Читать книгу 3 Beautiful Bags - Lisa Lam - Страница 9

c

d

Fig c I prefer to pin and cut around the pattern pieces

because it’s faster than tracing the pattern and then cutting.

Fig d While the pattern is still pinned to the fabric, transfer

the various pattern markings onto the fabric.

Label snob …

Label your pattern pieces before and after

using them; fold them carefully, and

store in an envelope. Also store in the

envelope any notes you make during bag

construction, ready for next time.

Modifying

Patterns

If you are a sewing ‘newbie’ the thought of

deviating from a pattern may seem like a crazy

thing to do, but it’s actually very easy to make

pattern modifications to suit you (or your outfit!).

In their simplest form, bags are a front, a back

and a couple of handles. But you can jazz up

even a basic bag by changing its size, adding a

pocket, inserting a zip or a snap, or changing the

handles, for example. Here you will find guidance

on changing the size of the bag as the first step

to modifying a pattern. Because bag making is

less complicated than dressmaking you’ll find

that it’s far more forgiving if you haven’t quite

got the measurements 100 per cent right. In fact,

half the fun of bag making is that you can often

make it up as you go along. I do it all the time!

Getting Started

Increasing the size

•

First decide how much larger you would like

your finished bag to be. Take that measurement,

divide it in half and add that halved measurement

all around the edge of the bag pattern piece(s).

Say, for example, you want your finished bag to

be 10cm (4in) larger overall; you would add a 5cm

(2in) margin all around the outside of the bag

pattern piece(s). Always remember to add on your

seam allowance if you haven’t already.

•

N.B. If your pattern piece is marked with a ‘place

on fold’ instruction you will need to add your

margin around all pattern edges except the edge

where you are instructed to ‘place on fold’.

Decreasing the size

•

First decide how much smaller you would like

your finished bag to be. Take that measurement,

divide it in half and subtract that halved

measurement from all around the edge of the

bag pattern piece(s). Say, for example, you want

your finished bag to be 10cm (4in) smaller overall;

you would subtract a 5cm (2in) margin from all

around the inside of the bag pattern piece(s),

remembering to include your seam allowance if

you haven’t already.

•

N.B. If your pattern piece is marked with a ‘place

on fold’ instruction you will need to subtract your

margin from around all pattern edges except the

edge where you are instructed to ‘place on fold’.