Project bags

YOU WILL NEED

Large bag:

Fabric A: 65x40cm – Outer Fabric B: 65x40cm – Lining Fabric C: 35x12cm – Drawstring channel

Fabric D: 20x16cm – Appliqué Vlieseline Bondaweb: 18x14cm Ribbon, 1cm wide: 180cm

Small bag:

Fabric A: 60x35cm – Outer Fabric B: 60x35cm – Lining Fabric C: 30x12cm – Drawstring channel

Fabric D: 18x14cm – Appliqué Vlieseline Bondaweb: 16x12cm Ribbon, 1cm wide: 160cm

For both:

Paper for the template Matching thread

Erasable fabric pen

Basic sewing kit

FABRIC USED

Fabrics are Flight Path by Jessica Swift for Art Gallery Fabrics. Stockists: hantex.co.uk/agf.

NOTES

Use a 1cm seam allowance. Download the templates from gathered.how/ss-templates.

CUTTING OUT

Step one From Fabric A, cut:

Large Bag Outer: Two 32x37cm

Small Bag Outer: Two 27x32cm

Step two From Fabric B, cut:

Large Bag Lining: Two 32x37cm

Small Bag Lining: Two 27x32cm

Step three From Fabric C, cut:

Large Bag Drawstring Channel: Two 32x5cm

Small Bag Drawstring Channel: Two 27x5cm

Step four The remaining fabric is for the Appliqué. Print out the template then create a mirror image by holding the template up to a light source and drawing over the outline of the letters on the reverse of the paper.

Step five Trace the letters onto the paper side of the Bondaweb, then press the Bondaweb onto the wrong side (WS) of Fabric C and cut out the words.

MAKING THE BAG FRONT

Step one Transfer the template onto the right side (RS) of one of the Bag Outer pieces using the erasable fabric pen.

Step two Peel off the backing paper from the Bondawebed fabric and gently press the words onto the fabric.

Step three Topstitch around the edges of the Appliqué.

Step one Take the two Drawstring Channels and fold in the two short edges to the wrong side (WS) by 1cm and press. Fold in by 1cm again and press. Topstitch down to hold. Fold in half WS together across the length. Press.

Step two Mark the centre point on the top edge of the Bag Outer pieces, and the centre point on the Drawstring Channels. Your Drawstring Channel strips should now be 4cm less wide than the Bag Outers/linings.

Step three Place one of the Drawstring Channels on top of a Bag Outer centrally along the top edge, aligning raw edges, centre marks matched. Step four Place one of the Lining pieces on top, right sides (RS) together, aligning all edges. Pin/ clip together along the top edge, then sew together.

Step five Press seam open. Repeat steps with the second Bag Outer, Bag Lining and Drawstring Channel.

SEWING YOUR BAG TOGETHER

Step one Pin the two bag sewn pieces RS together, so that Lining faces Lining and Outer faces Outer, aligning all outside edges and matching seams. Step two Sew together down both long sides. Press the side seams open. Then sew together along the Outer bottom edge, and Lining bottom edge, leaving a turning gap on the bottom edge of the Lining.

Step three Clip corners then turn RS out through the gap. Push out all corners and seams, press. Step four Close the gap by hand or machine.

Step five Push the Lining back inside the bag and press the top edge seam flat. Topstitch along the seam to finish the bag.

ADDING YOUR RIBBON DRAWSTRING

Step one Cut the ribbon in half. Attach a safety pin to one end of one of the ribbon strip and thread it through one Drawstring Channel, then through the second channel back out to meet where the ribbon starts. Make sure the ribbon isn’t twisted and tie both ends into a knot. Trim the ends.

Step two Repeat the steps with the second ribbon strip, but this time start by threading it through the opposite channel end, round the second channel and back out to meet where it starts.

Tie into a knot and finish as before.

hen I was 8-years-old, I made my very first outfit using my mother’s sewing machine. The fabric for the skirt had been pre-cut and hemmed, and the waist had even been elasticated. All I had to do was sew the back seam. My mother and sister, Marilyn, taught me the basics; this was the start of my sewing journey. During the 1980s, I was particularly fond of making disco clothes. This was my ‘make it this morning, wear it tonight’ period. It’s fair to say that my disco outfits were not finished well! I wore one of my disco outfits to a club in New York in 1979. My love of shiny sparkly clothes is still as strong as ever.

In the 1990s, my baby girls were my sewing inspiration. I had three in three years. I was one of those mums who dressed them all in the same outfits. I have fond memories of all the lovely little clothes I made for them. I still have these clothes and hope that one day my grandchildren will wear them. As you know, life gets busy – so my sewing machine was packed away for many years while I negotiated a very hectic mid-life.

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