HAND BAGS

Materials needed:

1/2 yard canvas for base and handles

1/2 yard canvas for bag body

1/2 yard canvas for lining

1 yard fusible interfacing

Cut 2- 16 1/2 in. W x 12 in. L canvas for bag body (cut 2 pieces of fusible same size)

Cut 1- 16 1/2 in. W x 10 in. L canvas for base (cut 1 piece of fusible same size)

Cut 2- 16 1/2 in. W x 16 3/4 in. L canvas for lining (I put fusible on lining to make the bag stiffer. If you want to do that, you need 2 yards of fusible.)

Cut 1- 9 in. W x 12 in. L for pocket (you can make pockets any size you want and make however many you want.)

Cut 2- 4 in. x 24 in. for straps

(Things in gray are changes I made)

Step 1: Iron all the pieces so they look like above picture. Fusible goes on back side of fabric with the bumpy side facing fabric. You should have directions when you buy it. The handles you fold in half and iron, unfold, then fold in both sides to meet at centerfold, then fold again and iron so they end up being an inch wide. Pockets I fold in half and iron right sides facing each other.

Step 2: Top stitch handles along both sides to close edge.

Step 3: Sew pockets, except leave a little opening to turn right side out. Turn them the right way, you can use scissors to poke out corners. Iron flat and tuck in the opening.

Step 4: Sew pockets on inside lining and body of bag- or wherever you want your pockets to go. I just eyeball where I want them placed, though you can measure. If I have a big pocket, I like to divide it into compartments. You can sew down the middle of any pocket to make compartments. Be creative!

Opening of pocket faces the 16 1/2 side of the lining.

Step 5: Sew the body pieces of the bag to the bottom piece of the bag. Remember to put right sides facing each other.

Step 6: Make sure you have any pockets you might want on outside sewn on before this step! Fold strip in half, right sides together and sew up the two side edges.

Step 7: Hard to explain so follow pictures. Basically, open out corners and fold to make a triangle. Measure 2 inches down and sew across at 2 inch mark. Cut off excess. Turn right side out.

Step 8: Make sure you have your pockets sewn on and how you want them! Put lining right sides facing each other and line up with pocket openings at top. Sew down both sides and bottom BUT leave about a 5 inch opening in the bottom.

Step 9: Measure and sew corners just like you did with the outside of the bag in step 7. Keep it inside out for now.

Step 10: Pin handles on the outside of your bag (right sides of bag and handle together). I eyeball the placement but you can measure 4 inches in from each side. Sew in place.

Step 11: Put the outside of your bag INSIDE of the inside of you bag. The right sides should be facing each other. Make sure your handles are tucked in between the lining and body of bag. Line up seams on sides and sew around the top of the bag. Then flip bag right side out through the opening you left in the bottom of the lining.

Step 12: Tuck the opening in the bottom of the lining in and top stitch it closed. Then put the lining inside the body of the bag.

Step 13: Top stitch around the top of the bag and your DONE!!! CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!!! YAY!!

Here are some of the bags I have made. They are great for church, toys, outings, diaper bag.........anything you want. You can be creative and add a button closure to the top or zipper maybe (I don't know how to do zippers). On the pink and green one, I hand stitched a little toggle on and then made a loop out of a ribbon and sewed it in between the layers so it sticks out and you can close the bag.

Here are ones that I made for the Sunbeams for their scriptures. They fit the blue Book of Mormons perfectly. The measurements for this size are:

Cut 2: 8 1/4 in. x 6 in. bag body (2 pieces of fusible to match)

Cut 1: 8 1/4 in. x 5 in. base (1 piece of fusible to match)

Cut 2: 8 1/4 in. x 8 1/2 in. lining

Cut 1: 5 in. x 6 in. pocket

Cut 2: 4 in. x 19 in. handle

Follow the same instructions for the big bag and you will get a cute little bag for your kid!!

*If you have any questions, just post a comment and I will try to answer it.