Carry your water bottle with you hands-free on your next hike with this crossbody bag. This water bottle crossbody bag is easy to sew with my free pattern. Made from ripstop nylon, it’s a lightweight sling bag with a wide strap that sits comfortably cross body.
As summer is coming to an end, I’m looking forward to some nice fall hikes. It’s been a hot hot summer and I can’t wait for cooler weather, pretty leaves, and some good outdoor exercise! I’ve got some new hiking shoes and comfortable clothes, and I just finished making this water bottle crossbody bag so I can keep hydrated while out on the trails.
I’ve got a free pattern for you below.
It’s a simple little sling bag, with a long strap so you can carry it crossbody. The strap is wide so it sits comfortably on your shoulder and across your chest.
It’s made from a ripstop nylon that’s lightweight but durable. It also happens to be water resistant which is a nice feature for any bag that is intended to carry a bottle of water.
The bag has an open top with no closure so it’s easy to reach in and grab your bottle when you’re thirsty.
Oh, and did I mention it’s reversible? It’s like having two bags in one! And even if you choose not to reverse it, having a contrast color on the inside adds a fun pop of color to the bag. I love how to bright yellow peeks out around the opening of my bag!
And when you’re not out on a hike, this bag folds up nice and small and fits inside a small storage pouch.
Tuck it away in your car’s glove compartment or in your purse (or attach it to a backpack using the swivel hook), and you’ll always have a water bottle carrier when you need one.
Finished dimensions of the bag are 3 1/2” diameter and 9 ¼” tall. The strap (measured from top of bag) is roughly 27“ long. Storage pouch dimensions are approximately 4” wide x 3” tall.
Supplies
Main fabric – ½ yard ripstop nylon
Lining – ½ yard ripstop nylon
2 sets ½” plastic snaps & snap setter
½” swivel hook
Free Pattern – Water Bottle Crossbody Bag
If you cut *very* carefully, you may be able to squeeze out two bags from the ½ yard each of the main and lining fabrics.
All seam allowances ¼” unless otherwise stated. Seam allowances ARE included in the pattern pieces. RST = Right Sides Together
How to Sew the Water Bottle Crossbody Bag
Sew the Bag Exterior and Lining
Place the Bag Body pieces (main fabric) RST. Sew at the sides, leaving open at the bottom and at the curved edge and strap.
Pin the Bag Body (main fabric) around the Bag Bottom (main fabric), RST and matching notches and side seams.
Sew the Bag Body to the Bag Bottom. It’s always kind of weird sewing a curved piece to a straight piece, but take it slow and ease the shapes together as you go. This creates the Bag Exterior.
Repeat all of these steps with the Lining pieces.
Test the Strap Length
The right strap length will vary from person to person. The pattern has a longer strap to allow for flexibility. (It’s better to have a strap longer than necessary and then trim it down, than to have a strap that’s annoyingly 1” too short for comfort.)
Baste the strap ends together and put the bag on to gauge the correct strap length. Trim off any excess from both the ends of Lining and the Bag Exterior straps.
I’m 5’ 4” and had to remove about 1 1/2” from the strap.
Assemble the Bag
Place the Bag Exterior inside the Lining, RST and matching side seams and straps.
Sew around the straps and curves, leaving roughly 2” open at the ends of the straps. You’ll be sewing two long U-shaped seams on either side of the straps. (I included illustrations showing a front and side view to better show the shape of the seams you’ll be sewing.)
Side View
Front View
Turn the bag right side out through the holes at the end of the straps. It might seem impossible at first glance, but it can be done. The ripstop nylon is thankfully very slippery so it moves through the narrow straps pretty easily.
Press the straps flat using an iron on a low setting.
Now we need to join those strap ends to make one long strap. Open out the ends and place them RST. Sew across the end to join them.
Turn the open part of the strap back right side out and press the raw edges of the opening even with the sewn edges.
Top stitch the opening closed using a 1/8” seam allowance. Continue sewing all the way around the strap and bag opening.
Top stitch the other side of the strap and bag opening to match.
Your water bottle crossbody bag is finished!
How to Sew the Storage Pouch
Press Storage Pouch Tab piece in half lengthwise, then open up and fold long edges to the center and press again.
Top stitch close to the edge down both sides of the Tab.
Thread the Tab through the swivel hook, folding in half so raw edges are together.
Baste the Tab to the left side of one of the Storage Pouch pieces, raw edges aligned and right sides together, using a 1/8” seam allowance. (Swivel hook will be facing inside the Storage Pouch.) Stitch back and forth several times so the Tab is good and secure.
Place the Storage Pouch pieces RST. Sew around all 4 sides using a ¼” seam allowance, leaving 1 ½” open at the bottom to turn.
Clip corners and curves. Turn right side out.
Press the raw edges of the turning hole even with the sewn edges. Top stitch across the bottom with a 1/8” seam allowance. This will close the turning hole.
Fold up the bottom 2.5” of the Storage Pouch. Clip or pin in place.
Sew around sides and top of the Storage Pouch 1/8” with a 1/8” seam allowance.
Fold the top flap down so the Storage Pouch is roughly 3” tall. Press.
Your Storage Pouch is almost done. All that’s left now is adding the snaps on the flap!
Follow manufacturer’s instructions to install the stud snaps on the flap, where indicated on the pattern. (The smooth side of the snap should be on the front of the flap, and the stud side on the back.)
Use a pen to mark where the stud side of each snap hits the bottom of the Storage Pouch. Install the socket snaps at these marks, with the smooth side of the snap on the inside of the pouch and the socket side facing out.
Your Storage Pouch is finished!
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