Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags (14 page)

b. Topstitch* ¼″ (0.6 cm) on each side of the seam that attaches the side panels together. Backstitch at each end. The seam will be the center bottom of the finished bag.

c. Fold the first main panel in half lengthwise, matching the side edges, and gently press a crease at the top and bottom of the folded edge to mark the center of the panel.

d. Place the bottom of the center crease on the first main panel on top of the seam on the side panel,
Right
sides together, and pin in place. Ease the curved edge on the main panel along the side panel, pinning as you go.

Figure 2

e. Stitch the panels together just to the inside of the stitching line that attached the trim to the main panel. Backstitch at each end.

f. Repeat steps 6c through 6e to attach the second main and side panels.

g. Attach the top short ends of each side panel to make the handle for the bag. Place the 2 short ends
Right
sides together and pin in place. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam across the pinned edge. Backstitch at each end. Press the seam allowance open. (See
figure 3
on
page 110
.)

h. Topstitch ¼″ (0.6 cm) on each side of the seam that attaches the side panels together. Backstitch at each end.

Figure 3

a. Place one
interfaced
inside pocket panel and one without
Right
sides together, matching the top inside curved edges. (Or, if using the light- to mid-weight fabric, place two interfaced inside pocket panels together.) Pin along the top edge. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam along the pinned edge. Backstitch at each end.

b. Clip V-shapes into the seam allowance every ½″ to ¾″ (1.3 cm to 1.9 cm) around the inside curved edge. Be careful not to clip the stitching.

c. Turn the inside pocket panel
Right
side out, matching the outer curved edges, and pin them together. Press along the inside finished edge.

d. Topstitch ½″ (1.3 cm) from the inside finished edge. Backstitch at each end. Then, machine baste* a ¼″ (0.6 cm) seam around the outer curved edges.

e. Place the inside pocket onto the
Right
side of one lining main panel, matching the outer curved edges. Pin and then machine baste in place.

f. Repeat steps 7a through 7e to make and attach the second inside pocket to the second lining main panel.

a. Repeat steps 6a through 6d to make the lining side panel and pin it to the lining main panel.

b. Stitch a ⅝″ (1.6 cm) seam along the pinned edges to attach the lining main and side panels. Backstitch at each end.
Note: The larger seam allowance will allow the lining to fit better inside the bag.

c. Repeat steps 6c and 6d and step 8b to attach the second lining main panel to the other long edge of the lining side panel.

d. Repeat steps 6g and 6h to attach the top short ends of the lining side panels.

a. With the exterior
Right
side out and the lining
Wrong
side out, slide the lining over the exterior, matching the side seams. Pin them together around one of the inside curved edges and the handle. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam along the pinned edge. Backstitch at each end.

Figure 4

b. Turn the bag
Right
side out through the opening. Push the lining down inside the bag, pushing out all the edges. Press the bag.

c. Fold the other inside curved edge and long edge of the handle ½″ (1.3 cm) in toward the
interfaced
side, and pin it in place. Repeat to fold ½″ (1.3 cm) under on the exterior and lining of the bag. Pin the folded edges together.

d. Edge stitch along the pinned edge and backstitch at each end. Then, edge stitch along the finished edge around the other side handle opening. Backstitch at each end.

Your bag is complete! Take your Hobo Bag to the beach, to the market, or out on the town.

14″ (35.6 cm) wide across the flap [15″ (38.1 cm) wide across the bottom] × 8¼″ (21 cm) tall [13¾″ (34.9 cm) tall with short handles] × 6″ (15.2 cm) deep

14″ (35.6 cm) wide across the flap [15″ (38.1 cm) wide across the bottom] × 8¼″ (21 cm) tall [17¾″ (45.1 cm) tall with long handles] × 6″ (15.2 cm) deep

• 1¼ yd (1.14 m) of 54″ (137 cm) wide mid-weight Home Dec print for the exterior

• ¾ yd (0.69 m) of 54″ (137 cm) wide coordinating mid-weight Home Dec print for the lining

• ⅞ yd (0.8 m) of 44″ (112 cm) wide light- to mid-weight coordinating solid fabric for the divider panels

• 3 yd (2.74 m) of 20″ (50.8 cm) wide fusible woven interfacing (I use Shape Flex SF-101 by Pellon)

• 2⅛ yd (1.94 m) of 20″ (50.8 cm) wide Peltex #70 by Pellon or a similar extra-heavy stabilizer

• One 12″ (30.5 cm) coordinating zipper (I use Coats brand)

• One size ¾″ (1.9 cm) magnetic snap (I use Prym-Dritz brand)

• 1 spool coordinating all-purpose thread (I use Coats Dual Duty XP)

See Basic Tools Needed for Each Project
(page 14)
.

• Masking tape

• Marker

• Hand sewing needle

• Safety pin

• Zipper foot for your sewing machine

• Main panel

• Divider panel

• Flap

• Handle bracket

• Side panel

Tip: Using a piece of masking tape and a marker, write the name of each panel on the tape and place it on the individual fabric pieces to identify them
.

a. Fold the fabrics in half lengthwise,
Wrong
sides together, matching the selvage edges,* and gently press a crease. Open the fabric and then fold the edges in 9″ (23 cm) toward the
Wrong
side. This will give you enough folded edges to cut out all the pieces.

• Cut 2 main panels on the fold*

• Cut 2 flaps on the fold

• Cut 2 side panels on the fold

• Cut 4 handle brackets

b. Open the fabric. Using a ruler and fabric marker, measure and mark the dimensions below directly onto the
Right
side of a single layer of fabric. Then, cut along the marked lines.

• Cut 1 bottom panel: 4½″ (11.4 cm) wide × 16″ (40.6 cm) long

• Cut 4 tags: 2″ (5.1 cm) wide × 2½″ (6.4 cm) long

• Cut 4 tie ends: 2″ (5.1 cm) wide × 6½″ (16.5 cm) long

• Cut 2 short handles for handbag: 4½″ (11.4 cm) wide × 22″ (55.9 cm) long

OR

• Cut 2 long handles for shoulder bag: 4½″ (11.4 cm) wide × 30″ (76.2 cm) long

• Cut 2 main panels on the fold

• Cut 2 side panels on the fold

c. Open the fabric. Measure and mark the dimensions for the bottom panel directly onto the
Right
side of a single layer of fabric. Then, cut along the marked lines.