Looking for a fun Halloween sewing project? Learn how to make a DIY trick or treat bag with a free monster pattern, easy raw-edge appliqué, and basic sewing skills. This lined fabric Halloween bag takes about an hour to make and is a fun way to create something special for trick-or-treat night.
How do I make a trick or treat bag?
Start with two 13-inch fabric squares for the outside and lining, add fabric handles, then sew the bag together. The monster face is made with fusible web and raw-edge appliqué before the bag is assembled.
Is this trick or treat bag easy enough for a beginner?
Yes! This is a beginner-friendly sewing project. You’ll use basic straight and zigzag stitches, simple pressing and a few easy bag-making techniques. The free monster pattern takes care of the face shapes.
What fabric do I need to make a Halloween treat bag?
Quilting cotton works well for the outside and lining. You’ll also need small amounts of black and white fabric for the monster face and teeth. Scraps are perfect for the smaller pieces.
Can I make the bag without the monster face?
Absolutely. Use the same basic bag construction with Halloween fabric, or decorate the front with a spider web, ghost face, jack-o’-lantern or another appliqué design. The bag is easy to personalize.
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Ready to sew? Download the free Monster Trick or Treat Bag pattern and let’s make a Halloween bag!
What you’ll learn
By making this Halloween trick or treat bag, you’ll learn how to:
- Use a free appliqué pattern to create a fabric design
- Apply fusible web to fabric
- Make a simple raw-edge appliqué face
- Stitch around appliqué pieces with a zigzag stitch
- Make your own fabric handles
- Sew a lined fabric bag
- Insert handles between the bag and lining
- Turn a lined bag right side out
- Finish the top edge with topstitching
- Customize a simple bag for different ages and Halloween themes
Quick start
Want the short version before you dive into the photos?
- Download and print the free monster face pattern.
- Cut your outside fabric, lining, handles and appliqué pieces.
- Apply fusible web to the black and white appliqué fabrics.
- Fuse the monster face pieces to the front and back of the bag.
- Stitch the appliqué pieces in place.
- Make the fabric handles and monster ears.
- Sew the outside of the bag together.
- Sew the lining, leaving an opening for turning.
- Join the bag, lining and handles.
- Turn the bag right side out, close the lining and topstitch the top edge.
Then fill it with treats!
About this monster trick or treat bag
This not-so-scary monster bag is a fun Halloween sewing project for kids, grandkids or anyone who loves a little handmade Halloween magic.
The finished bag starts with simple 13-inch fabric squares, so you don’t need a lot of fabric. The monster face adds the personality. Use the free pattern for the eyes, nose, teeth and other details, or change the face to create your own monster.
The raw-edge appliqué is made with fusible web, so the fabric pieces are easy to position before you stitch them down. A basic zigzag stitch works beautifully, but you can also use a satin stitch or another decorative stitch on your sewing machine.
The entire project takes about an hour, including preparation, making it a great last-minute Halloween sewing project.
How to Make a Monster Trick or Treat Bag
Our not-so-scary monster trick or treat bag is a fun project to make. Have fun with his eyes, mouth - and should he have the unibrow? Then have even have more fun filling it with candy!
Materials
- Two (2) 13-inch x 13-inch squares of fabric for outside of bag (green in this example) + 7" square for the two ears
- Two (2) 13-inch x 13-inch squares fabric for bag lining (cat batik in this example)
- Two (2) 13-inch x 5-inch rectangles of black fabric for hair, uni-brow, eyes and nose
- 6-inch square white fabric for eyes and teeth; scraps work perfect!
- Two pieces of fabric 6-inch x 18-inches for handles
- Fusible web for black and white fabrics
- Black thread
- White thread
- Thread to sew bag; I used a neutral grey
- Pattern for monster face printed
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
- Fabric scissors
- Paper scissors
- Removable fabric marker; I used a Frixion pen
- Teflon sheet for pressing, or a piece of parchment paper
- Pins or sewing clips
- Edge stitch foot, optional
Instructions
Step 1: Download the free monster pattern
Download and print the Monster Face Layout and Pattern. I like to print it on freezer paper which makes it easy to cut out and then press directly onto the fabric to use as a pattern.
No freezer paper? No problem! Just print on regular printer paper and pin to your fabric.
Step 2: Prepare the appliqué fabrics
Prepare the black and white fabrics with fusible on the wrong side of the fabric.
Check out our article all about fusible web if you’d like to learn more. Here are all of the pieces all cut out and ready to assemble! The bag outside fabric, lining fabric, handles as well as all of the face elements.
Step 3: Cut the monster face pieces
Take one of your green pieces of background fabric and lay it out for appliqué. Begin by cutting the hair from black fused fabric.
Have fun making the bangs a lot of different lengths! Just cut up and down one of the pieces of black fabric for the face and then cut the hair for the back of the bag.
Step 4: Arrange and fuse the monster face
Then lay down the eyes, unibrow and nose below the hair. Take your Teflon sheet or a piece of parchment paper and press the appliqué pieces into place.
Here are the front and back of the bag all fused!
Step 5: Draw the mouth and scar
Now it is time to mark in the mouth. I used a Frixion pen. NOTE: Always test your removable fabric marker on a scrap of fabric so that you know your marks will come out when you want them to. 
And, here is the scar all marked and ready for sewing
Step 6: Stitch the monster face
Time to go back to your sewing machine. I used a basic zigzag stitch, but you could use a satin stitch or any of the fancy stitches on your machine. I started with the hair, stitching along the edge to cover the raw edge appliqué.
Stitch the hair for both the front and the back of the bag.
Next, I stitched around the center of the eyes, while i had the black thread on the machine. Also, go ahead and stitch along the mouth line now.
Then I changed to white thread and sewed around the outer eye.
Step 7: Add the teeth
Place each of the teeth along the stitched black line for the mouth. Make sure to angle the teeth differently for a messed-up-mouth look of a monster! I just did a center zigzag stitch down each tooth to make sure they were secure, but you can stitch around each tooth if you prefer.
To finish the monster face, zigzag in white for the face scar. I forgot to take a picture of this step. 🙁
Step 8: Make the monster ears
Then sew his ears together. Take two of the ear pieces and place them right sides together. Sew around the outside edges with a quarter-inch seam. Then repeat for the other ear.
Clip the edges so that the curve will be smooth when you turn the ears to the right side.
Turn the ears and press.
Step 9: Make the fabric handles
Take the two (2) strips of fabric and first press in half lengthwise.
Then fold and press the outside edges into the center fold line.
Finally, press in half again, so that the fabric is four layers thick with a single fold on one side and double fold on the other of the strap pieces.
Topstitch along both sides of the handle pieces.
Step 10: Sew the outside bag
Place the back of the bag right side up on your table. With right sides together, place the ears so that the bottoms of the ears fall just below the bottom of the hair. Pin in place.
Next, layer the front of the bag with the right sides together over the back and pin.
Using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, sew down one side of the bag, along the bottom and up the other side seam.
Step 11: Sew the lining
With the lining, sew down one side. Turn the corner and ONLY sew about 2-inches. Leave a gap and then start again about 2-inches from the opposite corner along the bottom of the bag. You’ll want to leave this opening in the bottom seam to be able to turn the bag.
Step 12: Join the bag and lining
Turn the lining right side out and put it inside the front of the bag with right sides together.
Place the handles between the bag front and lining, about 3-1/2 inches from each side with the raw edge of the handle lining up with the raw edges of the bag body and lining. Pin the handles in place. Sew 1/2-inch seam allowance all around the top of the bag.
Step 13: Turn the bag right side out
Pull the lining out of the bag.
Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the lining bottom.
Fold in the seam allowance of the opening in the bottom of the lining fabric and topstitch it closed.
Press along the top edge of the bag.
Press the bag.
Topstitch along the upper edge of the bag using your edge stitch foot.
When you get to the handles, make sure they are not tucked under the lining. Also, this helps secure the handles with the extra stitching.
And, you have a finished monster trick or treat bag!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
3 Pack PTFE Teflon Sheet for Heat Press Transfer Sheet Non Stick 16 x 20" Heat Transfer Paper Reusable Heat Resistant Craft Mat -
Pellon Wonder Under Fusible Web Heavy Duty, 15 by 3-Yard - 725PLKG , White -
Mistyfuse Misty Fuse 10 Yards White Sheer Fusible Webbing -
PILOT FriXion Clicker Erasable, Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Pens, Fine Point, Assorted Color Inks, 10-Pack Pouch (11336)
Common mistakes to avoid
Forgetting the turning opening
When sewing the lining, leave an opening in the bottom seam. If you sew the entire lining closed, you won’t have a way to turn the bag right side out.
Fusing the appliqué pieces upside down
Pay attention to which side of the fusible web has the adhesive. Follow the directions for your particular fusible product and protect your iron with parchment paper or a Teflon sheet.
Skipping the test for your fabric marker
Always test a removable marker on a scrap of the actual fabric first. Different fabrics can react differently to marking tools.
Making the monster too perfect
This is a monster bag! Uneven bangs, crooked teeth and slightly wonky eyes are part of the fun.
Forgetting to check the handles before topstitching
Before sewing around the top edge, make sure both handles are pulled up and are positioned correctly. It is much easier to fix them before that final row of stitching.
Making the lining opening too small
Leave enough room to pull the bag through the opening without forcing it. About 3 inches works well for this project.
More ways to customize your Halloween bag
Once you have the basic construction down, there are lots of ways to make this project your own.
Make a ghost bag: Use white fabric for the outside and add black appliqué eyes and a mouth.
Make a jack-o’-lantern bag: Use orange fabric and add black triangle eyes, a nose and a toothy mouth.
Make a spider web bag: Use black fabric and stitch a spider web onto the front with a satin stitch or narrow zigzag.
Use Halloween fabric: Skip the appliqué and let a fun Halloween print do all the decorating.
Make a smaller child’s bag: Reduce the size of the bag and shorten the handles so the bag is easier for a little trick-or-treater to carry.
Make a bigger candy bag: Increase the size of the fabric squares and handles for a larger bag with more room for treats.
Make several: Once you have the construction figured out, make a whole collection of different Halloween bags. Give each one a different face or fabric combination.
Frequently asked questions
Quilting cotton is a good choice for this bag because it is easy to sew and comes in so many fun Halloween prints. Choose a coordinating fabric for the lining and use scraps for the monster face.
Plan on about 15 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of active sewing for a total project time of about one hour.
Yes. The bag uses basic sewing techniques and straight seams. The appliqué may introduce a new technique, but fusible web makes it much easier to position the monster face pieces.
Yes. To make a smaller bag, reduce the size of the outside and lining squares and shorten the handles. You will also need to reduce the size of the printed monster pattern.
To make a larger bag, increase the size of the fabric squares, lengthen the handles and enlarge the monster pattern when printing.
Definitely. Skip the monster face and use Halloween fabric for the outside and lining. You can also add a simple spider web, ghost, jack-o’-lantern or other Halloween design.
Yes! Small scraps are perfect for the monster’s eyes, teeth, nose and other details. You can also piece scraps together for the outside of the bag for a fun patchwork look.
A basic zigzag stitch works well and is what I used for this monster bag. You can also use a satin stitch or another decorative machine stitch that covers the raw edge.
Not at all. The basic bag construction can be used as a starting point for lots of Halloween designs. Make a ghost, pumpkin, spider, cat or even a completely non-Halloween version.
Why make a reusable fabric trick or treat bag?
A handmade Halloween bag can become part of your family’s Halloween tradition. It can be used year after year, personalized for each child and made from fabrics you already have in your stash.
And unlike a plain plastic pumpkin, this one has a personality.
Whether your monster is spooky, silly, sleepy or completely ridiculous, have fun making a trick or treat bag that is as unique as the person carrying it.
Happy Halloween!
More Halloween sewing ideas
If you enjoyed making this monster trick or treat bag, keep the Halloween sewing going. Try another fabric Halloween project, make a seasonal quilt block or explore more beginner-friendly bag projects from Create Whimsy.
- Fabric Trick or Treat Bowl
- Free Witch Quilt Block Pattern
- Easy Pumpkin Quilt Block Pattern
- Candy Corn Bowl Fillers
- How to Make a Crazy Quilted Pumpkin
Most of all have fun, and be safe while out trick or treating. And, then pick your favorites from the evening haul of goodies to enjoy! Happy Halloween:)
Browse through more Halloween projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy.
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