HOW TO MAKE A PROJECT BAG
MATERIALS
Q One roll of washable paper in Rose Gold (ours was from M is for Make www.misformake.co.uk) (Fabric 1) Q 50cm (19¾") duck canvas in natural, approx. 8oz weight (Fabric 2) Q 50cm (19¾") unbleached cotton lining fabric (Fabric 3) Q 2m (78¾") cotton cord, 0.5cm (¼") thick Q Sew-all thread in cream Q Metallic thread Q Fabric clips Q Tailor’s chalk Q Jump ring, 1cm ( 3 /8") diameter Q Pressing cloth Q Safety pin Farewell, tired totes groaning with tangled WIPs – there’s a new project bag in town and this one is purpose-sewn. It’s made with shiny paper fabric, to satisfy your inner magpie sewist, and it has pockets for knitting and crochet notions, plus a loop to clip stitch markers onto. With a drawstring fastening, you can stitch away with your working yarn flowing out the top while the ball is safely stowed inside – no roll away escapees.
Pins will leave holes on the washable paper, so use fabric clips instead. Use a pressing cloth when pressing any seams, and when using metallic thread make sure you switch to a metallic thread needle and don’t use it in your sewing machine’s bobbin.
01 Pre-wash Fabric 1 according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then cut two 23 x 40cm (91/ x 8 15¾") pieces and one 8mm x 5cm ( 3 / x 2") strip from it. From Fabric 2, 8 cut a 17 x 40cm (6¾ x 15¾") piece, a 38 x 40cm (15 x 15¾") piece and two 38 x 8cm (15 x 31/ 8") pieces. From Fabric 3 cut a 23 x 40cm (91/ 8 x 15¾") piece and two 38 x 40cm (15 x 15¾") pieces. Cut two 90cm (35½") lengths of cord.
02 To make the drawstring channel, press each short end of the Fabric 2 strips to the wrong side ( WS) by 1cm ( 3 /8") and zigzag stitch in place close to the short raw edge. Fold one of the strips in half along the length with WS together. Press. Repeat this step with the second Fabric 2 strip.
03 Sew a 23 x 40cm (91/ 8 x 15¾") Fabric 1 piece to the 17 x 40cm (6¾ x 15¾") Fabric 2 piece along one long raw edge with right sides (RS) together, using a 1cm ( 3 /8") seam allowance. Press the seam open, being sure to use a pressing cloth. Use fabric clips instead of pins to protect Fabric 1.
04 To make the front pocket, sew the other 23 x 40cm (91/ x 15¾") 8 Fabric 1 piece to the same sized Fabric 3 piece along one long raw edge with RS together, using a 1cm ( 3 /8") seam allowance. Turn RS out, then press so the seam sits slightly below the top on the lining side. Topstitch in place 0.5cm (¼") down from the top pressed edge.
05 To attach the front pocket, draw a vertical line down the centre of the pocket panel using tailor’s chalk. Pin this panel directly on top of the 38 x 40cm (15 x 15¾") Fabric 2 bag panel so the long raw edges of the pocket panel and bottom long edge of the canvas panel align. Clip in place and sew down the chalk line through all layers using the metallic thread. This will create the pocket divider.
06 For the stitch marker loop, thread the jump ring onto the 8mm ( 3 /8") Fabric 1 strip and fold in half along the width, WS together and aligning the short ends. Clip this about one third in from the left of the top edge of the bag panel with the pocket, so the raw edges align with the top raw canvas edge.
07 Clip the drawstring channel to the top edge of one bag panel centrally, aligning the long raw edges, so the gap at either end is
the same. The marker loop will now be sandwiched between the canvas and the channel. Tack this seam with an 8mm ( 3 /8") seam allowance. Repeat for the other side of the bag. Do not press open.
08 To attach the lining, lay one 38 x 40cm (15 x 15 ") Fabric 3 lining panel RS together with one bag panel and pin. This will sandwich the cord channel, and the marker loop on one side, between the lining and the main bag fabric. Sew along the top canvas edge using a 1cm ( 3 /8") seam allowance. Press the seam so the seam allowance is pointing towards the lining but the cord channel is facing Fabric 2. Repeat to make the second side.
09 Next, lay the bag pieces RS together, being careful to line up both the drawstring channel seam lines and the colour block seam line with the top of the pocket. Clip in place. Sew around all four of the edges using a 1cm ( 3 /8") seam allowance, leaving the central 18cm (71/ 8") of the lining’s long raw edge unstitched for turning through.
10 Clip off the seam allowances at the corners. Fold one of the four corners so the bottom seam allowance is sitting directly on top of the side seam, creating a triangle. Draw a line at a right angle to the seam lines, 6cm (23/ 8") up from the triangle corner. Sew along this line and trim away the excess, leaving a 1cm ( 3 /8") seam allowance, as shown. Repeat this on all four of the bag corners.
11 Turn the bag RS out through the gap left in the lower edge of the lining in Step 9. Gently poke out the boxed corners. Fold the raw edges at the gap to the WS and sew 0.25cm ( 1 /8") in from the edge. Give the bag another press using the pressing cloth.
12 To add the drawstrings, attach a safety pin to one end of one of the cotton cord lengths. Pull the pin through one channel, across the gap and through the other channel. Repeat, starting at the other end so there are two cord ends poking out each side of the bag. Tie a knot in the drawstrings.
