This bag tutorial is for a friend of mine I hope everyone enjoys this latest creation!
Needed:
Material (I used old scrap material lying around that had a fairly stiff drape) about 1/4 yard of a main color for the outside and pockets. And 1/4 yard of fabric for the inside of the bag.
Notions: Sewing Thread and measuring tape
To get started-
You will need to decide on the size your bag is going to be. Find a circular object that is close to the size you want for your bottom. (I used a bowl) Mark the circle on the fabric with either sewer's chalk or a crayon in a contrasting color.
You will need three pieces of fabric cut out of your inner color choice. The circle for the bottom, a rectangle for the sides of your bag and smaller rectangle for the bag handle. To find the length of your rectangle; measure across your circle (diameter) and multiply that number times 3.14(pi). This will be the length of your rectangle. To find the height of your rectangle decide how tall you want your bag and add a half an inch for seam allowances. (I used a knitting needle, since I knew I wanted my bag a little shorter than a tall straight needle.)
Take your cut out pieces of fabric that you made for the inner bag and lay them on top of your outside fabric. Pin in place and cut. You can choose to have pockets on the inside of your bag in either the contrasting outside fabric or the inner fabric. To make a pocket row that runs along the innner bottom of the bag, cut a strip of fabric a few inches tall and as long as the bag body rectangle. Cut out the fabric pieces.
You will have two circles (for the bottom)
two large rectangles (for the sides)
one long pocket rectangle (I have two because I ran out of fabric and needed to piece two lengths together)
two small rectangles for the strap
Next you should finish any edges that are likely to fray. Since I don't have a serger, I sew a zigzag stitch, along the border all the way around any edges.
On to actual sewing!...
Prepare the pocket first, if you did not choose to include a pocket in your bag you should skip the next few steps. Turn under the edges of the pocket.
Sew the pocket to the right side of the body bag rectangle. Only sew along the sides and the bottom, leave the top open. Also at this point you should sew in any dividers you would like.
It's a good idea to pick out some things you think you will be carrying in your bag and make some of the pocket lengths to suit your particular needle needs. (or other
things too, I suppose)
Set the inner rectangle aside for now. Take the outside body rectangle and sew the two sides together, to form a circle. Take the outside fabric circle and body rectangle, pin the bottom edge of the rectangle around the circle and sew.
Turn the inner circle inside out (right side on the inside) and place inside the outter part of the bag. Line up the two side seams.
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At this time you need to get your strap finished up. Take the two rectangles and lay them with their right sides together.
Seam around three sides. Turn inside out and top stitch around the outside edges. When you come to the side you left open, pin the seams under and top stitch.
When the strap looks all neat and pretty. Pin the strap inside the two halves of the bag.
Pin the sides of the bag together, turning the raw edges under as you go.
At this point you can either pin the other side of the strap to the inside of the bag on the opposite side of the bag or you can leave it out and add a button and buttonhole to close the bag or a snap. For a nice finish add the button or snap before you close the bag up so that any raw bits or dangling strings can be hidden within the bag.
Next top stitch around the top of the bag. Cut any extra strings that might have been missed and enjoy your awesome new bag!
