Insulated Mason Jar Bag Tutorial

 Tutorial show how can make insulated bag sized just right to hold a pint-sized wide mouth mason jar.  Use it to keep jars filled with refrigerated food (fruit or salad fixins perhaps) until time to eat.  It has a flat bottom so it sits nice, and a drawstring top to keep the cold in.

Supplies:

1/4 yard insulated fleece fabric. I used Pellon Insul-Fleece, which has a layer of Mylar in between layers of polyester fiber, which give it both insulating and cushioning properties.
1/4 yard of lining fabric
1/8 yard of solid or linen for the exterior bottom of the bag
1/8 yard of print for the exterior top of the bag
Scraps for the drawstring channels
1 yard cord, or you can make your own drawstrings with fabric

Step 1: Cut Fabric

Fleece–2@ 7.25″ (w) x 8.50″ (h). Notch the two bottom corners with 1.5″ x 1.5″ squares.
Lining–2@ 7.25″ (w) x 8.25″ (h). Notch the two bottom corners with 1.5″ x 1.5″ squares.
Exterior Bottom (linen)–2@ 7.25″ (w) x 4.5″ (h). Notch the two bottom corners with 1.5″ x 1.5″ squares.
Exterior Top (print)–2@ 7.25″ (w) x 4.75″ (h)
Drawstring Channels–2@ 6.0 (w) x 2.50″ (h)
Cord–2@ 18″

(This is a good project for making multiples at once. Cut all your fabric and do each step for all the bags before you move on to the next step.)

Step 2: With right sides together, sew the exterior top to the exterior bottom using 3/8″ seam allowance. Repeat with the other top and bottom. Press seams open.

Step 3: Place one of the exterior pieces on one of the pieces of fleece. You can either quilt these pieces together, or just baste the fleece to the exterior by sewing along the outside using 1/4″ seam allowance. Repeat with the other exterior and fleece pieces. I chose to do straight-line quilting with my walking foot, stopping before the notched bottoms.

Step 4: Fold both ends of the channel pieces in 1/4″, press then stitch. Fold in half long-ways and press.

Step 5: Center the raw edge of the channel pieces along the top edges of the exterior pieces, pin and stitch using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 6: With right sides together, pin the exterior pieces, carefully matching the seams where the tops and bottoms of the exterior meet so you will have a nice continuous seam line around bag. Sew along the sides and bottom with a 3/8″ seam allowance. Do not sew notches.

Step 7: Open the bag and bring the notches together to create a straight edge. Match the bottom seam with the side seams and pin. Sew with a 3/8″ seam allowance.

Step 8: Sew the lining together as you did the exterior. (Sew sides and bottom, then box the bottom by bringing the bottom seam up to the side seams.)

Step 9: Turn the lining right side out. Place the lining inside the exterior (which is inside out) so the right sides are together. Match the side seams and pin along the top edge.  Sew around the top using a 3/8″ seam allowance, leaving approximately 5″ open for turning the bag.

Step 10: Turn the bag out through the opening. For this final step, push the exterior inside the lining.

Step 11: Press the top edge with a hot iron. You will have to fiddle with the seam allowance to get it to lay flat. Make sure you fold the opening along the top edge in when you press. Edge stitch all the way around the top.  Turn the bag right side out.

Step 12: Put a safety pin on one end of your cord and thread it through one of the channels (going from right to left.) Now push it through the other channel (going from left to right.) Tie the ends of the cord together. Take the other piece of cord and do the same, starting from the left this time.

Enjoy your summer fun with these Insulated Mason Jar Bags! Of course this little bag would also be perfect for carrying toy cars, hair curlers, chocolate frogs, rocks, spools of thread, or just about anything the size of a 16 oz. Mason jar. Have fun!