UPDATED - Half yard bag Parts 1&2

I've changed the dimensions on this tutorial so you can make a bag from half a yard of fabric and lining. The bag I made previously, used half a metre, but I know a lot of you gals out there work in feet and inches so I very thoughtfully thought of you and altered it to only use a half a yard of standard 44" wide fabric.

I'm so very kind and lovely like that.

I'll just let you take the blame that I haven't tidied up today because I've been obsessed with doing this.

O,k, you will need a large piece of paper measuring 26" x18" ( I taped a load of A4 pieces together) fold the paper in half so that it measures 13"x18".

Mark out the measurements like so

 

Cut away the 4" strips on the left for the base and straps like this.

 

On the right hand side of your main piece, make a little mark 12" up from base. On the left hand side, make a mark 11 and a quarter " up from base, and then scoopity scoop your bag shape something like this.

 

on the right hand side, flatten out the scoop on the bottom edge so it fits in underneath your arm nicely.

 

You should end up with something like this.

 

Keep one of your 4" straps intact for the base, the other, slice in two measuring 18" x "2 for the straps as above.

At this point I have to stop and continue early next week, because it's my eldest boy's 21 st birthday tomorrow and I have to make a chocolate cake.

Although if you saw me, you would never ever believe I looked old enough to have a son that age - contrary to the opinion of my daughter, who once again says it's embarrassing to have the oldest and quite possibly the fattest Mum in the class - one day I'm going to poke her right in the eye.

 

Hmphh,

I'll be back early next week, (tuesday or wednesday I should think) to show how I put the pieces together.

Bye for now

xxx

fatty.

Part 2.

Sorry for the delay, but it got sunny here and the kids were on half term hols, so needless to say,there was no crafting for me.

Anyhoo, here goes with part two,

cut two straps,1 base and two bag pieces from your main fabric and the same from your lining.

 

Next, using those scooped out pieces between the handles, make the pockets. Lay two pieces right side together, you can put lining with lining and main with main or mix it up if you like - it's up to you. Pin and stitch together leaving a gap for turning. Turn right side out, and stitch gap closed. For a nice clean finish, machine stitch along the top edge or hand stitch as I did later if preferred.

 

Stitch pockets in place about 3" down from the top. Let's hope you make a better job of this than I did, mine looks crap to be honest.

 

Now stitch your straps to the left hand side (as you're looking at it) of the bag pieces like so.

For the lining - stitch the straps to the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the bag pieces, DO NOT I repeat DO NOT forget to do this, or things won't match up when you go to sew them together and you will have a lot of unpicking to do. I'm stressing this point , because I'll give you one guess as to who may or may not have made that very mistake first time around.

 

Stitch the base to your bag pieces and repeat for the lining.

Place one of your lining and main fabric pieces right sides together, and pin and stitch all along the top of the bag and straps. Repeat.

 

Now here's the fiddly bit, turn the strap and strap base right side out, and tuck into the pocket so you don't nearly stitch over them later. Cough cough.

 

Next, with right side together, matching up the seams, pin and stitch your bag together leaving a 4" gap for turning on one side of the lining as shown below.

 

 

Next up, flatten all four corners of the bag, and pin and stitch across the previous seam line

 

It should look something like this. trim excess, turn right side out and stitch lining gap closed.

Ladder stitch the free end of the strap to the bag.

 

Then machine or hand stitch all around the top and the handles pressing first for a nice crisp edge,

 

and hand stitch across the top of the pockets if you didn't machine stitch earlier.

 

Just for a bit of fluffy girliness, I then cut some simple flower shapes from the scraps, made little slits in the middle to thread through some linen tape, knotted the linen tape at the front, did a few anchoring stitches at the back, and then stitched the tape to the pocket.

 

All done !

  

Just about the right size for a picnic blanket, some strawberries and a bottle of Champagne.

There are probably easier ways of doing this (there normally are when I do something) but I hope this makes sense to you.

Ta-ra for now,

xxx

Not-so- Fatty.

(I'm on a diet)

Comments

[sfer]

Can you direct me to that tutorial with the dimensions in meters and centimeters?

Thanks!! :-D

[Cornélie]

Yes, for me too... please!!! :-)
A Mom from France

[Carrie]

Just repeat to yourself: "Someday I'll have granddaughters...someday I'll have granddaughters..."

[katy]

oh, don't you just love kids?

21st birthday? Crikey! That's a proper grown up boy, isn't it?!!!

[meg]

this is just the coolest pattern. It's so satisfing to see it all fit together like that, I can imagine it was satifing as hell to come up with it. Now go poke that girl in the eye.

[icantsew]

i can beat that 'kid comment' my youngest every night says 'poo your breath stinks' when i sing her a lullaby and kiss her blessed cheeks! my husband assures me that my breath is acceptable :)
the bag looks great so far and so does your new banner!
%*_*% rosey

[Nancy]

OMG, you made me laugh out loud. I had my first daughter at age 22 so was a normal Mom. Then at age 40 I had the last son. All the kids would tell him how nice it was that his "grandma" came to school for him. LOL I finally covered the gray, but it didn't seem to help any...

Great tute for the bag. I have the perfect fabric... and will start it on Sunday...

[Jen]

My darling 4 y.o. son asks, "Mommy, why do you have a big fat tummy?" The first time he asked, I valiantly choked back shocked tears, reminded myself that he's young and didn't mean to hurt my feelings, yada yada yada.

Now I tell him it's because I was very old (41) when I had him so he broke me. I figure I'm losing ground against him every day, so I'd best get in my best shots now because he's going to win in the end.

Love the bag, thank you!

[Linda]

what a wonderful tute thanks so much can't wait for the rest!!!

[Christine]

That is very kind of you to provide a pattern and do the math for us readers.

My child makes all sorts of remarks about my body too, and everyone elses. I can't seem to shush her. I'm so sorry that it's going around.

[Flo - mycraftyways]

Thank you so much for the very clear tutorial. I'll come back for more next week :)

Kids can be quite blunt sometimes, can't they ?! Sigh.

[raggyrat]

i had twins
and 2 other monsters in there ...
i need ironing ... or some darts, maybe?
cat xxxx

[Mrs Bizzie]

Thanks for free bag pattern, I'll make it when I get some time!!!

[Jane Weston]

Look forward to part 2...very clever how you get all the pieces from such little fabric.

[shula]

Dear Fatty,

Your bird rocks.

[KittyJJ]

Oof, the CHEEK! I'm guessing the 21-year-old is the extraordinarily viewable boy you posted pictures of before? XD

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MASTER MOLLYCHICKEN. And as for Miss Mollychicken, I should say she should be grateful for a poke in the eye and nowt worse.

[UK lass in US]

How kind and lovely you are.

Kids, eh? Before them I had no grey hairs, a flat tummy and no one stole all the apples before I got a chance to eat a single bloody one...

[SmitoniusAndSonata]

When I was 24 , my small daughter asked me , "Mummy , are you very , very old ? " . She's given up mentioning it now we're both nearly 40 years older .

[Winnie]

All of you with younger children, need to teach them the following mantra: I am not responsible for my parents actions; I am not responsible for my parents actions. My daughter, now 26, came up with this all on her own for reasons I won't go into. I will say she has won more "my family is crazier than your family" contests than anyone I know. She would mock your daughter's embarassment.

[Roseanna]

Oh yes, I agree with the granddaughter comment! Besides your granddaughters will adore you and think you are perfect...it's worth the wait!

[PS]

Oh my - this is what I have to look forward to, with a little girl growing right in my belly at the moment and me creeping closer and closer to 40!

I do think a little poke isn't such a bad idea (he he he...)

Thank you for the wonderful pattern! You are so creative!!!

[Estela]

Hello, I was surfing the internet looking for japanese crafts and I discovered your blog! I have been missing out. I love your ideas! Can't wait to get a moment by myself (probably after midnight when the kido's are asleep) and look it over more closely.
Estela

[Christine]

so cheeky - just like my twins, we're not alone! Thank God you can make fun of it!

[Claudia]

Welcome back! I had missed your comments on everyday life. Please remember us continental women who prefer cm to yards. Thanks! Looking forward to your completed tutorial.

[Frizz]

I'm excited to try this!
Can't wait for the rest!