Over the last year or so I’ve been gradually amassing a sizeable collection of fabrics – vintage pieces picked up from markets and vintage shops, end of line pieces from my local fabric shop and bits and bobs left over from fashion projects. I always liked the idea of making bags and accessories with them so this week I’ve got into the Jubilee spirit (a little early I know) and made a crown-decorated shoulder bag. I’m so pleased with how it turned out, that I thought I’d share a little DIY…
So, here’s what you’ll need:
- Assorted pieces of fabric, medium weight for the outer part and lightweight for the lining
- Felt for the crown, or other haberdashery pieces for embellishment
- Cotton, needle and pins
- Scissors for paper and fabric
- Paper and pencil for cutting the pattern
- Button
1 ) Copy the pattern pieces below onto paper and cut out. Alternatively, here are lots of similar bag patterns around that you could use. This one came from the fabulous Mollie Makes magazine (issue 10). Pin the pieces onto your chosen outer and lining fabrics and cut.
2) Take the inside pocket piece, fold over each edge once and the top edge twice and press with an iron. Then pin it to one right side of the lining fabric and sew. *Don’t forget to check you have the pocket and the lining piece the right way up*
3 ) Pin the side/base strip all around the edge of the lining piece, right sides together. Gather at the corners to make the strip bend around. Then sew!
4 ) Pin the second piece of lining fabric to the side/base strip, right sides together, and sew. Now you should have an inside-out bag – that’s the lining done!
5 ) Next, add your decoration to the outer bag pocket. It could be a felt crown, some lace or a row of buttons – whatever you have lying around.
6 ) Fold the top edge of the front pocket over twice, creating a seam with around one inch width. Press with an iron and top stich the top and bottom of the seam. Then sew a button hole into the seam. (Or you could sew on a small strip of velcro if you’re a button hole novice.) Sew the front pocket onto the right side of the outer bag piece, pocket facing out.
7 ) Repeat steps 3 and 4, exactly the same, so you are left with another inside out bag, with all the right sides facing inward. Now turn the bag the right way out.
8 ) Take the shoulder strap piece, fold both long edges over by 1cm and press. Then fold the strap in half lengthways and press again. Topstitch along both long edges.
9 ) Press all the seams of the outer bag out with an iron. Fold the top edges inwards one inch and press. Take the lining and fold the top edges outwards and press. Insert the lining into the outer bag with each end of the shoulder strap inserted into the sides of the bag between the outer fabric and the lining. Pin in place.
10) Top stitch all the way around the top edges of the bag. Then all you have to do is sew a button onto the front of the bag, exactly behind the button hole and voila! Your shoulder bag is ready to roll.
Then you can go on to design lots of different finishes!
