The bag has 8 small pockets, 4 in front and 2 on either side, it has a large single pocket at the bag, large enough to hold an A5 book/diary.
It is great to hold threads, needles, scissors, fabric, patterns etc. Its a fast and easy little project.
The finished size is at about 6 ½ inches high, 9 ½ inches wide. Use a ¼ seam allowance unless stated differently.
Fabric Requirements:
3 x Different colours/print fat quarters (18” x 24”) 100% cottonCut away embroidery stabilizer
Iron on interfacing
Fabric Cutting Instructions (Inches)
Bag Body (Top) & Lining (Bottom): 2 pc 10” x 16”Interfacing: 2 pc 9½” x 15½”
Front Pocket: 5” x 24” Stabilizer: 4” x 23½”
Back Pocket: 5” x 16” Stabilizer: 4” x 15½”
Straps: 2 pc 4” x 24 Interfacing: 4 pc 1½ x 24”
Making the straps
Fold over the straps half way length wise and press in place with a hot iron. Open the fold and take one strip of interfacing and press down against the fold shiny side down. Repeat the step on the opposite side.
Fold over the raw edges and press down well, close the straps by folding it back down the middle and press again. Repeat this step for the other strap.
Topstitch ± ⅛ inch from the edge of the strap on both sides to add symmetry.
Making the body of the bag
Before pressing down the interfacing to the fabric, you’ll have to cut the interfacing 6 inches from the top (3 ½ inches from the bottom). This will make it much easier when you ‘box’ the bag.
Press the interfacing onto the wrong side of the fabric using a pressing cloth, making sure that the pieces of interfacing is really close almost touching. Fold over on the ‘cut’ line of the interfacing and press well. Repeat on the other body piece of fabric.
Making the pockets
Pin it down well. Topstitch about ⅛ inch all the way down. Do this on both sides and for both the front and back pocket.
Attach the back pocket to the body of the bag
Line up the pocket straight with the fold line and topstitch all the sides except at the top, leave that open.
Measure 3 inches from both sides and sew down towards the bottom, be sure to back stitch a few times to secure the pockets.
Attach the front pocket to the body of the bag
Fold the pocket in half and finger press/iron a small crease to mark the centre of the pocket. Line it up at exactly 8 inches (middle) of the bag. Topstitch straight down towards the bottom of the bag, and back stitch a few times at the top and bottom to secure the pocket.
Measure exactly 3 inches from the edge of the bag and mark a straight line with a water soluble pen/chalk. Then between the centre and outside line, measure 2¼ inch and mark again, do that on both sides. Flatten the fabric at the ends and top stitch the pockets at the 3 inch mark leaving you with two loops.
Flatten out the pocket making sure that the overlapping pocket measures 1 inch on both the centre stitch line and the left pocket stitch line.
Topstitch from the top to the bottom following the marked line, repeat this step on the other side. You will end up with four loops and two flat pockets, one on either end.
At the bottom of your pockets fold over the fabric back towards the stitch line ½ an inch on both sides.
Pin down very well to avoid shifting while sewing the pockets to the bag.
Topstitch the pockets and secure them by back stitching a few times at every beginning and end of each pocket.
Attach the straps to the bag panels
Measure 4 inches from the outside of each panel on the right side and pin down the handles on the inside of each mark. Top stitch each strap ¼ inch from the edge of the bag panels.
Finishing up the body of the bag
With right sides on the inside, pin it down very securely to not have it shift around while sewing. With a ¼ seam sew all around the bag leaving the top open.
To shape your bag match up your side seam to the bottom seam. Flatten out the outside corners and pin down. Because you cut the interfacing at 6 ½ inches from the top at the beginning you now will end up with the exact height and width.
Measure 3 inches in from the corner towards the inside of the bag, you will notice that the line between the two pieces of interfacing will be at the exact place you want to sew.
Topstitch all the way across, back stitching a few times at either end to secure the seam. Only when you are happy with the shape of the bag, cut off the ends leaving at least ¼ inch at the end. Repeat this step on the other side.
Making the bag lining
With the right sides of the fabric to the inside sew all around leaving the top open. To shape the lining of the bag, match up your side seam to the bottom seam. Flatten out the outside corners and pin down.
Measure 3 inches from the corner to the inside and mark straight down. Topstitch across back stitching a few times to secure the seam, and once you’re happy cut of the ends leaving a ¼ inch seam at the ends. Repeat this step on the other side.
Finishing up the bag
Turn the LINING right side out, so that the right side of the bag and lining is now on the inside. Mark a space of about 6 inches which you will leave open to enable you to turn bag right side out.
Sew all around the bag at about ½ inch remembering to leave an opening to turn the bag inside out.
One you’ve turned the bag right side out, and you’re happy with the result close up the opening. by folding ½ inch seam allowance toward the inside of the bag, use a hot iron and press all around the edge of the bag.
Topstitch all around at about ⅛ inch to secure the bag and to close up the opening.
Now you can add all your goodies to your bag and enjoy using it!
Thankyou so much for this great tute. its so easy to follow and the bag looks fabulous.x
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