Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags (5 page)

e. Place the pocket onto the
Right
side of one of the exterior main panels, matching the sides and bottom edges. Pin and then machine baste a ¼ (0.6 cm) seam to hold the pocket in place.

a. Place one main and one side panel
Right
sides together, matching the long side edges. Make sure to place the wide end of the side panel at the bottom edge of the main panel. Pin along the edge. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam down the pinned edges, beginning at the top and stopping ½″ (1.3 cm) from the bottom edge. Backstitch at each end.

b. Repeat step 5a to attach the second side panel to the opposite side of the main panel.

c. Repeat steps 5a and 5b to attach the second main panel to the opposite long edges of the side panels.

d. Press all seam allowances* open.

a. Place one long edge of the exterior bottom panel and the bottom edge of one main panel
Right
sides together, matching the raw edges. Pin along the edge.

b. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam along the pinned edge, starting and stopping ½″ (1.3 cm) from each end of the bottom panel. Backstitch at each end.

c. Repeat steps 6a and 6b to attach the second main panel to the other long edge of the bottom panel.

d. Turn the bag at the bottom corners. With
Right
sides together, match the bottom edge of the first side panel to the first short end of the bottom panel. Pin it in place.

e. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam along the pinned edges, starting and stopping ½″ (1.3 cm) from each end of the bottom panel. Backstitch at each end.

f. Repeat steps 6d and 6e to attach the bottom edge of the second side panel to the other short end of the bottom panel.

g. Trim* the corners in the seam allowances, making sure not to clip the stitching.

h. Turn the exterior of the bag
Right
side out. Use your turning tool* to gently push out the corners, and press.

Figure 1

Repeat steps 4 through 6 to make the reversible side of the bag, leaving it
Wrong
side out.

8
MAKE AND ATTACH THE HANDLES TO THE EXTERIOR.

a. Fold the first handle in half lengthwise,
Wrong
sides together, and press a crease along the folded edge.

b. Open the handle. Fold each long edge in to meet the center crease, and press. Tuck the fleece handle insert, fusible side facing down, under one of the folded edges.

c. Fold the handle in half again at the center crease to enclose the raw edges. Pin. Topstitch a ¼″ (0.6 cm) seam along each folded side. Backstitch at each end. Press to fuse the fleece in place.

d. Find the center of the handle by folding it in half, matching the short raw ends. Press along the folded edge to mark the center, and open the handle. Measure and mark 1½″ (3.8 cm) on each side of the center crease.

e. Fold the handle between the two marks, matching the long folded edges, and pin in place.

Figure 2

f. Stitch, following the original topstitching line between the two marks. Backstitch at each end.
Note: You will be stitching through all layers of the handle, creating a 3″ (7.6 cm) area that is narrower than the rest of the handle
.

g. Repeat steps 8a through 8f to make the second handle.

h. On the first exterior main panel, using a ruler and fabric marker, measure along the top edge, and mark 1½″ (3.8 cm) in from each of the side seams. Repeat for the second exterior main panel.

i. Place one short end of the first handle on the
Right
side of the first exterior main panel with the outside edge of the handle to the inside of one of the marks. Match the ends of the handle to the top edge of the main panel. Pin and then machine baste a ¼″ (0.6 cm) seam to secure the handle.

j. Place the opposite short end of the first handle to the inside of the other mark, matching the ends of the handle to the top edge of the main panel. Be careful not to twist the handle. Pin and then machine baste a ¼″ (0.6 cm) seam to secure the handle.

k. Repeat steps 8i and 8j to attach the second handle to the second exterior main panel.

a. With the exterior
Right
side out and the reversible side
Wrong
side out, slide the reversible piece over the exterior, tucking the handles down between the two layers.

b. Match the top edges and all seams. Pin along the top edges.

c. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam around the top of the bag, leaving the edges between the handle on one side unstitched for turning the bag
Right
side out. Backstitch at each end.

d. Turn the bag
Right
side out by pulling the exterior and reversible pieces through the opening at the top, between the handle. Push the reversible piece down inside the exterior.

e. Fold each side of the opening under ½″ (1.3 cm) toward the
Wrong
side, and press. Pin the edges together.

f. Topstitch ¼″ (0.6 cm) from the top edge completely around the bag to close the opening and give the Shopper a nice finished look.

Your bag is complete! Bid farewell to sad and ratty shopping bags and armloads of plastic sacks and head to the store to show off your Shopper. Different day? Turn your Shopper inside out!

9″ (22.9 cm) wide across the top [6½″ (16.5 cm) wide across the bottom] × 2½″ (6.4 cm) deep × 2¾″ (7 cm) tall

10½″ (26.7 cm) wide across the top [7¼″ (18.5 cm) wide across the bottom] × 3″ (7.6 cm) deep × 3¼″ (8.3 cm) tall

12½″ (31.8 cm) wide across the top [8½″ (21.6 cm) wide across the bottom] × 3½″ (8.9 cm) deep × 4″ (10.2 cm) tall

14″ (35.6 cm) wide across the top [9⅝″ (24.3 cm) wide across the bottom] × 4″ (10.2 cm) deep × 5″ (12.7 cm) tall

16½″ (41.9 cm) wide across the top [12″ (30.5 cm) wide across the bottom] × 4½″ (11.6 cm) deep × 6½″ (16.5 cm) tall

17½″ (44.5 cm) wide across the top [12½″ (31.8 cm) wide across the bottom] × 5″ (2.7 cm) deep × 7½″ (18.5 cm) tall

• ⅜ yd (0.34 m) of one print for exterior panels for sizes x-small, small, and large

• ⅜ yd (0.34 m) of a coordinating print for exterior panels for sizes x-small, small, and large

• ⅜ yd (0.34 m) of a second print for exterior panels for sizes mini, medium, and x-large

• ⅜ yd (0.34 m) of a second coordinating print for exterior panels for sizes mini, medium, and x-large

• ⅞ yd (0.8 m) of a third coordinating print for the linings

• 2⅜ yd (2.17 m) of 20″ (50.8 cm) wide fusible woven interfacing (I use Shape Flex SF-101 by Pellon)

• 2 [12″ (30.5 cm)] coordinating zippers: 1 each for the x-small and mini bags (I use Coats brand)

• 2 [16″ (40.6 cm)] coordinating zippers: 1 each for the small and medium bags

• 2 [18″ (45.7 cm)] coordinating zippers: 1 each for the large and x-large bags

• 1 spool coordinating all-purpose thread (I use Coats Dual Duty XP)

See Basic Tools Needed for Each Project
(page 14)
.

• Masking tape

• Marker

• Zipper foot for your sewing machine

Follow these instructions to make any size bag. Any measurement changes will be stated in the specific step.

Tip: Using a piece of masking tape and a marker, write the name of each panel and size of bag on the tape, then place it on the individual fabric pieces to identify them
.