Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags (15 page)

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

• Cut 8 divider panels on the fold

d. Use the panels you have cut out as full-size pattern pieces to cut the interfacing and Peltex.

• Cut 2 main panels

• Cut 2 flaps

• Cut 2 side panels

• Cut 4 divider panels

• Cut 4 handle brackets

• Cut 1 bottom panel

• Cut 4 tie ends

• Cut 2 handles

• Cut 2 main panels

• Cut 1 flap

• Cut 2 side panels

• Cut 4 divider panels

e. On the Peltex main and side panels, the flap, and all 4 divider panels, using your ruler and marker, measure ½″ (1.3 cm) in around the outside edges, and mark. Draw a line connecting the marks. Cut along the marked lines completely around each panel. This will reduce bulk in the seam allowances.

f. Measure and mark the dimensions below directly on the Peltex. Then, cut along the marked lines.

• Cut 1 bottom panel: 3½″ (8.9 cm) wide × 15″ (38.1 cm) long

• Cut 2 short handle inserts: 1⅛″ (2.9 cm) wide × 21″ (53.3 cm) long

OR

• Cut 2 long handle inserts: 1⅛″ (2.9 cm) wide × 29″ (73.7 cm) long

a. On a flat surface, center the Peltex main panel on the
Wrong
side of the first exterior main panel, leaving ½″ (1.3 cm) of the fabric showing around the outside edges.

b. Place the fusible side of the interfacing main panel onto the Peltex. Using a damp pressing cloth,* fuse it in place, sealing the edges and securing the Peltex. Turn the panel over and press it again, making sure there are no puckers.

c. Repeat steps 3a and 3b to attach the Peltex and interfacing to the second main panel, both exterior side panels, the bottom panel, 4 divider panels, and one of the flaps.

d. Place the fusible side of the second flap interfacing onto the
Wrong
side of the second flap. Match the edges and fuse it in place. This will be the lining flap.

e. Repeat step 3d to fuse the coordinating interfacing pieces to both handles, all 4 handle brackets, and the tie ends.

a. Fold the lining flap in half,
Right
sides together, matching the side edges. Gently press a crease along the folded edge. Open the flap.

b. Measure 1½″ (3.8 cm) up on the crease from the center rounded edge and make a mark.

c. Center the male half of the magnetic snap over the crease and above the 1½″ (3.8 cm) mark. Install the snap, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

d. Repeat step 4a to mark the center of the front exterior main panel.

e. On the
Right
side of the exterior main panel, measure and mark 3½″ (8.9 cm) down from the top edge on the center crease.

f. Center the female half of the snap over the crease and below the 3½″ (8.9 cm) mark. Install the snap.

a. Fold both long side edges of the first handle bracket ½″ (1.3 cm) in toward the
Wrong
side, and press.

b. Topstitch* ⅜″ (1 cm) from each folded edge and backstitch* at each end.

c. Fold the top edge 1″ (2.5 cm) toward the
Wrong
side and pin it in place.

d. Place the bracket onto the
Right
side of the front exterior main panel, matching the bottom edges. Place the outside edge of the bracket 1¼″ (3.2 cm) from the right edge of the main panel and pin it in place.

Figure 1

e. Starting at the bottom of the bracket, edge stitch* up along the side edge, stopping ¾″ (1.9 cm) from the top edge. Pivot* and stitch ¾″ (1.9 cm) from the top folded edge; pivot again and edge stitch down the other side edge. Backstitch at each end.

f. Repeat steps 5a through 5e to make and attach a second bracket to the left bottom corner on the front main panel. Then, attach the last 2 brackets to both bottom corners on the back main panel.

a. Fold the first handle in half lengthwise,
Wrong
sides together, and press a crease along the folded edge.

b. Open the handle. Fold each long edge in to meet the center crease, and press.

c. Tuck the Peltex handle insert under one of the folded edges, leaving ½″ (1.3 cm) of the handle showing on each end of the Peltex.

d. Fold the handle in half again at the center crease, enclosing the raw edges. Press and pin.

e. Edge stitch down both folded edges and backstitch at each end.

f. Repeat steps 6a through 6e to make the second handle.

Repeat steps 6a, 6b, 6d, and 6e to make all 4 tie ends.

a. Attach a safety pin to one end of the first tie.

b. Pull the tie through one bracket, centering it within the bracket. Remove the safety pin.

c. Repeat steps 8a and 8b to insert the next three tie ends into the other three brackets.

a. Match the ends of the first tie and place them onto the end of one handle, overlapping by ½″ (1.3 cm). Be careful not to twist the tie. Pin the ends in place. Stitch across the ends of the handle and the tie. Backstitch at each end. (See
Figure 2
.)

b. Trim the raw ends of the tie to ⅛″ (0.3 cm).

c. Place this end of the handle onto the main panel, centering the handle 1¼″ (3.2 cm) up from the folded end of the handle bracket. Pin in place. Using a tight, wide zigzag stitch, satin stitch across the end of the tie end to secure it in place and conceal the raw edges. Backstitch at each end.

d. Repeat steps 9a through 9c to attach the other end of the handle to the tie on the opposite side of the same main panel. Be careful not to twist the handle.

e. Repeat steps 9a through 9d to attach the second handle to the remaining ties on the other main panel.

Figure 2

Figure 3

a. Repeat steps 6a, 6b, 6d, and 6e to make all 4 tags to cover the stitching that attaches the tie to the handle.

b. Fold the first tag under ¼″ (0.6 cm) on each raw end and press in place.

c. Center the tag over the stitching that attached the handle and ties together, and pin in place. (See
Figure 3
.)

d. Edge stitch down both folded edges to attach the tag. Backstitch at each end.

e. Repeat steps 10b through 10d to attach the other 3 tags to cover the stitching that attaches the ties to the handles.

a. Place the bottom edge of the front main panel and one long edge of the bottom panel
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 allowances* toward the bottom panel.

b. Repeat step 11a to attach the back main panel to the other long edge of the bottom panel.

c. Place the side edges of the first side panel
Right
sides together with the main and bottom panels, matching the top edges. Pin the panels together, easing the main panel around the curved edge of the side panel. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam down the pinned edges, starting and stopping at the top edges on the main panels. Backstitch at each end.

Figure 4

d. Repeat step 11c to attach the second side panel to the other side edges on the main and bottom panels.

e. Clip* in the seam allowance along the curved edge, being careful not to clip your stitching.

Please set the exterior aside.

a. Place the exterior and lining flaps
Right
sides together, matching the edges, and pin them in place.

b. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam around the pinned edges, leaving an 8″ (20.3 cm) opening centered on the long straight edge of the flap. Backstitch at each end.

c. Trim* the corners in the seam allowance making sure not to clip the stitching. Then, trim the seam allowance to ¼″ (0.6 cm) along the rounded corners and across the front rounded edge.

d. Clip in the seam allowance around the curved edges every ½″ to ¾″ (1.3 cm to 1.9 cm) to allow the flap to lay flat when turned
Right
side out.

e. Turn the flap
Right
side out, using a turning tool* to gently push out the corners, and press.

f. Fold each side of the opening under ½″ (1.3 cm) toward the
Wrong
side, and press. Pin the edges together. Edge stitch ⅛″ (0.3 cm) from the finished edge completely around the flap. This will close the opening and secure the Peltex inside.

Please set the flap aside.

Repeat steps 11a through 11e to make the lining for the bag.

a. With the exterior
Right
side out and the lining
Wrong
side out, slip the lining over the exterior, matching the top edges and side seams. Tuck the handles down between the two layers and pin in place.

b. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam around the top edge, leaving a 10″ (25.4 cm) opening centered along the back main panel. Backstitch at each end.