Bionic Bag

I have been looking at these bags on various internet pages for quite a while, working up the courage to actually start it.  They are really useful as they have 4 zipped pockets and open sections in between to put things in.

Mine would obviously be used to transport sewing things around, but they really can be used for anything.

The main one on the internet had a huge zip, which went right along the top of the bag and attached at the bottom on the side, the intention being to make a shelf/tray for items when the bag is open.  But i think it looks really awkward.

I had been given a set of fat quarters by Susan in Wales and wanted to do something nice with them. 

I also bought 4 zips for the internal sections.  I had a piece of wadded fabric which I tended to use for the outer cover, but as often happens the piece was too small and I ended up using a piece of my ‘I love this too much to use it’ fabric from my stash.

The fat quarters made a perfect pocket size when cut into 4 landscape wise.

I had 9 pieces in all, 2 at the ends to make the inside of the cover and 7 drops to make the 4 pockets and 3 separating sections.

Showing the pocket drop.  3 different fabrics.  Separator, Pocket (spotty), Separator.

First I sorted all the pieces and put them in order.  I had to draw it on my board to get in straight in my head.

I made all the pockets out of spotty fabric so that I knew which piece went where.

The zips were attached first to a separator and a pocket piece on one side and then the other side of the pocket piece and the next separator on the other side.

I ironed the edges over 1cm then attached the 3 pieces with a lot of pins, then one line of stitching to hold it together and repeat.  This probably would have been easier with open ended zips as the end where the zip closes was tricky at the end.

Showing the 10 pieces sewn together.

Showing, Oops the inserts I had to put into the bottoms of the separator pieces to given the separators some space. 

I had to cut the bottoms of the separator pieces and add a 4cm piece, which made a 2cm bottom to each separator, once 1cm seam allowances were taken.  I will make the separator pieces longer next time.

At this point I ironed on some fine iron-on wadding to the side of the pockets to enable it to stand up.  All the pieces of wadding being slightly smaller than the pocket side to make it easier.

Showing bag inner with zips and separators.

The side pieces were the hardest part.  I cut strip twice as high as the pockets plus 4cm and longer than the bag would be, just in case.  I ironed it so that the top of the side would be the folded edge.

Using the centre point of the pocket section as guidance I pinned the ends of the zip pockets down the sides to complete the zip sections and make sealed ends.  Then sewed down each of the 4 pocket ends on each side.

I shaped the side pieces at each end by turning them in on themselves and top sewing the pieces together down the edge, at an angle so that it touched the outer cover and let the bag lie flat.

I cheated a bit on the next section.

I added the outer cover to the pocket section and pinned then sewed all the pieces together down the long sides.

Again ironing on some wadding to the cover piece for strength.  I think I also trimmed a bit off the 2 outer pocket pieces to make it all fit. The cheating came as I hand sewed the whole thing together by turning the outer cover in approx 2cm and making a 1cm binding by folding it in again, as seen above at the bottom.  I turned the ends in last to make the cover stronger.

Finally after much deliberation I added a 3cm x 10cm flap and used velcro pieces inside, so that the bag can be closed no matter how full it is, by using a long piece of velcro on the bag and a smaller piece on the flap.

I have used this constantly since I made it and it comes to craft and chat and every course I attend.

It is complicated and the video on you tube is 28 minutes long and misses out the hard part.  There is a pattern you can buy, but mines unique.