back of the front pocket
Now you are going to attach one of the 6.5″W x 8″H lining pieces to the front pocket panel you just made.
Place the front panel piece, right side up, on top of the lining piece, right side up. (The lining pieces should be right sides together). Pin the top to hold in place.
Baste along the top of the fabric pieces to hold in place. This step will make it easier when attaching the cell phone case zipper closure.
Now, when you open your zipper pocket, you’ll see the lining.
Add the zipper closure
Time to add the zipper closure. You are now going to treat the front zipper pocket as one fabric piece (you can baste the other sides together if that’s easier for you) and follow the same steps of adding the zipper as in the previous steps.
Place the other zipper face down on the outer front pocket piece, right side up.
Place one of the lining fabric pieces on top of the zipper, right side down. Pin to hold in place.
Sew the zipper – repeating the same process of opening and closing the zipper to sew a smooth line.
Repeat the same process with the other side of the zipper and other outer and lining fabric pieces.
The above pictures show what your crossbody cell phone purse should look like at this point.
Baste the short straps
Take one of the small straps and slide it through the D-ring and fold over.
Place the small straps about 1/2-inch down from the zipper of the outer fabric only. The D-rings should be facing the inside.
Baste each strap to hold in place. Remember, you are only attaching it to the outer fabric, not the lining fabric.
The above picture shows one of the shorts straps basted to the front outer fabric of the cell phone bag.
Sew it all together
Use a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Open the zipper to about halfway – you will need the zipper opened for turning.
Fold the bag so the outer fabric pieces are right sides together and the lining pieces are right sides together.
Pinch the zipper so the teeth are facing towards the lining fabric and pin in place.
Sew around the perimeter of the bag, leaving an opening at the bottom of the lining fabric for turning. Sew over the straps a couple times for extra durability.
Clip the corners and cut off the excess zippers and straps using your sewing scissors.
Turn right side out
Through the opening, reach in and open the zipper all the way and turn the bag right side out. Push out the corners.
Press the opening. Straight stitch to close the opening using a 1/8″-1/4″ seam allowance.
Push the lining down inside the cell phone purse. Press the bag for a nice finished look.
Attach the long strap
Slide each end of the long strap through the swivel hooks and fold over.
Sew across the strap two times.
Clip the strap to the D-rings. Press the bag again.
Pin for later!
***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 20 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
You are finished!
I hope you enjoyed this sewing tutorial on how to sew a DIY cell phone purse. Happy sewing!
