Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
I love sewing bags because I can start using them immediately! I'll show you how easy it
is to make a cute bag in this short video. Hi, I'm Angela Wolf! I'm going to show you
how to make a handy tote based on the Barcelona Bag pattern from Nancy Green.
This bag is made of 6 pieces, the outside fabric and lining fabric, which are cut to
the same size, and the fabric for the straps. So lets get started!
Layer the lining pieces, with right sides together.
Now layer the bag front on top of the lining, with the right sides of the fabric facing
up. Then layer the bag back on top of the front, with right sides together. You now
have 4 layers of fabric. There is a corner curve printed on the back
of the pattern. Trace that curve, or you can draw your own, with a fabric pen at both lower
corners of your fabric stack. With everything held together with a few pins,
it's time to sew. To prevent the fabric from embedding in the hole in your needle plate,
start with the needle just beyond the edge; back stitch and then with a ¼ inch seam allowance
stitch down the sides and around the bottom curves. I'm using a contrasting thread so
you can see the stitches - you would use a matching color!
Then trim both bottom corner curves 1/4 inch away from your stitch line
Take the top layer which is the back of the bag and flip it to the back of the stack.
The outside of the bag will now show right side out, and the linings will be inside with
the seam hidden. Give the bag a good pressing. The next step is the shoulder strap. This
can be any length you want. I like a longer bag so my strap is 28" long.
Here is a fast way to finish the strap edges! I have two strips of 1/2 inch wide pre-made
bias tape cut 1 inch longer than my strap. Sandwich the lining and outside strap fabric
with wrong sides together and pin the bias tape along each edge.
Stitch along the edge of the bias tape about 1/8” away from the edge of the fold.
Center and pin each strap on each side seam with the outside fabrics facing each other,
raw edge facing up, just like this, and then stitch with a quarter inch seam allowance.
To cover the raw edges pin the half-inch bias tape along the entire top edge of the bag
with right sides together, making sure you are pinning through the all fabric layers.
Don't forget to pin the straps when you get to each side seam!
Now you can stitch all the way around the bag, using this pressed crease as your guide.
Overlap at the end, backstitch and trim. Fold the bias tape towards the inside of the
bag, tuck under the fold and pin. You can see this is covering up all of the raw edges
and it's a great way to finish this bag! Now topstitch the bottom edge of the bias
tape an eighth of an inch from the fold all the way around the bag. Then topstitch on
the outside of the bag to secure the opposite edge of the tape.
And our cute bag is finished just like that!