It's in the Bag

This bag started out as a beautiful piece of hand-printed fabric from Moontea Artwork. I purchased it from their website as a birthday present for my sister and promised to make her something from it. She decided a bag would be quite handy and she even offered up a favorite tote I could use as a pattern.

The printed fabric was 13” X 36” so I cut it into two pieces (20”X 13”). I bought  rust colored linen to make the bag big enough and to show off the hand printed linen. I cut one 36” long length by 8” wide. This goes all the way around from top, across the bottom and up the other side.

 

 

I pinned the pieces wrong sides together first and sewed very close to the edge, joining the rust fabric to the print. I pressed seams flat then turned the bag inside out and sewed right sides together.

 

 

 

It’s called a french seam. This way there are no raw edges inside the purse to fray. It’s just a nice clean way for finishing.

 

 

 

 

 

I made straps out of the rust linen and pinned them in place. I then stitched through all layers so they are securely attached to the bag.

 

I think this is a great way to use a favorite piece of fabric. By choosing a contrasting plain fabric for the sides and bottom the focus is on the design. Linen is a wonderful fabric to work with and it’s strong which is great for bags.

I’m working on another bag in a beautiful periwinkle blue. I’m taking lots of pictures and making notes which I’ll share next week. Bags are great to make as gifts and hopefully my instructions will encourage you to find some favorite fabrics and give it a try.

                        

Comments

[Tiffanie]

I love this fabric! What a chic bag...I need one!