Читать книгу The Bag Making Bible - Lisa Lam - Страница 13

Make it…The Versatile Book Bag

Here we have three different versions of a basic book bag shape. I bet you can’t stop at one! Master these simple totes and with the help of this book you’ll soon be adding your own cool features like zip pockets, darts and fancy fasteners.

Easy as Pie Pretty fabrics really lift the basic design of this bag.

Flat-Bottomed Girl It’s quick and easy to pop a flat bottom into a bag, and your bag will look that bit more professional.

Peek-a-Boo Pleats Insert a bright fabric into the pleat to make eye-catching peek-a-boo pleats.

Need to know

 As these bags are unlined you might prefer to use fabrics that are the same colour on both sides (self-coloured) such as canvas or linen.

 All seam allowances are 1cm (3⁄8in) unless stated otherwise.

 There are no patterns for these bags as all you need are fabric rectangles. Fabric measurements are given in the instructions.

Easy as Pie & Flat-bottomed girl

The super handy easy-as-pie tote bag is about as basic as can be but that’s no reason for it not to look pretty. Whip up a few in under an hour for emergency presents. Jazz them up by playing with your fabric choices, use posh handles, or try adding a fabric flower. Our flat-bottomed girl is almost the same as the Easy as Pie bag except it has a flat bottom. A flat bottom is so easy to insert, gives the bag some 3D shape, and helps prevent your stuff from getting squashed at the bottom of your bag.

You will need

For each bag

• 1 piece of canvas or linen fabric for exterior, 50cm (¹⁄₂yd) x 112cm (44in) wide

• 1 piece of contrasting medium-weight fabric for bottom panel and straps, 50cm (¹⁄₂yd) x 112cm (44in) wide

• Sewing threads to match the fabrics

• Disappearing marker

Preparation

Cut the fabric pieces as follows:

• Main body panel pattern = 81 x 35cm (32 x 13³⁄₄in) – cut:

• 1 x exterior fabric

• Bottom panel pattern = 35cm (13³⁄₄in) square – cut:

• 1 x contrast fabric

Also cut:

• 2 strips of contrast fabric, 68 x 10cm (26³⁄₄ x 4in), for the bag straps

Assemble Easy as Pie

1 Stitch the bottom panel to the exterior main body panel – take the bottom panel WSU, fold in both short edges 1cm (³⁄₈in) to the WS and iron the folds. Lay the bottom panel RSU onto the centre of the RS of the main body panel and match up the side edges. Check that the short edges of the bottom panel are lying at right angles to the side edges and pin. Stitch the bottom panel to the main body panel by topstitching along the short edges of the bottom panel. See Fig a.

Fig a Ensure that the short edges of the bottom panel are nice and straight on the main panel; you don’t want the bottom panel to look wonky on your finished bag.

2 Stitch the long raw edges – stitch along both long raw edges with a zigzag stitch that’s wide in width and short in length to prevent the raw edges from fraying.

3 Stitch the bag – fold the bag in half widthways RST. Match all edges, pin and stitch along the side edges of the bag. Iron the bag.

4 Fold and stitch the top edge band – with the bag still WSO, fold down the raw top edge 1.5cm (¹⁄₂in) to the WS of the bag and iron the fold. Fold down another 2cm (³⁄₄in) in the same way, iron and pin. Topstitch all around the top and bottom edges of the band ensuring you stitch though all layers 3mm (¹⁄₈in) from the edges. See Fig b. Turn the bag RSO and iron.

Fig b Topstitch all around the bottom and top edge of the bag band.

5 Make up the straps and stitch them to the bag – take the bag strap fabric pieces and follow the steps in Closed-End Straps to make two closed-end straps. On the RS of the bag, measure and mark 8cm (3¹⁄₈in) in from both side seams and 2.5cm (1in) down from the top edge. Place the outer bottom corner of one of the strap ends onto one of the marks you have just made. Pin the strap end in position and stitch to the bag in a box formation for strength (see tip). See Fig c. Repeat with the other strap end and then with the other bag strap.

Fig c Measure and mark the strap end position on the bag, and pin and stitch the strap in place through all bag layers.

Box clever …

To sew a smart-looking box remember to leave the needle in the down position when you reach the end of a line. That way you can turn a perfect 90-degree angle by pivoting your work around the needle.

Happy handles …

Instead of making fabric straps and sewing them to the bag, you could buy ready-made handles and rivet them on. If riveting handles to the bag, reinforce the handle area with fusible interfacing (see Interfacing and Interlining).

Assemble Flat-Bottomed Girl

1 Cut the fabric and stitch the bag together – cut the pattern pieces exactly as listed for the Easy as Pie bag and stitch together following steps 1–4 of that bag (previous page and above).

2 Insert a flat bottom into the bag – with the bag WSO, follow steps 2–4 of Flat Bottoms to insert a flat bottom. From the tip of the triangle measure and mark 2.5cm (1in) on the seam for the bag bottom depth.

3 Make and apply the bag straps – following step 5 of the Easy as Pie bag (above).

Peek-a-Boo Pleats

This version of the versatile book bag has an attractive but easy-to-insert pleat down the centre of the bag. As a bonus, insert a colourful strip of fabric inside the pleat to make pretty peek-a-boo pleats.

You will need

• 1 piece of canvas or linen fabric for exterior, 50cm (¹⁄₂yd) x 112cm (44in) wide

• 1 piece of contrasting medium-weight fabric for insert and straps, 50cm (¹⁄₂yd) x 112cm (44in) wide

• Sewing threads to match the fabrics

• Disappearing marker

Preparation

Cut the fabric pieces as follows:

• Main body panel pattern = 80 x 50cm (31¹⁄₂ x 19¹⁄₂in) – cut:

• 1 x exterior fabric

Also cut:

• 1 piece of contrast fabric, 80 x 19cm (31¹⁄₂ x 7¹⁄₂in), for the pleat insert panel

• 2 strips of contrast fabric, 68.5 x 10cm (27 x 4in), for the bag straps

Assemble the bag

1 Stitch the pleat insert panel to the main body panel – take the pleat insert panel WSU, fold in both long edges 1cm (³⁄₈in) to the WS and iron the folds. Lay the pleat insert panel RSU down the centre of the RS of the main body panel and match up the raw short edges. Pin and stitch the pleat insert panel to the main body panel by topstitching along both long edges of the pleat insert panel 3mm (¹⁄₈in) from the edge. See Fig d1. Fold the bag along the long edges of the pleat insert, iron the folds and topstitch the folds in place 3mm (¹⁄₈in) from the edge on the main body fabric side. See Fig d2. Stitch along both short edges of the main body panel with a zigzag stitch that’s wide in width and short in length to prevent the raw edges from fraying.

Fig d1 Check that the pleat insert panel is perfectly central down the entire length of the main body panel.

Fig d2 Topstitching the pleat edge in this way will ensure the pleats remain permanently folded along the sides.

2 Fold and stitch the pleat into the bag – at the top edge of the bag find the centre of the pleat insert panel and mark. Bring both side edges of the pleat insert into the centre mark, fold and iron in place. Stitch the pleats in place along the top edge with a 5mm (³⁄₁₆in) seam allowance. On the RS of the bag measure and mark 2.5cm (1in) down from the pleat top edge. Stitch a 5mm (³⁄₁₆in) line of zigzag stitches (in forward and reverse) to anchor the pleats on the front of the bag. See Fig e. Repeat for the other side.

Fig e Stitch a dense line of zigzag stitches to anchor the pleats. Try using contrasting thread for added interest.

3 Stitch the bag – following steps 2–3 of the Easy as Pie bag.

4 Fold and stitch the top edge band – with the bag still WSO fold down the raw top edge of the bag 2cm (³⁄₄in) to the WS and iron the fold. Topstitch all around the top and bottom edge of the bag band 3mm (¹⁄₈in) from the edges. Turn the bag RSO and iron.

5 Make and apply the bag straps – following step 5 of the Easy as Pie bag.

Right For maximum effect use an insert fabric that contrasts with the main fabric for real ‘pop’!