I host a small sewing group each Wednesday. This week we are making Big Beachy Bags so I've been practicing in preparation. The nice feature of this bag is the bottom - 11-inches square. It's not only perfect for the beach, it's a great casserole or side dish transport.
BIG Beachy Bag
You
will need:
1
½ yards main fabric
1
yard coordinating fabric
Interfacing:
1 yard Pellon fusible Decor Bond 809 (stiff) or Pellon 931 TD (pliable)
Fusible
Fleece: 1 ½ yards Pellon 987F
Cut:
Main
fabric:
4 pieces 8 1/2 inches
wide by 27 1/2 inches long (2 pieces are for the outside, 2 pieces are for
the lining)
|
2 pieces 7 inches wide
by 27 inches long (handles)
|
Coordinating
fabric:
4 pieces 8 1/2 inches wide
by 27 1/2 inches long.
(2 pieces are for the
outside, 2 pieces are for the lining)
|
Decor
Bond or lighter fusible interfacing:
4 pieces 8 1/4 inches
wide by 27 1/4 inches long
|
Fusible
fleece:
4 pieces 8 1/4 inches
wide by
27 1/4 inches long
|
2 pieces 3 1/2 inches
wide by 27 inches long (handles)
|
Fuse
& Mark:
1.
Fuse the Decor Bond to 2 pieces of main fabric (NOT THE HANDLES) and two pieces
of coordinating fabric. This is the outside of the bag.
2.
Fuse the larger pieces of fleece to two pieces of main fabric (NOT THE HANDLES)
and two pieces of coordinating fabric. This is the lining of the bag.
At
this point you should have 4 panels with fusible fleece and 4 panels with
interfacing. The panels with fleece are the lining and the panels with interfacing
are the outside of the bag.
On
the 4 outside pieces, mark a very small square on the bottom LEFT corner of the
right side of the fabric.
On
the 4 lining pieces, mark a very small square on the bottom RIGHT corner of the
right side of the fabric.
Measure
up 8 ½ inches from the bottom where the square is and make a small mark on the
wrong side of the fabric. Do this on all 8 panels.
Line
up the four outside panels as shown in the picture, matching squares.
Sew:
1. Sew the left two panels
from the square to the 8 ½ inch mark. Iron towards main fabric.
2. Repeat with the two
right panels. Iron towards main fabric or opposite from the way you ironed the
first two panels.
3. Sew the 2 sections
together matching center seams.
Now
it gets just a little tricky.
4. Fold one side to meet
the side next to it RST. Sew. The two sides will not be even. There will be
about 8-inches at the top of the 2nd side.
5. Repeat for all four
sides. You should have a bag with points
sticking up.
Line
up the four lining panels as shown in the picture, matching squares. The lining
panels will be opposite from the way the outside panels lined up.
Outside
Lining
Repeat
steps 1 to 5 for the lining panels. Leave an opening in the final seam to turn
the bag right side out.
Handles:
1. Fold your fabric in half
long ways with wrong sides together and press a crease.
2. Open.
3. Fold the outer edges in
to the center line and press. Open.
4. Center the fleece using
the lines as a guide. Fold
the outside edges in again (over the fleece and meeting in the center where
your first ironed line was).
5. Press to fuse.
6. Fold in half, press and top-stitch along both sides.
Pin one end of one handle to a point top on the right side of
the lining. Pin the other end to the point top on the panel next to the first
one. Make sure the handle is not twisted.
Sew across. Reinforce. Repeat with the 2nd handle and the two
remaining point tops.
Finishing:
Place the outside of the bag into the lining RST. Pin the 4
points, the 4 valleys and the sides. Sew around pivoting at the valleys and
sewing just to the inside of stitching on the handles. Gently clip the inner corners.
Pull bag through opening in lining. Sew opening closed.
