Spots & Stripes Bag

By Spotlight

Create this decorative bag using the fabrics from the 'Spots & Stripes' range.

Final Result

Materials

Fabrics are from ‘Spots & Stripes’ range
• 40cm red/white spot fabric
• 8cm x 55cm strip spot fabric (pink)
• 9 x 10cm square scraps spots & stripes fabrics
• 50cm black homespun
• 40cm fusible pellon
• 24cm black zipper
• Button
• Matching Gutermann 100% cotton thread
• Rotary cutter, mat & quilters rulers
• Quilting pins, tape measure
• Scissors, seam ripper
• Hand needle
• Sewing machine with zipper foot
• Iron

Step 1

From ‘spots & stripes’ fabric scraps cut 9 x 8cm squares. Stitch the squares together in 3 rows of 3 and press seams open. Aligning seams sew the rows together to make a 9-patch block. Press seams open.

Step 2

Cut two 8cm x 20cm strips black homespun and sew to top and bottom edges of 9-patch from step 1. Press seams open. Cut two 8cm x 32cm strips black homespun and sew to each side of the block. Press seams open. Block should be 32cm square. This is the front.

Step 3

Cut a 32cm square of red spot fabric for the back.

Step 4

Cut 2 x 32cm squares fusible pellon. Fuse one square to the wrong side of the red spot square (step 3) and one to the 32cm 9-patch square from step 2. Machine quilt the 9-patch block and the red spot square as desired.

Step 5

Press the top edge of front and back pieces under 1cm. Pin zipper to the centre of the folded top edge of front and sew in place using zipper foot. Pin the other side of the zipper to the folded top edge of the back panel and sew in place.

Step 6

For the strap cut a strip of black homespun 8cm x 55cm place right sides together with spot fabric strip. Sew together down both long sides using 1.5cm seam allowance. Place strips wrong sides together and stitch close to both long edges. Turn through to right side and press. Topstitch down both long sides 5mm from the edge.

Step 7

With right sides facing and zipper open, pin front and back panels together along the bottom edge. Sew together and press seam open. Pin and sew side seams. Press seams open.

Step 8

To create the base, flatten out the bottom and match the side seam to the seam at the bottom of the bag, right sides facing. Pin together. To create a 9cm base mark 4.5cm down from the point and rule across to form a triangle. Stitch across end and trim seam to 1.5cm, cutting off the point. Repeat for the other end of the base of the bag. Turn right side out and press.

Step 9

Repeat for the top of the bag, matching the side seam to the zipper at the top. Mark 4.5cm down from the point and rule across to form a triangle. If you have centered the zipper, this line will fall just outside the ends. Before pinning, insert one end of the strap into the seam from the right side. Stitch across end and trim seam to 1.5cm, cutting off the point. Repeat for the other top corner of the bag, inserting other end of strap into the seam. Turn right side out and press.

Step 10

For lining cut 2 x 32cm squares black homespun. Press the top edge of each piece under 1cm and topstitch in place. With the right sides facing stitch the two squares together at the sides and press seams open. Sew together along bottom edge and press seam open.

Step 11

Create base in lining as for bag in step 8, and finish top corners as in step 9.

Step 12

With lining wrong side facing out place inside bag, aligning all corners. Pin and hand stitch top edge of lining along inside of zipper.

Note

1cm seam allowance is used throughout unless otherwise stated.