Boy this came out bigger than I meant it to! I kinda like it, though. I started this bag months ago and just got around to picking out the fabric for the bottom section, and finally finished it last night.
I lined it very quickly so the inside isn't that pretty, but it doesn't really bother me. It's got a pocket inside for my pens and stuff. It's got a lot of interfacing in the handles and in the body of the bag, so it's very stiff. I wish I had a warehouse full of nothing but interfacing, I love it so much
That weird looking thing on the right side near the handles is just a brooch pinned on.
TUTORIAL GOODNESS::Finally the tutorial! If this seems sort of familiar, it's because it is. I used my same tutorial for my pleated clutch purse, but modified it a bit to fit this bag. Good luck, all!
there are links below pics incase they are pixilated or squished
1. Cut one rectangle of your fabric and one of your lining (set aside the lining fabric for later). The measurements for my bag are about 21” at its widest point and about 9” tall for the main body. The seam allowances are sort of included, I don't really remember...it will work out I promise
2. To start, do the pleating. To do this, sew a channel with a ribbon inside on both 21" sides. To rouche/pleat, scrunch the fabric on the ribbons. Sew flat along top to secure pleats, and pull out your ribbon. This will seem to make your fabric rectangle get all wonky and miss-shaped in the middle area between the two 21” sides, but it will work out. Iron flat
3. With right sides together, fold your rectangle in half lengthwise
4. With right sides still together, sew the two side seams and along the bottom, rounding the corners. Make them at a slight angle as shown. Turn right side out.
5. Set that section of your bag aside, and start working on the lining. (Now is the time to attach interfacing if you want your bag to be stiffer…if you do want to, just attach it to the wrong side of your lining.) Now, with right sides together, fold your lining rectangle in half lengthwise as shown, and sew a curved line to match the bottom seam you just made on the bag. This is so that when your lining goes in your bag, it will fit snugly into the curve of the bottom. Cut off the excess fabric in the seam allowances.
6. To make the side seams of the lining, place your lining pouch over the fabric pouch, and match up where you should sew so that your lining fits snugly into your bag. Sew them at the same angle as the side seams of the outer fabric. Trim extra seam allowances. Leave your lining with right sides together, but turn the outer fabric right side out.
7. Put the lining inside the outer fabric. Your lining will probably end up being taller than the bag fabric, which is good. Fold the lining down as shown, making the fold slightly above the top of the outer fabric edges (this will make sense later). Sew the lining and the outer fabric together at the top.
8. Set the whole thing aside and begin working on the handles across the top. To do this, cut out four equal rectangles out of your handle fabric in the size shown (I would remeasure the top of you bag to make sure your handles will be the same length, just incase).
9. If you want to use interfacing to make a nice, stiff handle, attach the interfacing to the wrong side of these rectangles now. Cut out four handle shapes rectangles. (I will put up a link to a life-size handle pattern for you to trace.)
10. With right sides together, sew a seam following the bottom curve closely. Also sew the two short sides. Turn right side out.
11. Now very carefully fold in the top part of the handles and sew in place (this can be tricky, you might want to clip you curves to make it easier). Do the same to the round hole in the middle. Now this handle is complete.
12. Repeat with your other two rectangles for the second handle.
13. Now it’s time to attach the handles to the bag/lining. Pin one handle to the bag and make sure it’s exactly where you want it. Also make sure that the handle lines up with the top of the lining. Sew the handle and lining together neatly.
14. Repeat with other handle.
15. Done!
