Free Crafting Ideas, Projects and Tips: April 2015

And with no hand sewing.

I just love these lined box-bags, they are fantastic for make-up, pencil cases and any bits and pieces. Make a matching set; a shoe bag; spectacle case; handbag a bag for so many uses. Experiment with different sizes. And because the zip goes down the sides, you can easily get to whatever you want to keep in there.

They are great for using up scraps of fabric and recycled zips. Make them the size of your scrap.

Add some beading or a tassel to the zip for that extra special touch.

Make them for your friends but I’m sure you will want to keep them yourself.

Skill level –

Intermediate

Time to make

Less than 1 hour

What you need

Scissors
Sewing Machine
Zip – 12” (30cm)
Two pieces of contrasting fabric 15” x 12” (38cm x 30cm)
Thread
Optional tassel or beading
This will make a bag approximately 5” long x 4” wide x 3” high (13cm x 10cm x 7.5cm).

Instructions

Cut the fabric to size.

Remember in this bag the length of the bag is the shorter of the sides (12”).
Take the outside fabric and stitch the zip to the right-side of the fabric close to the teeth

Lay the lining over the zip right sides together and stitch the zip (a little further away from the teeth).

Once stitched, if you open up the fabric, right sides on top, this is what it looks like.

Flip over so the the fabric lays wrong sides together and the zip is flat. Press the zip line if you wish.
Bring the bottom of the outside fabric up to meet the top edge of the zip (right sides together). Pin the fabric to the edge of the zip and stitch close to the teeth.

Now turn over the fabric so that the lining is on the top.

Fold up the bottom of the lining (right sides together) and stitch to the edge of the zip (a little further away from the teeth).

Now you have two tubes attached by the zip. Press the zip line again if you wish.

Open up the top tube so that you are looking at the right side of the lining. Get a hold of the lining……

and turn the whole thing inside out

This will leave you with the bag inside out.
Now for the side seams.
Fold the bag in half with the zip at the top and pin to mark the bottom fold line. Do this at both ends.

Flatten the bag with the zip in the centre and pin the zip to match the bottom fold in the picture above. Important - Make sure that the zip is partly open at this stage or you won’t be able to turn it back to the right side.

Stitch down the two side seams and neaten. If you have an overlocker – great, if not use a stitched zig zag stitch.

Now the tricky bit to make the boxed corners. Take your time with this as this is what gives the bag it’s shape. Sorry for the blurred picture.
Pinch the corner, so that the seam meets the original bottom fold line (where you pinned it) as closely as you can. You can usually line this up by feeling with your fingers.

Pin the seam line to the bottom fold line and flatten the fabric.

Now mark a point 1.5” (3.5cm) from the corner down each side and draw a line across. Stitch this line and neaten the edge. Do this for all four corners. If you don’t take care here the box will end up a strange shape. They must all be the same.