I saw a picture of a cute bag in Lucky mag, and decided I could make my own version for a lot less than 285$!
Here's the original bag:
http://zomboid.com/images/model.jpgPardon the crappy pic, but I couldn't be bothered to get the scanner out. ^^;
Here's my version, somewhat "punked" up:
http://zomboid.com/images/plaid1.jpghttp://zomboid.com/images/plaid2.jpghttp://zomboid.com/images/plaid3.jpgI really like the way it looks but it's not as stiff as I would have liked (I was out of heavyweight interface and used a lighter weight type...big mistake
). Also I learned some lessons the hard way...like next time (if there is one), I'll apply the studs *after* the bag is all topstitched and finished. I'd rather the prongs on the studs show on the inside of the bag than deal with trying to sew with those studs in the way!! Also next time I will draw my pattern a bit deeper because this bag just fits all my stuff in it.
Oh well!
***TUTORIAL****
Well, this is my first tutorial and I hope it will make sense. Here goes!!
The first thing you need to do is make a pattern. I drew mine as a rectangle and curved the corners and top portion with a 4" ring, but you could do this however you want.
Next you need to get all your parts together. You'll need an outer fabric (recommend something sturdy with some weight to it), a liner fabric, some interfacing (I used fusible heavy weight for this project), a contrasting fabric for the trim (I used felt for this purse, and I strongly recommend felt or any other fabric that won't fray), and some sort of embellishments.
Here are all of the parts I used. To make the trim pieces for the corners, I just drew a sort of football shape, using the corner of my pattern as a guide to get the size and shape right. For the top trim pieces, I traced the top of my pattern onto the felt, and then eyeballed about an inch down and freehanded the same shape again to get the long curved line.
For the flap closure, I used this pattern off my quilting cutting mat, but you can do any shape you like.
You need a piece from the liner and a piece from the outer fabric, of course.
Now that you have all your pieces cut out, go ahead and put your flap together. Line up the outer and liner pieces with their good sides facing, and stittch all the way around, leaving the bottom part open so you can turn it out. Then turn it right side out, press, and top stitch around it.
Next you can sew the darts into your outer pieces (I hate this part
).
I tried to show in the picture what I did. Basically you just pinch the dart area together and sew along the line.
You'll need to do this to both sides of the outer fabric and the liner as well for a total of 8 times, so go ahead and do that now.
Now that you're done with that part, you can attach your trim.
I'd like to add at this point that I did not use coordinating thread for this project! Not only did I not have any, but I wanted the stitching to show in the images as well. But I really recommend using matching thread, it just looks better that way.
Line up your top trim piece with the top of your outer fabric, pin in place, and sew. It may be helpful to use a little fabric glue stick to keep it still. Do this on the other piece of outer fabric as well.
Attaching the corner trim pieces is a little tricky, and there's no real science to it. Hopefully my photos will help explain it, but you can also do this in any way you find that works for you.
Basically what I did was try to center the corner trim onto the corner of the fabric, using the dart seam as a sort of guide. Then I pin the top and bottom to keep it centered (first pic). Next I pleated the sides a little bit to gather up the excess felt, and pinned those in place (pics 2 and 3). Then you carefully stitch around the whole thing, and pic 4 is what is should look like when it's done. Do this on all four corners of your outer fabric.
Now is the fun part...embellishing your bag! I used rick-rack on this bag to try to hide my non-matching thread (lol), but you can embellish your bag in whatever way seems best to you.
This is what mine looked like after I attached the rick-rack:
If you're going to use studs like I did in the original bag, you might want to attach them when you are all finished with the bag. I attached them first, and it was really hard to sew the bag together with the studs in the way. >_<
Now it's time to make the strap.
You can do this any way you want. The plaid bag is much larger than this green one, and the straps are long enough to carry it over your shoulder. This bag is smaller, so what I did was cut one piece (4"x24") and then just cut it in half. That made two straps that are the perfect size for carrying in your hand or over your wrist.
Anyway, you fold your strap's edges in to meet each other, press it, then fold that in half, press it again, and stitch down each side of the strap. I cut it in half lengthwise to make the 2 straps *after* I sewed it, but you could do it before, too.
Now that you've done all of this, take your outer fabric, match up the top and sides, pin it together, and sew all the way around the 3 outer sides. Do the same with your liner fabric, but leave a space big enough to turn the bag through on either the side or bottom of the liner.
That's my liner all pinned together. I left my hole on the side of the bag.
Now you're ready to assemble the bag!
Turn your bag inside out if it isn't already, and pin the flap inside, good sides facing.
Pin the straps in on the edge of the curved part.
Lay your liner in on top of all that, good side facing the good side of the outer fabric, match up the edges, and pin.
Now stitch all the way around the top of the bag, making sure everything is lined up as you go. It helps to go slowly since this bag has an odd shape at the top.
Once you've done that, you can turn the bag right side out, press the top of the bag down and top stitch it so it lays nice and flat. Then sew up the hole in your lining, attach a snap to the flap and front of the purse, and admire your handiwork, because you're finished! ^_^
Hope everyone enjoyed this tutorial and that it's not too hard to follow.
Let me know if you have any questions!!
