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1.Decide what order you want your ribbons to go in to make the pattern you like. Take your bottom ribbon, & the ribbon above it, and sew them, right sides together, with a 1/8th (or less, if you can) seam allowance. Proceed with the next ribbon up, and sew it to the free edge of the ribbon below, and repeat with the rest of the ribbons.
2. Then cut it in half. You should have two ½ yard pieces, one for the front, and one for the back. (Don’t worry if the edges of the ribbon stick out and don’t line up on the ends – you’ll fix that in a minute.)
3. Cut two 6 inch by 18 inch strips of your fabric – for the bag bottom. Place each piece (right sides together) along the bottom ribbon of each ribbon strip half, and seam.
4. Next, you are going to cut out the shape of the bag, & the bag lining. Stack up the front and back pieces, (which should be approximately 14” x 18” rectangles). cut the rest of the fabric in half, and stack it with the bag front and bag. (It should be a couple of inches taller, about 16 x 18)
Mark and cut as shown. (If you have a rotary cutter, it is easy to do all at once.)
Stack all 4 pieces, lining up at the bottom
5. Iron the fusible fleece to wrong side of all pieces.
6. With coordinating thread, stitch along the edges of the ribbon. (The striped ribbon we used could also be stitched through the white stripes on the ribbon, then you could use all white thread)
7. (right sides together) Sew the front and back together at the side seams, then the bottom seam of the bag with ¼” seam allowance. Create a bottom Gusset. Fold the bag with the right sides together so the bottom seam is centered and facing up, as shown, to make a triangle. Measure 3’ from the triangle point on each side, mark across, and stitch across. (If you want the bottom of your bag to be narrower, measure 1 or 2” instead)
*Repeat step 7 with your lining fabric, but use 1/2” seam allowance. This should help your lining fit inside the bag.
8. For bag strap side loops: Cut a 1”x 4.5” strip of fusible fleece, and a 9” piece of ribbon. Fuse the pellon to half of the ribbon in the center (on the wrong side,) then fold ribbon over and stitch together each side, and down the middle.
If you have sewn a bag with a lining before, this will be pretty easy. If you haven’t, it’s kind of tricky to explain, but easy once you see it . . .
Turn your bag right side out.
Turn the lining inside out.
Put the bag and ring straps inside the lining. The right sides should be together. Your lining might be longer, but this is okay, since it is going to be the top of your bag, too
Line up the top of your bag (ribbon edge), and the top edge of the lining, and pin all the way around. Tuck the “o” ring and strap in the middle at the side seams and pin in place.
Sew together around the top using ¼” seam. Leave about a 6” opening to turn everything right side out. A walking foot may help over the side seams with those thick straps in there, or you may have to do some hand stitching to get through.
(different bags, but these pics show how straps are tucked down inside, with the bag inside the lining- and the lining is inside-out.)
THE FUN PART:
Reach through the opening you left, grab the bag, and pull it right sides out. Stuff the lining down inside. Cut a piece of plastic canvas to fit the bottom of the bag, and stuff it down into the bottom of the bag through the opening and under the lining. If you chose to put on bag feet, they can also secure the plastic canvas to the bottom of the bag. The nail heads have prongs that go through the bag bottom, then through the holes in the canvas, and bend over both to secure. If you chose not to attach bag feet, it might be a good idea to tack the plastic canvas base to the bag with a few stitches (needle and thread going through opening) to prevent it from shifting if you should need to wash your bag later.
Attach the magnetic snap closures through the opening at this time, as well.
Pin the top of the bag so the lining folds over onto the front, and pin the opening closed. Top stitch all the way around.
Loop the 2 yards of ribbon through the “O” (or “D”) rings to a comfortable length, and tie in a bow.
Be creative – add pockets, different handles, etc, and customize one today~
This bag alternated strips of fabric and ribbon.
purchase 1/8th yard more of fabric to make three 1.5” strips.
& these have pre-made handles, and tie at the top with ribbon.
2. Then cut it in half. You should have two ½ yard pieces, one for the front, and one for the back. (Don’t worry if the edges of the ribbon stick out and don’t line up on the ends – you’ll fix that in a minute.)
3. Cut two 6 inch by 18 inch strips of your fabric – for the bag bottom. Place each piece (right sides together) along the bottom ribbon of each ribbon strip half, and seam.
4. Next, you are going to cut out the shape of the bag, & the bag lining. Stack up the front and back pieces, (which should be approximately 14” x 18” rectangles). cut the rest of the fabric in half, and stack it with the bag front and bag. (It should be a couple of inches taller, about 16 x 18)
Mark and cut as shown. (If you have a rotary cutter, it is easy to do all at once.)
Stack all 4 pieces, lining up at the bottom
5. Iron the fusible fleece to wrong side of all pieces.
6. With coordinating thread, stitch along the edges of the ribbon. (The striped ribbon we used could also be stitched through the white stripes on the ribbon, then you could use all white thread)
7. (right sides together) Sew the front and back together at the side seams, then the bottom seam of the bag with ¼” seam allowance. Create a bottom Gusset. Fold the bag with the right sides together so the bottom seam is centered and facing up, as shown, to make a triangle. Measure 3’ from the triangle point on each side, mark across, and stitch across. (If you want the bottom of your bag to be narrower, measure 1 or 2” instead)
*Repeat step 7 with your lining fabric, but use 1/2” seam allowance. This should help your lining fit inside the bag.
8. For bag strap side loops: Cut a 1”x 4.5” strip of fusible fleece, and a 9” piece of ribbon. Fuse the pellon to half of the ribbon in the center (on the wrong side,) then fold ribbon over and stitch together each side, and down the middle.
If you have sewn a bag with a lining before, this will be pretty easy. If you haven’t, it’s kind of tricky to explain, but easy once you see it . . .
Turn your bag right side out.
Turn the lining inside out.
Put the bag and ring straps inside the lining. The right sides should be together. Your lining might be longer, but this is okay, since it is going to be the top of your bag, too
Line up the top of your bag (ribbon edge), and the top edge of the lining, and pin all the way around. Tuck the “o” ring and strap in the middle at the side seams and pin in place.
Sew together around the top using ¼” seam. Leave about a 6” opening to turn everything right side out. A walking foot may help over the side seams with those thick straps in there, or you may have to do some hand stitching to get through.
(different bags, but these pics show how straps are tucked down inside, with the bag inside the lining- and the lining is inside-out.)
THE FUN PART:
Reach through the opening you left, grab the bag, and pull it right sides out. Stuff the lining down inside. Cut a piece of plastic canvas to fit the bottom of the bag, and stuff it down into the bottom of the bag through the opening and under the lining. If you chose to put on bag feet, they can also secure the plastic canvas to the bottom of the bag. The nail heads have prongs that go through the bag bottom, then through the holes in the canvas, and bend over both to secure. If you chose not to attach bag feet, it might be a good idea to tack the plastic canvas base to the bag with a few stitches (needle and thread going through opening) to prevent it from shifting if you should need to wash your bag later.
Attach the magnetic snap closures through the opening at this time, as well.
Pin the top of the bag so the lining folds over onto the front, and pin the opening closed. Top stitch all the way around.
Loop the 2 yards of ribbon through the “O” (or “D”) rings to a comfortable length, and tie in a bow.
Be creative – add pockets, different handles, etc, and customize one today~
This bag alternated strips of fabric and ribbon.
purchase 1/8th yard more of fabric to make three 1.5” strips.
& these have pre-made handles, and tie at the top with ribbon.
