Wednesday, 7 March 2018

It's a finish

Yellow fabric
Black fabric
Retro tea towel
 The tea towel had only enough fabric for the front and back
with a tiny bit left over
so the sides and bottom I made in plain black
 The yellow I used for the inner bag
With a pretty pocket on the back
 The handles were just two strips of material
one black and a thinner yellow
 Inside I made a huge pocket for my file and book
plus a pencil pocket
 Tea bags fit in pocket
plenty of room in middle for everything else
 The straps are long enough to be a shoulder bag
 Another tea towel, with material from my stash
next project ?
Two things dictated the size of this bag, my A4 file and the size of the tea towel, I only had one, purchased in a pack of ten for £5.99, with fabric from my stash, and coloured threads I already had.
I cut the retro patterned tea towel first, making it as long as I could, two pieces for the front and back, I then cut 2 yellow pieces the same size.
I cut 1 black and 1 yellow long wide band for the sides and bottom.
I cut another black and yellow long thin band for the handles. I folded the sides together and ironed each band and then pinned the yellow on top of the black, stitching with yellow thread on the top and black underneath. I would have preferred to had the retro fabric for handles, but I did not want to buy another pack of tea towels for for 1 piece of material.
I then added the pockets to the yellow inner, the big pocket for my folder goes to the bottom of the bag.
Next I stitched the black sides to the front and back of the bag. I then stitched the bottom, making the outer. Then I made the yellow inner in the same way.
I pinned the handles to the outer, measuring to ensure they were central, I placed the inner inside folded the top and stitched both bags together. I prefer to make a bag with an inner, it's much neater inside and the second fabric gives the bag loads of extra strength.
I really enjoy making these simple bags, it was a fun afternoon, and now I have everything together for my next class.
My daughter tells me yellow is in this year, plus retro, so for once I'm on trend.

10 comments:

  1. I love the fabric its really jolly and such a great idea to make it the size to suit the purpose.

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  2. This is fabulous, love the retro fabric.

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  3. That's great, pretty and functional all in one.

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  4. Love your new bag, and Yayy you for being on trend :-)

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  5. I have to take issue with you Marlene πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€

    You commented on my blog how clever I was with fabric, but it is YOU who are the clever one. All I do is make things which are flat, my occasional forays into three dimensions never turn out very well . . . Your bag is so clever, I am looking foward to seeing the next one :)

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  6. A useful bag and lovely to be On Trend!

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  7. Fab bag Marlene. Enjoy using it.

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  8. Wonderful idea for the towel. There are so many cute projects out there for using vintage ones, I've made a little "idea file". Good for yoi for finishing so many things!

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  9. That tea towel was a lovely find. Great bag.

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  10. You are so clever with the sewing machine, its fabulous.

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