Last week I had a good opportunity to strolling around inside a fabric store near my neighborhood and found a nice printed fabric designed by BEVERY GLEN (printed for the Alexander Henry Fashion For Home Collection 2010). It really caught my eyes! There was only one and a quarter meters left in the store, I therefore decided to have the rest of them.
A big inspiration came up into my mind after I found that fabric. Lots of ideas came up into my head. No longer after getting back home, I went into my workshop and started drawing a picture of a bag that I would like it to be. Wow, it’s kind of fun and my attemption to finish this bag spurred me up again!
The picture given below was a roughly pattern of the bag from my idea. Let’s see if the bag would turn out like the picture when it’s completed!
…I named this bag the TUSCAN TOTE because I get an inspiration from the printed fabric of BEVERY GREN that I used for the outer bag plus I am traveling to Florence, Tuscany Province, Italy in a few months. A picture of a big bag just popped into my head and I thought this fabric would be perfect to make another cute tote for myself to shop or carry-all in Tuscany and it would suite with the environment and the place perfectly!…
First of all I would like to mention that a part of preparing materials including cutting fabric into pieces before sewing starts might take time. Anyway, the fun part will be no longer after that, especially when you start seeing the bag is shaped 🙂 Let’s go!
You’ll need
Use two printed fabrics as desired (let’s say printed A and printed B)
(2) 22″x18″ pieces for outer body (A)
(2) 22″x18″ pieces for lining (B)
(2) 22″x18″ pieces for fusible interfacing
(2) 3″x16″ pieces for bands (A)
(1) 8″ zipper
(6) pieces for a pocket interior (3 for printed A and 3 from printed B). Size for each piece is shown on the picture given below. (cut printed A and Printed B at the same measurement)
(2) 23″ strap for handles (nylon or woven)
(1) magnetic closure
All purposed thread matching with the fabrics
Pins, Scissor, tape measurement, needle
Fabric marker
Sewing machine
Iron and iron board
Curved corner cutter (use protractor or anything that can draw a curved corner)
Note :: Unless otherwise indicated, use a 1/2″ seam allowance throughout
Make the Outer Bag
1.Use the curved corner cutter to draw curves at the bottom corners of pieced outer body (printed A)
(Tip :: Anything such as a cup or a bowl can be used as a blog to draw a curved corner)
2. Trim the corners and layer the wrong side of pieced outer body to the interfacing.
3. Following manufacturer’s directions, adhere the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of pieced outer body and trim the corner off
4. Fold and press the pleats away from the center point. Pin and stitch 1/8″ from the top to hold the place.
5. After the pleats are completed, measure the length at the top of the body. Make sure its length is 16 inches.
6. At 2 bottom corners on the wrong side of the outer, Pinch the corners and sew the pinch to make the flatten corners as the picture shown below.
7. Repeat from step 1 to 6 on the other pieced outer body
8. Layer the pieced outer bag shapes, right sides together and pin to hold in place (1), sew along the side/bottom curve (2), and right side out (3)
Make the Lining
9. Cut (2) pieces of lining according to the picture given below. Both of them should be in the shape of a trapezoid
10. Draw curves and trim at the bottom corners (in the same manner of step 1)
11. Fold the bottom corners to make the pleat (in the same manner of the step 6) to create the flatten corners for lining.
12. Repeat from step 10 to 11 on the other pieced lining
Make the Pocket to the Lining
13.Matching the size of pieced pockets between Printed A and Printed B. Each couple layer printed A and Printed B right side together and sew along the side/bottom, leaving an opening for turning. Right side out and press the raw adges at the opening. Then stitch the opening shut! You will have 3 pieced pocket ready to assemble the pocket.
14. Install a zipper – sew the 1st half of the zipper. Put the zipper (right side up) on the bottom, and exterior pieced pocket (wrong side up) on the top. Carefully match up the top edges and pin together (1). Attach your zipper foot to machine and sew along the top edge only (Stitch a few mms from the top edge) as the picture given below (2). It should look like the picture below (3)
15. Repeat step 14 for the other half of the zipper. Topstitch along the top edge of the exterior to create a neat front pocket.
16. Layer the front pocket (having a zipper attached) on the top of the back pocket right, sides together and pin (1) and (2), sew along the side/bottom (3), and right side out (4). Now you will have a little pocket ready to attach into the lining.
17. Sandwich the pocket between a pieced lining and a pieced band – Put the lining (right side up) on the bottom, the pocket (zipped side up) in the middle, and the band (wrong side up) on the top. Match up the top edges and pin together. Do the same manner on the other side of the lining without pocket attachment.
18.Sew along the top edges as the picture given below.
19. You should have 2 pieces of lining like this;
20. Layer 2 pieces of lining right side together and pin in placed (1). Stitch around the sides and bottom to create the lining (3). Leave 6″ opening along the bottom for turning (2,4).
Add Magnetic Snap Closures
21. Following the manufacturer’s directions, add half of the magnetic closure to each lining pieces, 1.5″ from the top edge of the bag at the center.
22. Adding the straps – position the end of the strap on right side of the outer bag. 3″ from each side and pin in placed. Repeat for the second strap in the same manner.
Assemble the Bag
23. For the outer bag – turn wrong side out, and for the lining – turn right side out.
24. Insert lining into the outer bag body, right side together. Matching the side seam and pin together. Make sure the straps are tucked inside (1). Sew along the top edge of the bag (2). Turn right side out through the opening in the lining (3). Stitch the opening shut, and insert the lining inside the bag.
25. Top stitch around the top edge to complete bag.
Here we go! The Tuscan Tote. It is not that difficult at all, isn’t it? I hope everyone who have a chance to make it will enjoy and like it too! You can create your own bag to go out for shopping or carry to anywhere you want easily now. Moreover, you will feel proud of yourself too 🙂
Have fun, keep inspiring and enjoy with everything you do! See you again on next projects!
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Ning Bags 