Everything Bag. Free Sewing Tutorial.
MATERIALS
What you'll need:
(2) 13"x7" pieces of cotton material for outside middle of bag
(4) 13"x6" pieces of other material for outside ends of bag
(2) 18" x13" pieces of fusible fleece
(2) 18"x13" pieces of lining fabric
(1) 6"x6" piece for pocket (more if you want multiple pockets)
(2) 3.5"x40" for straps (contrasting fabrics if you want)
(1) 1.5"x6" piece for loop
(1) button (I use a 1 5/8" button)
matching thread
1/2" seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
*Broken (and messy!) red lines on following pictures show where to stitch.*
Okay, let's get started!
OUTSIDE OF BAG
Take one of your middle pieces (floral) for the outside of bag and line up the end piece (brown) edge to edge with RIGHT SIDES together. (I will refer to this as RST.) Stitch. Attach the other end piece and line it up RST to the other side of the middle piece. Stitch. Do this for the remaining three pieces as well, so you end up with 2 fully stitched outside pieces of your bag. Press seams.
POCKET
Now, take your 6"x6" piece for the pocket. There are numerous ways to do this, but I simply press the edges in on all four sides. Where I want the top of the pocket to be, I fold down one more time to eliminate the raw edge.
STITCHING TOP OF POCKET
Where you folded down twice, stitch along the fold. This will create a finished top for your pocket.
ATTACHING POCKET
Position your pocket on the right side of one lining piece. I put my pocket in the middle, but perhaps you would like it elsewhere. Stitch the pocket around the three sides, leaving the top open.
CUTTING THE CORNERS
I know there are many ways to do this, but this is what I've found to be the easiest and cleanest. Since we are making a bag with depth, we need to create corners. I do this by taking the bottom corners of each side of the front piece (the three pieces we sewed into one) and cutting a 2" square. Do this on each side.
CORNERS ARE CUT!
It will look like this. You'll have to do this to both front pieces.
CUT LINING CORNERS
Before you cut the corners of your lining, using the directions on your fusible fleece, attach it to the back side of your lining. Then match up the outside bag pieces to the lining pieces, just to make sure they are the same size. If not, trim the lining pieces on each side. (These always seem to come out a tad bigger for me.) After this is done, cut the 2" squares on the bottom corners. It will look like the above.
THE STRAP
Moving onto the strap...
Pin the strap RST and sew along one edge of the entire length.
PRESS OPEN
Press open this seam.
FOLD AND PRESS AGAIN
Fold the strap at the seam so wrong sides are together. The raw edges will match up on one side. Press.
PRESS IN SIDES
I open it back up and press in about 1/2"-3/4" along each side of the raw edges, so if I fold the two together again, they will match up.
PIN TOGETHER
Fold the newly pressed sides together, pin, and stitch.
FINISHED STRAP
I always sew the other side too, just to create a more uniform look. Your finished strap should look like this, with both edges neatly sewn.
LOOP
Take your loop piece and turn in both raw edges to the middle and press.
FOLD, PRESS, AND STITCH
Fold the loop piece in half, press, and stitch along the open edge.
OUTSIDE OF BAG
Put the two outside bag pieces RST, pin all the way around the outside (leaving the top open), and stitch. Do this for the lining pieces as well.
CORNERS
This is going to be a tricky one to explain...
For the corners, you want to flatten out the 2" square you cut (the right side will be together and you will be sewing on the wrong sides), keeping the bag's side seam and bottom seam lined up. Stitch across the flat part a few times (to add some strength.)
Do this again for the bag lining.
FINISHED CORNER
The corner will look like this after sewn.
ATTACHING STRAPS
Now turn the outside of the bag right side out. Depending on what side of the strap you want to show, attach the side you want to show to the right side of the bag, placing the bag's side seam in the middle. Stitch multiple times about a 1/4" from the edge. Bring the other end of the strap around to the opposite side of the bag, and repeat.
ATTACH LOOP
Take the loop you created and hold it on the right side of the outside bag piece. (pinning never seems to work here...) You'll want this in the middle of the center piece. Sew multiple times 1/4" down from the edge.
TURN LINING OF BAG RIGHT SIDE OUT
You'll want to turn the lining of your bag right side out to stuff into the outside bag.
PIN AND SEW
Fit the lining bag into the outside bag RST. Line up side seams so they match. I usually put the pocket on the same side as the loop. You'll have to work to get the strap to sit nicely between the two pieces, and make sure the loop is also in between and not sticking out. Pin around the top and sew 1/2"-3/4" down from the edge, leaving an opening about 8" wide for turning the bag. Don't worry if the lining bag seems to stick out above the outside bag. Just trim this.
TURN BAGS
Pull the lining bag outside, so you'll have both bags attached and looking like the above photo. Then, stuff the lining bag inside the outside bag again, only this time the two bags will be wrong sides together. Your loop and straps should all be on the outside now.
I press around the top edges before I sew. You'll definitely want to press the opening where you turned the bags through. I also pin this after pressing.
SEW AROUND EDGE
Sew as closely to the edge as you can, all around the top of the bag to get a nice, finished look.
BUTTON PLACEMENT
Bring the loop down to the opposite side where the button will go. Figure out exactly where to sew your button and mark.
BUTTON
I use embroidery thread and an embroidery needle to attach buttons. I've always felt this is much sturdier than regular sewing thread.
Attach your button where you placed the mark.
Congratulations! You're all done!
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