Bento Lunch Bag DIY Tutorial

Everything tastes better in a bento! Make your own—for dry goods only— and start packing a lunch you’re proud of.

From your stash

1⁄4 yard (.2 m) of fabric A (aqua flower pattern)
Scraps of fabric B  (stripe pattern)
1⁄3 yard (.3 m) of white binding fabric
Fabric scraps
1⁄4 yard (.2 m) of fabric D (diamond pattern)
1⁄4 yard (.2 m) of fabric C (brown)

Gather

Basic sewing tool kit
Templates
1⁄4 yard (.2 m) of medium-weight nonwoven interfacing
Spray adhesive
12 inches (30.5 cm) of  hemp yarn
7 x 7-inch (17.8 x 17.8 cm) piece of muslin

Make

Cut
1.  Using fabrics A and B, cut fabric pieces as follows:
- For the base of the box: Cut two pieces of fabric A that measure 5 1⁄2 x 7 1⁄2 inches (14 x 19 cm).
- For the two short sides: Cut two pieces of fabric A and two pieces of fabric B that each measure  5 x 2 3⁄4 inches (12.7 x 7 cm).
- For the two long sides: Cut two pieces of fabric A and two pieces of fabric B that each measure  7 x 2 3⁄4 inches (17.8 x 7 cm).
- For the large center divider:  Cut two pieces of fabric B that measure 5 x 2 1⁄2 inches (12.7 x 6.4 cm).
- For the small divider: Cut two  pieces of fabric B that measure 3 1⁄2 x 2 1⁄2 inches (8.9 x 6.4 cm).

2.  Using the medium-weight nonwoven interfacing, cut the following:
- For the base of the box: Cut one piece that measures 5 x 7 inches (12.7 x 17.8 cm).
- For the two short sides: Cut two pieces that measure 5 x 2 1⁄2 inches (12.7 x 6.4 cm).
- For the two long sides: Cut two pieces that measure 7 x 2 1⁄2 inches (17.8 x 6.4 cm).
- For the large center divider: Cut one piece that measures 5 x 2 1⁄2 inches (12.7 x 6.4 cm).
- For the small divider: Cut one piece that measures  3 1⁄2 x 2 1⁄2 inches (8.9 x 6.4 cm).
 

Ok, so you’re probably hungry now…and hungry for the free project! 

The instructions can be found right here. And there’s one pattern piece for you here.

The main box
 

3.  Use spray adhesive to sandwich the pieces of interfacing between the fabric pieces. The interfacing
for the base should be centered  1⁄4 inch (6 mm) from all edges of the fabric base. Align the interfacing for the sides at the top edges and sides of the fabric so that the interfacing will be 1⁄4 inch (6 mm)
away from the bottom edges.

4.  With the white fabric, cut and piece a strip of binding that measures 1 1⁄8 inches x 6 yards (2.9 cm x 5.5 m). Fold and press strip lengthwise.

5.  Use the binding to bind the sides and the top edges of the two large and two small side panels. Then, use the binding to bind all sides of the large and small dividers.

6.  Machine stitch all four sides to the base of the box (fig. A).

7.  With a large needle and hemp yarn, tack all sides together at the corners. Insert the inner walls and tack with hemp yarn as well (fig. B, fig. C). 

The flap, lid, and ties

8.  To make the flap, gather random stash fabric strips, piece them together, and true up this patchwork
piece to measure 2 x 7 1⁄8 inches (5.1 x 18.1 cm).

9. To make the lid, with fabric D, cut one rectangle that measures 7 1⁄8 x 10 1⁄8 inches (5.1 x 25.7 cm) and another rectangle that measures 7 1⁄8 x 8 1⁄2 inches (5.1 x 21.6 cm).

10. Sew the patchwork flap to the smaller of the lid pieces.

11. To make a pocket for the lid, cut a piece of muslin that measures 6 x 5 inches (15.2 x 12.7 cm). Fold down the top edge 1 inch (2.5 cm), right sides together. Fold this edge up 1⁄4 inch (6 mm). Stitch the sides of this flap using a 1 1⁄4-inch (6 mm) seam allowance.
Turn to the right side and press and topstitch across the top of the pocket. Stitch the pocket onto the larger of the lid pieces (fig.D).

12.  With wrong sides together, machine quilt together the lid  pieces, avoiding the area where the pocket has been placed (fig.E, fig.F).
Bind the flap and side edges using the leftover binding from step 4.

13. To make the ties, cut a strip of white binding fabric that measures 1 x 36 inches (2.5 x 91.4 cm). Fold the strip in half lengthwise and then fold in each lengthwise edge   1⁄4 inch (6 mm). Stitch together the folded edges.

14. Cut a 14-inch (35.6 cm) length from this strip, and tack it, centered, onto the unfinished edge of the lid. 

15. Cut a 9-inch (22.9 cm) length from the strip, and tack it, centered, onto the bottom edge of the front of the box.

16. Stitch the unfinished edge of the lid onto the bottom edge of the back of the box.

The handles

17. Using template A, cut four pieces of fabric C and two pieces of interfacing.
Trim  1⁄4-inch (6 mm) strip from the piece of interfacing at the wide edge.

18. Using spray adhesive, sandwich each piece of interfacing between two pieces of fabric C. Machine quilt the pieces and bind the outer edges (fig. F).

19. Stitch the handles to the outside base of the box, and then bind the base edges (fig. G).

20. Close the lid and fasten the ties to secure. Overlap the handles above the box as desired. Use the remaining extra length from the ties to create loops for securing the handles as you carry the box. Hand stitch the loops in place (fig. H).