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PATTERN
THE
POOLE BAGUETTE

A STYLISH AND TIMELESS HANDBAG.

BY MONICA POOLE
FABRIC BY ALAURA POOLE
 Baguette Bag
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About
A Baguette is a small compact handbag that is carried on a short strap, it was originally
designed by Italian fashion company Fendi in 1997. The Baguette was a huge trend in
the late 1990s and early 2000s and could be found in an array of colours and textures.

In recent years, the Baguette has made a comeback! This is our version. It’s a stylish
shape with a top curved zipper, rounded at the bottom, with a side gusset and a
gathered strap. It’s a basic shape for you to personalise in your own way; add some
pockets or change up the strap, it’s up to you!

Size:
Height: 15 cm (6”) high. Width: 23.5 cm (9 ¼”).

We would love to see your work

When posting on social media, tag @patternpoole and #patternpoolebaguette

This little pattern and YouTube tutorial is a gift from us to you, we hope you like it!

To see the Baguette tutorial and more, head to Pattern Poole TV on YouTube:
Pattern Poole TV - YouTube

To see our range of PDF patterns head to our website:

https://www.patternpoole.com/

Join the Pattern Poole Sewing and Quilting Community on Facebook:

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Pattern design and tutorial by Monica Poole.

Filmed and edited by Alaura Poole.
The leopard print fabric is designed by Alaura Poole, only a small yardage was printed
for our personal collection, we may have it printed and available for sale in the future.
Copyright Pattern Poole, December 2022

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 Baguette Bag 3
Requirements
Based on 112 cm (42”) wide fabric.

Exterior Fabric: 35 cm (14”) off the bolt.

Recommended:
Medium weight woven fabric. Cotton quilting fabric, linen, medium weight canvas.
The bag in the step-by-step photos is made from a stiff satin brocade, it was
challenging to work with due to the fraying factor, you’ll see in the photos that the
seams were overlocked.
Avoid fabrics with an open weave that will fray. A thick fabric is not recommended
because there are a lot of layers in the top side edge seams, including the exterior
fabric, lining, foam interfacing, the strap and the zipper. A thick exterior fabric would
make this seam difficult to sew on a domestic sewing machine.

Lining: 25 cm (10”) off the bolt.

Recommended:
Medium weight woven fabric. Cotton quilting fabric. Cotton poplin.
Avoid slippery fabrics.

Sew- in Foam Interfacing: 23 cm x 74 cm (9” x 29”) rectangle.

Recommended
ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable (The easiest to sew, great for beginners).
Matilda’s Own, Bosal, Vlieseline Style-Vil, Pellon Flex Foam.
One 18” x 58” pack will make 4 Baguette Bags.
Fusible foam interfacing is not recommended.

Open Ended Jacket Zipper: 40 cm (16”).

An open-ended jacket zipper has thicker teeth and wider tape than a regular dress
zipper, making it more durable in a bag. It’s also easy to work with because it can be
separated during the bag construction as you’ll see in the video.
Avoid zippers with chunky or metal teeth because they are difficult to sew through,
especially in the thick top side edge seams of this bag.

25 mm (1”) wide polyester webbing for strap: 50 cm (20”) Or length of your choice.
For a non-gathered strap you’ll need interfacing, turn to page 14 for the details.

Template plastic or similar for the bag base.: 4.5 cm x 16.5 cm (1 ¾” x 6 ½”) rectangle.

Additional Requirements
Pins, large safety pins and general sewing supplies
Fabric scissors
Rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat
Wonder Clips (Wonder Clips are shown in the step-by-step photos)
Sewing machine
Regular all-purpose polyester thread
Size 80 or 90 jeans needle
Zipper foot
Standard sewing foot or some machines may need to use a walking foot.

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 Baguette Bag 4
Seam allowance Lining
All seams have been allowed on the Fold the lining fabric, wrong sides
pattern pieces, the seam allowance for facing, with the opposite selvedges
constructing the bag is 1 cm (3/8”) and together.
6 mm (1/4”) for the strap. Pin pieces 1, 2 and 3 onto the fabric and
cut out.
Sewing tip: Mark all notches.
Use a size 80 or 90 jeans needle with a
stitch length of 3 unless otherwise
instructed. 2 3

FOLD
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Step 1: Cutting out.
You’ll find the pattern pieces on the
last pages of the pattern. Print them to
ACTUAL size and measure the 25 mm Foam Interfacing
(1”) test box to check size is correct. Lay the foam interfacing in a single
Cut out the paper pattern pieces. layer. Use the exterior bag fabric pieces
as a pattern. Position each piece on top
Exterior Fabric of the foam interfacing with the right
Fold the exterior fabric, wrong sides side facing up. Hold in place with pins
facing, with the opposite selvedges and cut neatly around the edge of each
together. Pin pieces 1, 2 and 3 onto the piece. Leave the pieces pinned to the
fabric and cut out. (You only need 1 of foam interfacing, ready for the next
piece 3, cutting out like this is faster, step.
Mark all notches.
but you could cut this piece on a single
layer of fabric if you like).

Mark all notches with a fabric marker

or by making a small 3mm (1/8) snip
into the fabric with the tip of your
scissors.

1 2 3
FOLD
FOLD

Exterior Fabric Strap

From the remaining fabric, cut a 9 cm
(3 ½”) strip across the width of the
fabric for the strap. Cut the strip to a
length of 105 cm (41”).

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 Baguette Bag
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Step 2: Basting. Step 3: Add an optional bag badge or
Take the exterior bag pieces that are tag.
pinned together with the foam Choose the side of the exterior bag that
interfacing and baste them together you would like to be the front. Add an
with a large stitch length of 5.0 and a optional handmade badge or a sew on
1 cm (3/8”) seam allowance as follows: label, there are many available on Etsy
(The 1 cm (3/8”) seam allowance for and they all attach in different ways.
the basting may seem wide, but you’ll See how we attached our bag badge in
see why soon). the video.

Side panels and base:

Only baste the long edges.

Front and back bag pieces:

Baste all edges except for the top
curve.
Front view of basting.

Step 4: Attach the zipper.

Measure the zipper from the zipper
pull to the end. Divide by 2 to find the
centre. Mark the centre onto the
wrong side of the zipper by drawing a
line from one side of the zipper tape to
the other side.

Back view of basting

To make things easy, measure and

mark the 1 cm (3/8”) seam allowance
line with a ruler onto the wrong side of
the zipper, marking on both sides of the
zipper tape.

Note:
If you’re new to sewing, the term
basting is to hold layers together with a
large stitch length. Do not back-tack
when basting so that the stitches can
be easily removed if required.

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 Baguette Bag 6
Take the exterior bag front and place
the zipper right sides together with the
top edge.

If you wear your bag on the right,

position the zipper pull on the right
edge, if you wear your bag on the left,
position the zipper pull on the left edge.

With the wrong side of the zipper

facing up, align the centre mark of the
zipper with the centre notch at the top
edge of the bag. Pin from the centre
out to both side edges curving the
zipper tape so that it is level with the
top edge of the bag. Make sure that the zipper follows the
top curve of the bag and that after this
step it measures 2 cm (3/4”) from the
zipper to the side edge of the bag. This
space is necessary for sewing on the
gusset.

You can expect the zipper tape to be

wavy on the outer edge, but smooth at
the 1 cm (3/8”) line.

Unzip the zipper almost to the end but

do not separate yet.

Zip up the zipper and place the front

bag right sides together with the back
bag. Pin the opposite side of the zipper
tape to the top edge of the back bag
piece. Once again aligning the centre
and pinning to the outer edges. Make
sure that the side edges of the bag are
Attach your zipper foot with the needle level.
positioned on the left side. Move your (Refer to the photo on the following
needle position further to the left if page).
necessary, so that you can easily sew
on the marked line. (Refer to the photo
at the top of the next column).

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Step 5: Construct the gusset.
To make the gusset, sew the wider
ends of the side panels onto the
opposite ends of the base piece.

Unzip the zipper again.

Trim away the foam interfacing from

the seams to reduce the bulk,
unpicking the basting if necessary.

Sew in the same way as before.

To hold the seam allowance flat,

working from the right side, push the
seams towards the base and topstitch
3 mm (1/8”) away from the seams.

Step 6: Attach the gusset.

To do this, pin the bottom of the front
bag piece right sides together with 1
side of the gusset, aligning the centre
You can now undo the zipper to notches.
separate the front and back of the bag
for the next step.

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 Baguette Bag
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Next, bend both ends of the gusset Turn the bag over so that the gusset is
around to meet the top edges of the on top and sew, stitching exactly on top
back front and hold in place with pins. of the basting stitching line.

Pin all straight sections of the bag to Because the basting is the same as the
the gusset, saving the curves until last. seam allowance, you can now easily
trim away the foam interfacing from
the seam allowance to remove the
unnecessary bulk.

The curves will mould into the side

gusset. The fabric to be wavy on the Pin and sew the back bag piece onto
outer edge, but flat at the basting the other side of the gusset in the same
stitching line. way, once again, trimming away the
foam interfacing from the seam
allowance.

Note: If using pins, pin across ways with

the head of the pin extending to the
outer edge, this way they can be easily
removed as you sew.

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 Baguette Bag
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Turn the bag through to the right side Sew the wider ends of the side panels
and unpick any visible basting stitches. onto the opposite ends of the base
piece being careful not to catch in the
hemmed edge. Press the seams open.

Turn to the right side and you will see

the opening for the base pocket. The
firm base will be slipped into the
pocket when the bag is complete.
Step 7: Make the firm base pocket in
the lining.
Take one of the lining base pieces and
hem one short end by pressing over
6 mm (¼”) then over again by 6 mm
(¼”). Sew close to the inner folded
edge.

Step 8: Construct the lining.

Construct the lining in the same way as
the bag exterior leaving an opening on
one side at the bottom edge, between
the base seams.
Place this piece on top of the other
base piece, both with the right side
facing up. Make 1 end level, leaving a
12 mm (1/2”) gap at the other end.

Sew around the edge of the base with

a 6 mm (¼”) seam allowance, leaving
the hemmed edge open.

Press over the seam allowance of the

opening, this will make it easier to sew
closed in the final step.

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 Baguette Bag
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Step 9: Make the strap.
(Turn to page 14 for a non-gathered
strap)
Fold the strap lengthwise with the right
sides facing, sew down the long raw
edge with a 6 mm (¼”) seam allowance.
Turn the strap through to the right side
with a large safety pin or using the
ribbon trick as shown in the video.

Turn the exterior bag so that the right

side is facing in.
Pin one end of the strap to the top edge
of the bag at the gusset with the right
side of the strap facing the right side of
the bag. (The seam of the strap will be
facing up).
Pin the other end of the strap to the
Position the seam in the centre, opposite side of the bag.
pressing the seam to one side. This will
be the back of the strap.

Thread the webbing through the strap Sew the ends of the strap in place with
with a large safety pin. When the tail a 1 cm (3/8”) seam allowance, making
end is level with the start of the fabric sure that you don't catch in the gusset
tube, stitch across to hold in place. seam allowance.

Continue threading the webbing

through the fabric tube gathering up
the fabric as you go. When you reach
the opposite end, once again, stitch
across to hold it in place.
(Refer to photo in the next column).

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 Baguette Bag
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Step 10: Attach the lining to the If you have a free arm on your sewing
exterior bag. machine, slip the bag over the free arm
With the right side of the exterior bag to sew.
facing in, and the right side of the lining
facing out, slip the lining inside the
exterior bag.

If you don’t have a free arm, turn your

bag the other way so that the foam
interfacing is on the inside of the bag,
Pin together at both top curved edges. this will make it easy to stitch along the
zipper stitching line.

Sew across the top curved edges with

the foam interfacing on top, sewing
exactly on top of the stitching line that
attached the zipper.

Trim the foam interfacing away from

the seam allowance.

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 Baguette Bag
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Clip into the curved edge: Clip at 2 cm Step 11: Sew across the top ends of
(3/4”) intervals, clipping halfway into the gusset.
the seam. Turn the bag so that the right side is
facing out and connect the zipper. Zip
up the zipper to a quarter of the way.

Turn the bag through the opening in

the lining so that the lining is on the Now turn the bag so that the foam
outside of the bag. interfacing is on the outside.
Press the exterior and lining fabric
away from the zipper and hold in place
with pins.

Top stitch along the top seam. To do

this, attach the zipper foot with the Working on the closed end zipper side,
needle positioned on the right side. place the top edge of the lining and
Start and finish the topstitching 12 mm exterior gusset right sides together
(1/2”) away from the raw ends, with the zipper sandwiched in
stitching 3 mm (1/8”) away from the between.
seam.

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 Baguette Bag
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Pin the seam allowances together to Do the same to the opposite side,
hold in place. holding the open ends of the zipper
Lining view: together.

Foam interfacing view:

Trim away the excess ends of the zipper
and trim the foam interfacing from the
seam allowance.

Turn the bag through to the right side.

Working with the foam interfacing side
on top, sew across the top edge of the
gusset, sewing on the 1 cm (3/8”)
stitching line that attached the strap
Reversing at the beginning and end to
secure.

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 Baguette Bag
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Step 12: Finish the bag. Optional 1 ¼” wide non-gathered
Fold in the seam allowance of the strap.
opening in the lining and pin the edges Cut a 3” wide strip of fabric by your
together. Stitch together by sewing desired length.
close to the edge. Cut a 1 ¼” wide strip of light to medium
weight iron on interfacing.

Iron the interfacing onto the wrong

side and in the centre of the fabric
strip.

Wrong
side of
fabric

Round off the sharp corners of the

template plastic rectangle and slide it
into the base pocket. There is no need
to stitch the pocket closed, this way
you can remove the plastic base if you
want to wash your bag.

Fold the strip in half lengthwise with

the right sides facing. Sew down the
long raw edge with a ¼” seam
allowance.

Turn the strap to the right side.

Position the seam in the centre,
pressing the seam to one side. This will
be the back of the strap.

Turn the strap over and top stitch as

many rows of sewing as you like.
Tuck the lining down into the bag and
your bag is now complete! Attach the strap to the bag in the same
way as instructed in the pattern and
the tutorial.

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THIS IS A FREE pdf PATTERN, IT IS NOT FOR RESALE.

BAG FRONT AND BACK
1
GRAIN LINE
CUT 2 EXTERIOR FABRIC
CUT 2 LINING
CUT 2 FOAM INTERFACING
1" (25 MM)
TEST BOX
MARK ALL NOTCHES WHEN CUTTING OUT
PATTERN POOLE 16
BAGUETTE BAG
PATTERN SHEETS

SIDE PANEL
BAG BASE
CUT 2 EXTERIOR
CUT 1 EXTERIOR FABRIC FABRIC

CUT 2 LINING CUT 2 LINING

CUT 1 FOAM CUT 2 FOAM

INTERFACING INTERFACING

3 2
GRAIN LINE
GRAIN LINE

THIS IS A FREE pdf PATTERN, IT IS NOT FOR RESALE.

1" (25 MM)

**MARK ALL NOTCHES WHEN CUTTING OUT
TEST BOX
NOTCH SYMBOL