Traverse Bag Pattern

You’ll love taking this versatile and compact crossbody bag on all of your travels. The zippered top main compartment and handy back zippered pocket keep all your essentials secure while the front pocket(s) provides easy access to the items you use most. Easy to use and wear adjustable crossbody strap and two fun sizes to make!

Special features:

  • 2 sizes to sew! Regular and Mini
  • Zippered top main compartment
  • Back zipper pocket
  • Front pocket (divided on Regular size) with easy access snap/flap closure
  • adjustable crossbody strap
  • interior slip pocket
  • made mostly of rectangles, no need to cut out templates (see below for details)

Skill Level: Intermediate, or adventurous Advanced Beginner

+ Approx. Finished Dimensions: 

Regular: 12” W, 9” tall, 2” deep [30.5 x 22.9 x 5.1]
Mini: 10” W, 7 ½” tall [25.4 x 19.1]

Materials & Supplies:

Materials needed:

Requirements based on 44”/1.2m - wide fabric.

Mini size noted in { }.

    Recommended Fabrics: Cotton canvas, cotton/linen canvas, twill, home dec for exterior. Quilting cotton for accent and lining.

    Additional supplies + tools: Polyester thread, water-soluble pen/tailor’s chalk, cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter, glue pen (Sewline glue pen is my favorite), size 14 or 16 denim or Microtex needle, turning tool, 1 yd/.91 m of 1/8"/3mm diameter cotton cording for making piping, ¼”/6mm-wide fusible web tape, piping foot

    *pattern assumes zipper tape width of 1"  *PLEASE NOTE: this pattern is written for fixed-length zippers (not zipper by the yard, adjust accordingly if substituting)

    Hardware kit available here!

    Pattern/Download Information:

    This is a measure and cut pattern. It DOES include a template/pattern piece for the Flap which will need to be printed. You will need a rotary cutter, gridded ruler, and self-healing cutting mat. Cut the pattern pieces straight from the fabric - saving time and paper. All pieces are rectangles except for the Flap. If you prefer, you can transfer the cutting measurements to paper (or a template material) to create your own paper template/pattern piece for the remaining pieces.

    For Digital (PDF) pattern:

    • Please download (and save) the pattern file to your computer!
    • You will have 9 download attempts, keep in mind each time you open to view the file counts as an attempt.
    • This PDF pattern includes:
      • full-size pattern pieces for Flap that will be taped together before cutting fabric
      • rotary cutting instruction/measurements for rectangular pieces (in both inches and cm)
      • label sheet for keeping organized
      • includes detailed step-by-step instructions and professional illustrations
    • The file is an instant download. Please be sure to check the email address you entered at checkout, the instant download link will be sent to that email address. After purchase is complete you will also be redirected to a page with the download link.

    For Paper (printed) pattern:

    Paper pattern version includes:

    • instruction booklet with step-by-step instructions and professional illustrations
    • full-size pattern pieces for Flap, rotary cutting instructions/measurements for the rectangular pieces
    • label sheet for keeping organized
    • all tucked into a resealable poly bag
    • Paper pattern is shipped via USPS

    Sell finished items! You (the purchaser of this pattern) can sell finished sewn bags made using this pattern (on a home-based scale), credit to Anna Graham www.noodle-head.com is appreciated!

    NOTICE: It may not be possible to download a PDF file directly to your iPad or Android tablet/mobile device without a download app. I use Acrobat Reader in combination with Dropbox to download files using my mobile device.

    Frequently Bought Together