I made this little bag today to fit all of my basic necessities. It fits my wallet, cell phone, lip glosses, makeup, keys, and calendar. I made a goof in my measurements though, so it is still wider than I wanted, but I needed something to keep all of
my stuff in-I am always leaving something behind when I move from diaper bag, to tote bag, to purse. Now I can just grab one little bag instead of a bunch of things!
OK-details: Fabric- from remnant bin at JoAnn's
Size- 10" wide x 5 1/2" tall x 2 1/2" deep
Pattern-made it up
Thanks for looking!
Tutorial:I'm going to attempt to explain how I did the zipper-warning! no professional knowledge here!
I’m sure there is a better way to put in a zipper top, so if you know, please share!
I was studying bags with zippers and trying to see how they were put together-I have looked at the tutorial for the slouchy hobo (by tinafish)
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=35575.0but haven't made one yet. This is similar, but no gatherings at the top. It is also like making a lined zippered pouch, but you don't sew across the zipper at the side seams-you make a little place for it along the top, so it tucks down into the sides. I made a test bag out of scraps to make sure the design would work. And I also made a new bag since the tan one was bigger than I wanted!
So here is how I did it-Some pictures were better than others so there are pictures along the way from two bags-the test bag was out of bright flowered scraps and my new bag is black canvas with plaid lining. I used the same design for each just with different dimensions (I hope that make sense!)
Test Bag:
Black and Plaid Bag:
1. Decide how big you want the bag, add seam allowances, inches for the depth, then **1 inch to the top** Cut out 2 outer and 2 lining pieces from this measurement. Also cut out any pockets you want and the strap. (my strap was about 1 inch wide)
2. On the top two corners of the outer and lining pieces measure in 1 inch and mark, then cut out a section between the marks 1 inch from the top of the bag.
3. Make sure your zipper is at least as long as the total length of the bag. Lay 1 lining piece right side up, line the top of the zipper with the edge facing right side up, then lay 1 outer piece right side down on top of the zipper and pin the edges.
4. Sew the zipper in starting and stopping at the red dots in the drawing from step 2. Fold the pieces back and iron flat-then topstitch along this edge. Repeat along the other side of the zipper.
5. If you are putting in pockets or interfacing do this now. (the white part that you see in the rest of the photos is fusible fleece interfacing) Also sew up your strap if you haven’t done it yet.
6. Now its time to start sewing up the bag! Pin around the edges of the lining making sure to leave an opening in the bottom for turning and pin all the way up the edges of the tabs. You may want to pin the zipper and other tabs out of the way. Sew this seam. (it will not be flat due to the topstitching on the zipper area, but stretch it out as much as you can. ) I found it is easier to sew from the bottom to the top where the tabs are, then sew the bottom seams. Open your zipper now (3/4 of the way-you will be turning the bag through this opening) Repeat on the outer pieces but sew completely across the bottom.
7. Now reach through the hole in the lining bottom and pull the outer part through, flipping the whole thing through the zipper and push the lining to the inside. Now at the ends of the zipper you should have little holes-get your strap and make sure it fits nicely down into the hole. If it fits pin it into place along the outer fabric. If the strap doesn’t fit, you will need to trim and resew.
8. Carefully flip the bag inside out again, making sure you don’t pull out the straps.
9. Now it is time to sew up the zipper tabs. You should have 4 layers sticking out on the side tabs-the lining, zipper, strap end, and outer.
Make these lay nice and flat and pin. (first remove the pin that you put on the outside -it was just to keep the strap from pulling out of the hole while you flipped the bag-and you don't want to sew over it!!) On the side where the zipper is open pin very carefully so the zipper teeth are together. You may find it easier to make this lie flat of you push the fabric towards the zipper so it sort of makes a point toward the tabs.
You will be sewing close to the edge of the bag- Fit this under the presser foot-It may be a tight squeeze-mine was! If it is tight, you may have to push it along (carefully please-no needles through fingers now…) or pull it along the back.
10. Trim the zipper tabs close to the seam
11. If you want your bag to have box corners on the bottom, do this now. (mine were 1 inch in)
12. Turn your bag right side out again and sew up the hole in the lining- Done!
