Wet Bag for Cloth Diapers: Tutorial

This is a method that I designed (and for a while even sewed for profit) for storing wet cloth diapers but keeping your diaper bag dry and stink free.  The cotton print and PUL layers are mostly sewn separately so there is minimal to no wicking.



You will need:
A sewing machine
Scissors
Thread
PUL cut to 11" x 31"
Cotton print cut to 11" x 31"
Cotton print cut to 3" x 11"

Zipper tape and pull 12" *see notes on this
Snaps (optional)



First we are going to make the handle for the wet bag.  Using your 3" x 11" cotton print fold (right sides together) along the long edge so that you have a long tube.  Stitch along the short edge and the long unfolded edge and flip it right side out.



I like to stitch along each side of the handle.  Usually between a 1/4" to 1/8" from each edge.



Line up both the PUL (shiny side facing the right side of the print) and cotton print along the top leading edge of the zipper and with your needle position all the way to the left and your presser foot next to the teeth of the zipper, stitch all three pieces together.







This is how your layers should look right now.



 Next,  line up the other short end of your cotton print along the edge of the zipper tape that hasn't been sewn.  You should have a nice loop forming of the cotton print and your fold will be at the opposite end.



This is what it looks like once the print is sewn to the zipper.

 

Now we are going to line up the PUL layer along the back of the zipper tape but instead of sewing all the way across we will leave an opening in the middle of the zipper tape to turn it right side out later.





Before we go any further we need to add the zipper pull to the tape.  Up to this point it has been absent leaving us a free zipper with no "bump" to stitch around.  Separate your zipper slightly on the end you would like it to pull from and pull it to the center of the zipper tape so it's out of our way as we sew.  At this point both ends of your zipper should be zipped shut.



Next, take your handle piece and place it at the very top along the teeth of the zipper.



Stitch carefully over the zipper tape on both ends of the zipper catching your handle in the seam allowance.  I usually stitch back and forth multiple times to reinforce the zipper and keep the teeth together.



Using your scissors carefully trim away the excess zipper teeth and tape at the top edge.  This will help eliminate bulk on the finished product.



 Now that you've done that on both sides, you need to take the piece back to your sewing machine.  Separating the layers so that you have the two (shiny sides together) pieces of PUL stitch from the point where you left off at the zipper down just the PUL layers on both long edges, and then the cotton print.



You will have sewn two separate bags at this point.



You can skip this part if you like and tack the two folded ends of the bags together and proceed to turning them right side out if you wish but I like to have a bag with gussets at the bottom because I feel like those corners are wasted space.  So I went back to my cutting mat and cut 1 1/2" squares from the bottom fold of each bag.  Remember to measure your 1 1/2" from the seam and not the cut edge otherwise it will end up being off.



Now line up those corners so that they are matching and stitch them together on both bags.





I like to tack the bags together in the seam allowance to keep the PUL from flipping outside in the wash.  To do this, match up your corners so that both mitered corners have the seams facing out.  It will seem kind of twisted but I promise it all works out if you do it right.



It should look like this if you've sewn it properly to this point.



Now, find your opening that we left in the PUL layer at the zipper and unzip the zipper all the way.



Pulling the cotton print through the opening will flip the bag so that it's right side out and everything should lay nicely at this point.

Now you need to stitch the opening in our PUL closed.  You can pin it if you choose.  You can do this as you topstitch the zipper.  Just be sure to catch that opening in the seam.





Your bag is nearly done at this point.  Add your snap at the handle and give it a good HOT wash and HOT dry to be sure to seal any holes in the PUL you made when stitching.



Tada!  If you have questions, feel free to ask.

*Note on the zipper.  I get my zipper tape in a continuous piece.  You can find them at Seattle Fabrics or at Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics.  I prefer the continuous coil zipper in size #8.  You will need the tape and the pull.  I'm sure you could use a standard zipper if you chose, I don't know how well it would hold up though.  The zipper I used will outlast the bag usually.