MAKE THE HANDLES

9

Glue two leather handle strips wrong sides together. Repeat with the other two strips. Allow to fully dry.

10

Once dry, topstitch all the way around each handle. Make two holes at each end for the rivets, using a leather punch tool (Fig B).

PREPARE THE SLIP POCKETS

11

Fuse one interfacing piece to the wrong side of one of the slip pocket pieces, centring the interfacing.

12

Place the interfaced slip pocket piece right sides together with a second, uninterfaced piece. Sew around the outer edge, using a ½in seam allowance, and leaving a turning gap in the centre of one long edge. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam. 13

Trim the seam allowance to ¼in and clip the corners (Fig C). Turn RS out through the turning gap. Push out the corners and press, turning the seam allowance to the inside at the gap.

14

Repeat steps 11–13 with the remaining two slip pocket pieces.

MAKE THE LINING

15

Join a mid grey lining top piece to each of the lining front and back panels, along the 26in edge. Press the seam allowance towards the lining and topstitch just below the seam.

16

Take one of the lining pieces from step 15 and place RS up on your work surface. Measure 6in from the top and centre one slip pocket on top. Make sure the edge of the pocket with the turning gap is at the bottom. Pin in place.

17

Topstitch along the sides and bottom of the slip pocket, backstitching at each end and pivoting at the corners. Make sure to stitch approx 1/8in from the edge, closing the turning gap as you stitch the pocket in place.

18

Repeat steps 16–17 to stitch the second slip pocket to the other lining panel.

19

Place the two lining panels right sides together, carefully aligning at the top. Sew along the sides and bottom, leaving a turning gap in the bottom and backstitching at the start and end of each seam.

20

Cut a 2½in square in each of the lower corners (Fig D). Working one corner at a time, bring the side and bottom seams together and sew the corner, backstitching at each end. Repeat for the other corner.

MAKE THE OUTER

21

Join your embroidered Template 1, 2 and 3 pieces into one column, pressing the seams open. Trim to 13¼in x 25in. Then join the embroidered 13¼in x 25in piece to one side to complete the front panel (Fig 2).

22

Fuse the batting to each of your front and rear panels, referring to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the leather ties at either side of your front panel, approx ½in from the top edge, and baste in place.

23

Place the front and back panels RS together, making sure the long ties are tucked between the layers, out of the way. Sew around the sides and bottom. Repeat step 20 to box the corners.

FINISH THE BAG

24

Turn the outer RS out. Place inside the lining so they are RS together. Carefully match the seams at each side and pin or clip around the top edge.

25

Sew around the top edge. Turn the bag RS out through the gap in the lining. Stitch the lining gap closed and push down inside the bag. Press around the top edge and topstitch.

26

Measure and mark 7¾in from each side, on both the front and back of the bag. Place one end of the handles at each mark and install using the rivets to finish.

SASHIKO SHOPPER

Template 1 ENLARGE 200%

SASHIKO SHOPPER

Template 2 ENLARGE 200%