Little Shopping Bag Tutorial

Have you been using a little paper shopping bag to carry your lunch? Would you like something sturdier? If your answer is yes, then this tutorial is for you! This tutorial is also for anyone who wants a crafty, reusable gift bag, or just wants to see eyelets in action. The bag pictured above is made using a home dcor weight fabric. Some other fabrics that would work for this project are:

Linen

Oilcloth

Quilters Cotton

2008 by Elizabeth Green / www.ohfransson.com Page 1

Materials

This project can be made in, pretty much, any size youd like. Ive provided dimensions for three sizes here: Height 5 6.5 8 Width 7 8.5 10 Depth 4 4.5 5 Panel Size 10 x 22 12 x 26 14 x 30

Small Medium Large

Once you determine which size youre going to make, cut your exterior fabric and lining to the appropriate panel size as shown above. I recommend using a lighter (no heavier than quilters cotton) weight fabric for the lining. Interface this panel with a lightweight fusible. If youre making the exterior of your bag out of quilters cotton, I recommend interfacing that panel too. If youre using linen or cotton, cut an interlining panel from a mid-weight sew-in interfacing. I used Pellon 40. If youre using oilcloth, vinyl or any heavy material that can stand on its own, skip the interlining. You will also need the following materials and tools: 1 yard Cording or Twill Tape for handles. Choose something that, when tied in a knot, will not slip through the eyelets. 4 Large Eyelets. If you dont already have eyelet setting tools, be sure you buy the package called Eyelet Kit. This package includes the setting tools. Hammer (for setting eyelets) Quilters Ruler (for measuring gussets) Heavyweight/Denim Needle (because there are lots of layers to sew through)

Note: If youre using oilcloth, youll also want a Teflon presser foot. If you dont have a Teflon foot, cut some strips of tissue paper and place them between your project and your presser foot while you sew. This will keep the oilcloth from sticking to your presser foot and can be easily torn away when youre finished sewing. 2008 by Elizabeth Green / www.ohfransson.com Page 2

Lets get started . . .

Prepare exterior panel. Place your exterior panel right side up on top of your interlining panel. Fold the whole thing in half, matching the two short sides. Using a 1/2 seam, stitch both long sides closed. Clip corners as shown, and press seams open. If using oilcloth, finger press the seams open. Dont use an iron on the oilcloth.

Make gussets. Open up one corner to a point, as shown. Using your quilting ruler, mark a line 2 (small), 2.25 (medium) or 2.5 (large) from the point. The line should measure 4 (small), 4.5 (medium) or 5 (large) across. Stitch along this marked line and clip off corner 1/2 from seam. Repeat on other side. Repeat all steps with lining panel, using a 5/8 seam allowance when sewing the side seams.

2008 by Elizabeth Green / www.ohfransson.com Page 3

Join Exterior and Lining Panels. Place the exterior and lining with bottoms together, as shown. Using a zig-zag stitch, stitch the seam allowances together on both sides. Turn the whole thing right-side-out. Use a zig-zag stitch to secure all layers together along the top edge, as shown at left. Trim, if necessary, to make all layers even.

Hem top of bag. Fold the top of the bag toward the inside 1/4" and press. Fold toward the inside again, this time 1, and press. Pin the hem youve created, then stitch in place.

2008 by Elizabeth Green / www.ohfransson.com Page 4

Add eyelets. Mark the placement of your eyelets and use sharp scissors to cut holes the exact size of the center of the eyelets. Remember the old adage you can always cut more, but you cant cut less and err on the side of caution when cutting these holes. Youll notice that there are two pieces to each eyelet. The piece on the left in the above picture (the taller one) will go on the outside of the bag. Place one of these through the outside, as shown at left. Turn the bag over, so the eyelet is now on the table top, but sticking through to the inside as shown in the lower left corner. Fit the second (shorter) piece on top, as shown below at center and, using the setting tools provided and a hammer, set the eyelet into your bag. Repeat this with the other three eyelets.

2008 by Elizabeth Green / www.ohfransson.com Page 5

Now that your eyelets are all set, add handles. Cut your yard of cord or tape in half and feed one end through one of the eyelets, from outside to inside. Tie the end in a knot, so that it cannot slip back out to the front. Feed the other end of the handle through the other eyelet on the same side of the bag, again outside to inside. Adjust the handle to desired length and secure by tying a knot in the end and trimming away any excess. Repeat with the other handle, making sure that handles are the same length.

. . . and youre done!

2008 by Elizabeth Green Not intended for commercial use. / Please do not distribute without my permission.

2008 by Elizabeth Green / www.ohfransson.com Page 6