Ok. Let's get the ugly stuff out the way. Please do not take this tutorial and sell it (even if that means taking your own pictures and re-writing the steps). I have worked hard in figuring out how to raise the zipper higher in this type of bag and I do NOT appreciate it being taken and sold and making a profit off someone else's hard work. So PLEASE....do not sell this pattern. If I find this pattern/tutorial for sale, I shall pursue the matter to the FULL extent of the law. I do realise there are similar tutorials but this differs in the zipper placement and is a complete new pattern. HOWEVER, in saying that I have no problem if you wish to sell a bag that you make from this tutorial - so it's not all ugly talk!!!
This tutorial arose from a question about my earlier tutorial on a cosmetic bag. I have taken the boxy cosmetic bag (
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=128258.0), and altered the pattern, in that I have raised the zipper in the sides, so that the zipper does not sit in the middle of the side. Here's what I mean:
What you need:
14.5 x 13 inch fabric for main fabric
14.5 x 13 inch interfacing
14.5 x 13 inch lining
12 inch or longer zipper (this is trimmed down later)
Cut fabric/intefacing/lining to the above measurements. Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the main fabric.
Then cut yourself a template from cardboard that measures 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 inch with a 1 1/4 square cut out of the corner. The next picture shows how it will look (including all the measurements):
With the 14.5 inch side towards you (the side at the bottom of the picture in the next photo), trace around the template on each of the corners as shown in the picture:
Cut out the corner pieces just marked. This is how it will look once all the corner pieces are cut:
Sew in your zipper. In the next picture, you will see why a 'longer' zipper is helpful. I sewed this zipper in when it was fully open:
This is what it's like when the zipper is sewn in and trimmed:
Sew the small end pieces together on each side. If you wish to sew little 'tabs' in to help with opening and closing the bag, now is the time to sew them into this seam:
Before you do the next step MAKE SURE YOUR ZIPPER IS OPENED otherwise you will have trouble turning the bag once you have completed the next step. OK. Now pinch the corners and sew all four sides of the bag. It should start looking something like this:
Once you have all sides done, turn right sides out. Now to start on the lining. Press 1/4 inch along each long edge like this:
Then continue with the side ends as you did the cosmetic bag and then each side corner as you did for the cosmetic bag. Hand sew the lining to the bag:
That's it!!! Enjoy!! As always, if you have any questions, please ask.
