I attended sewing classes with Rachel Mills at Greens Fabric in Blackburn for a year in 2011/12. Rachel used the making of bags to explain many of the key skills in sewing, Zips, Bagging, Straps, Button Holes, French Seams etc. I learned a great deal which set me off on this path. Thanks Rachel.
I like making bags they are always useful, well received as gifts and satisfying when finished.
Japanese Patchwork Bag
Judy at the craft club gave me this pattern from a magazine. Japanese patchwork involves folding and sewing material. The squares start off as circles. Mine were 6inch diameter red spotty fabric. You then make a running stitch around the circle. Using a 5 inch circle of card you pull in the draw string, tie the thread and iron the edge inwards. Then take a 4 inch square of card board and iron 4 edges of the circle into the middle of the square card to make a square.
Cut wadding and alternate fabric 4 inches square and place in the middle of the red spotty square. Using a running stitch sew around the central edges incorporating all the layers. You finish with a square of padded fabric with semi circular edges to the centre and a pretty central panel. Repeat 30 times!!
Once you have all your squares sew them together with tiny stitches, right sides together. I made 2 x 3x3 squares and 2 x 2x3 squares and finally put them together.
I made a rectangular bottom added padding for strength and then lined the bag and put on the handles. Method below.
This was a long term, bit by bit project. At the Empress Mills Show (great family run fabric shop in Colne, Lancashire) there was a whole quilt made with Japanese squares, I certainly take my hat off to the creator.
It won a first prize in the W.I. show. I would never have made this if there had not been a patchwork bag on the show list.
Baby Bags/Fabric Satchels
Hannah’s Owl Bag
Nicole’s Sweetie Jar Bag
Carla’s Bunting Bag
My Sewing Pattern Bag.
Once you have a fabric addiction it can be a problem and occasionally a project comes along that allows you to use up some of your stash.
I bought ‘Lisa Lams, Bag Making Bible’ and this pattern was in it. The original is a more complicated computer bag with lots of internal pockets and separators. I went simple as the list of required items was mind boggling, with things like fusible interfacing (?) etc. I used bag liner from Empress Mills, you can also use ‘curtain liner’ from Immanuel in Burnley which also works well. It is plain cotton with a layer of fine wadding adhered to it. It is the bag makers friend, as it adds substance to a bag without making it too stiff.
The first one was tricky and probably the best as I tried really hard. The others got easier with practice. I really don’t mind repeating items as it really improves your skills. I have made lots of bears and they do get better with practice.
Sling Bags
These sling bags were made from a pattern on the net. The first followed the pattern exactly. I shortened the handle length for the Bear Bag.
Basket with Flower
I bought this basket for £2 at a car boot sale in Ayr. It still had its Monsoon label on it. I brightened it up with a fabric flower. The flower was supposed to be an easy thing to make in volume, but it took so long to make that I had to think of something else.
Cycle Bags for Isabella and Luca
Not even our beloved god children escape my homemade gifts. I saw these on a website and bought some funky fabric to make them. The handles Velcro around the bike handle bars. I did fill them with sweets to make them more appealing.
Yaz’s Patchwork Bag
I took the daffodil bag (below) to work and Yaz asked me to make her one. She had this fabric which had gold motifs on it. I cut out the best motifs and made the bag and used another of her fabrics to line it. She also gave me some Sari fabric which I am still too scared to use, as its so lovely. I need to improve my edging skills first.
Daffodil Bag – Fractured Flowers Method
Annette and I went to the W.I. office in Leyland to learn how to create patchworks using the fractured flowers technique.
The back of the bag shows the original fabric pattern used.
The fabric is cut into 3 x 3 squares and then re-assembled on a specific grid pattern which eventually produces a kaleidoscope effect.
Tote Bags
All the following bags were made using the method we learned from Rachel at Greens Fabrics. By slightly altering the sizes and fabrics quite different bags are produced.
