Halloween will be here before you know it! And if you have small kids (or big kids) at your house, that means trick or treating! A grocery sack will work in a pinch, but you can sew a Halloween trick or treat bag that will be much easier – and way more fun – for kids to carry!
I’ve got a tutorial and free pattern for you below.
My starting point for this bag was a fun jack o’ lantern print I found. (It’s from the Too Cute To Spook line by Me and My Sister for Moda Fabrics.) Those happy little pumpkins were just so cute! And a trick or treat bag seemed like just the right project to show them off.
This bag is designed for kids to carry. Finished dimensions are 13” wide x 13” tall, which is big enough to hold a pretty decent candy haul but still small enough scale for kids to carry easily. The straps are long enough to be carried on the shoulder.
Curved corners give this trick or treat bag a nice shape. And check out that ric rac peeking out from the contrast panel at the top!
I used a jumbo ric rac that had been hanging out in my sewing stash for a while. You can find it at most fabric stores. But if you can’t find it, you can sub a smaller ric rac or just leave it plain.
The top is finished with a self-binding technique that creates a clean finish with little effort. I’m kind of in love with the ½” of contrast around the top of the lining. Plus there’s no turning hole – and no hand sewing that hole closed.
Supplies
Main fabric – ½ yard quilting cotton
Accent fabric -fat quarter or ½ yard quilting cotton
Lining fabric – ½ yard quilting cotton
Fusible fleece- ½ yard
Webbing, 1” wide – 2 pieces, 26” each
Jumbo ric rac (1” wide) – 1 yard
Halloween Trick or Treat Bag – Free Pattern
RST = Right Sides Together. All seam allowances ½” unless otherwise noted. Pattern pieces include the seam allowance.
Prep
Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse the fusible fleece pieces to the backs of the Bag Body and Contrast Panel pieces.
- Bag Body – Center the fleece horizontally and vertically
- Contrast Panel – Center the fleece horizontally, and ½” from the bottom. The top of the fleece will be 1” from the top of the Contrast Panel.
Sew the Ric Rac
Pin the jumbo ric rac across the top of the Bag Body pieces, right sides up and with the top points of the ric rac ¼” above the top of the bag.
If you’re using a size of ric rac other than a 1” wide jumbo ric rac, position the ric rac so the middle of the ric rac is ½” below the top of the Bag Bady. This will make it so the bottom points peek out from a ½” seam allowance.
Baste the ric rac in place with a ¼” seam allowance.
Sew the Bag Handles
Being careful not to twist the straps, pin the straps along the top of the Bag Body piece 3” from each side, RST and with raw edges even with the top of the bag.
Baste in place with ¼” seam allowance.
Sew the Bag Exterior
Place the Contrast Panel across the top of the Bag Body piece, RST and with the edge with the fleece closest to it at the top. Sew across with a ½” seam allowance.
Press the seam open.
Flip the straps up so they are now facing the top of the bag. Stitch down to the Contrast Panel in a 2” tall box pattern.
Place the two bag pieces RST. Sew around the sides and bottom.
Clip curves and then turn right side out.
Sew the Bag Lining
Place the Bag Lining pieces RST. Sew around sides and bottom.
Clip curves and then turn right side out.
Assemble the Bag
On Bag Exterior, fold the straps down and out of the way then press raw edge ½” to the back.
Place Bag Exterior inside Bag Lining, wrong sides together and side seams matching.
Fold the top of the Bag Exterior over to the Lining, encasing the raw edges around the top of the bag. Sew around the top with a 3/8” seam allowance.
Turn bag right side out. Your Halloween Trick or Treat Bag is finished!
If you love this Halloween trick or treat bag sewing tutorial from Anne then you will love these tutorials as well:
Easy Felt Witch Hat Sewing Pattern
DIY Fleece Frankenstein Pillow
Latest posts by Anne Weaver (see all)
- Ruffle Throw Pillow – Sewing Tutorial - July 16, 2026
- Slouchy Market Bag with Veggie Prints – Free Pattern - May 14, 2026
- Flex Frame DIY Glasses Case Sewing Tutorial - April 18, 2026
I just made this cute bag for my 7 year old granddaughter. She requested a bag with a red panda on it so I made a red panda patch and sewed it on the front before adding the lining. It came out so cute. Your instructions were spot on! Thanks for a wonderful pattern!
That sounds so cute!! Thanks for the kind comment.