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Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

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Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved


Supplies:
43 separated zipper (I would recommend a heavy-duty metal zipper)
1 yard of Canvas Fabric A for bottom section and lining
2 yards of Canvas Fabric B for middle and upper sections
Nylon handle
Stabilizer or Cotton Batting
Chip board
Quilting rulers of various sizes (Optional)
Sewing feet I used
Standard foot,
Overcast foot(I use this one for straight stiches along edges works great as a guide for a straight line)
Zipper foot
All seam allowances are inch unless otherwise instructed

NOTE:

The pictures displayed are from two different bags the larger and the smaller bag; the fabric will vary between the two bags as photos attached are representations
from either bag.

Tips

I always cut my pattern for the bag so that the width is cut on the crosswise length to give the bag room to stretch width wise. You do not want the fabric to stretch lengthwise as this will
distort the bag when more items are added. Below is an example of fabric on the fold. Be sure that your fabric is square.

Top Section
11 x 7

Middle Section
11 x 10

o Lengthwise has very


little give
o Crosswise has more
give and stretch

Crosswise

Folded Edge (Illustration 1)


Bottom Sections
11 x 12

Crosswise grain

Folded Edge

Lengthwise grain

Salvage (I always cut away salvage)


1. I set my stitch length to 2.80 inches as this gives a nice stitch
- not too short and not too long - which is important in
constructing bags.
2. I double stitch ALL my seams for durability.
3. To the right is an example of cutting the fabric in what
direction. Keep in mind I used two fabric prints for the
example shown here.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

Lengthwise
The middle and top piece would be cut on coordinating
fabric - not as shown above.

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CUTTING MEASUREMENTS FOR ALL PIECES


Be sure to cut on FOLD as illustrated above
Bottom Section
Cut 4 from Fabric A @ 11 x 12
Cut 2 from cotton batting or stabilizer @ 11.5 x 12
Middle Section
Cut 2 from Fabric B on fold @ 11 x 10
Top Layer
Cut 2 from Fabric B on fold @ 11 x 7
Cut 2 from cotton batting or stabilizer @ 21" x 6
Handles
Cut 2 from Fabric A @ 3 x 21 (this measurement is not on
fold) cut as indicated
Cut 2 from Nylon handle @ 19

Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved


To keep the fabric from shifting while
you cut, place a pin or two next to
the ruler on each side

4. You will now have 4 pieces with each of the corners cut out.

Instructions:
BOTTOM SECTION (cut the width on the crosswise as indicated in Illustration 1
on page 2)

1. Cut out all of your pieces to construct the bottom:


o Cut 4 from Fabric A 11.5 x 12 long (cut the width of
the bag on the crosswise grain) you will have 4 cut piece
23 x 12 once unfolded.
o Cut 2 from cotton batting or stabilizer
2. Next, you will cut out the bottom corners to form the
corners of the bag.
3. Stack all 4 pieces of Fabric A one on top of each other.
Place the square quilt ruler to measure a 5 square.
Your side and bottom of the ruler will be placed right at the
5 mark.
5. Do the same thing with the 2 pieces you cut out from the
cotton batting or stabilizer.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

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Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved

Lining
6. You will now construct the lining of the bag by taking two
pieces of the fabric, with right sides placed together, and
sew each seam line . You will do both side edges and the
bottom edge.

9. You will now have the seams matched up. Pin and run a
straight stitch.

10. Do this for the other side as well. Your inner bottom liner is
now complete. Set aside for now.
7. Take the constructed piece to the ironing board and iron
open the seams.
8. You will now construct the corners of the lining. Take the
bottom edge of the lining at the seam on one side and
match it up to the side seam.

Match seam to seam

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

11. Take the remaining two pieces of Fabric A and 2 pieces of


the cotton batting or stabilizer to create the outer part of the
bag bottom. Place one piece of the fabric, right side face
down on your surface, and place the batting on top, being
sure to line them up with all edges flush.
12. Pin them together as you will now take it to your sewing
machine and baste stitch all edges. I do this to make the
construction of the outer pieces easier and also give it more
stability.

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Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved

16. Pin in a couple places just to hold them together. Set aside
as you work on the next two layers.

13. You will need to sew it together with the fabric face down on
the machine, as the batting or stabilizer will tend to slide or
get hung up if you do it the other way. Complete the
remaining fabric A and stabilizer the same way

MIDDLE & TOP SECTIONS


Middle Section 11 x 10
17. For the middle section, you will place each piece with right
sides together, and sew a straight stitch along one end of
the 10 side.

hem do not sew hem closed just press it

straight stitch
Leave as raw edge to
be tucked in later

14. You will now construct the outside of the bag bottom the
same way you did in steps 7 & 8.

18. Press the seam open. You will also fold down one of the unsewn ends to create a hem. (See Illustration above).

15. Now that both bottom sections are constructed, you will
place the lining inside the other bottom section with the
WRONG sides of fabric A facing each other.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

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Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved

Seam is placed in the center of the piece


on the back side. You will also notice
that on this side the end is the end that
has the casing.

19. Now you will fold the RIGHT sides together, matching up
the seams. You will have a folded piece that is now 45 in
length and 5 in width.

20. Once you have sewn the bottom seam, you will then turn
this piece inside out and take it to the ironing board,
pressing the seam open with it placed in the center of the
section. I do this so that it will not be placed at a seam point
of the sections and cause bulkiness. The placement of the
seam in the middle of this section helps for when the bag is
folded and zippered.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

21. You are now going to tuck the raw edge of the other side
into the side that has the casing. Be sure to line it up
in. (I cheat and iron a seam and then just quickly
pressed it back open leaving a slight line there for me to use
as a guide for accurate lining up of the two pieces).

22. Using the overcasting sewing foot sew a straight stitch to


join the two ends. I recommend a double straight stitch to
reinforce the seam.

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Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved


CONSTRUCTION OF THE BAG LAYERS
27. You should now have 3 sections to sew together.

23. Set aside to construct later.


Top Section 11 x 7
24. Construct the top section exactly the same way you did the
middle section in step 19 through 20, as you will need to
insert the cotton batting or stabilizer before doing step 22 to
this piece by following the steps below.

28. We will first sew the bottom section & zipper together. Place
the zipper face down and pin in place. Once all pinned and
the zipper lines up correctly, sew a basting stitch to hold the
zipper in place.

25. Slide the batting into each end of the finished pieces to add
stability to the top of the bag.

29. Take the middle section (with the seam facing out) place it
on the outside of the bottom section and zipper being sure
to match up ends pinning in place as you go.
26. Now complete step 22 as you did for the middle section.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

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30. Sew a straight stitch with a zipper foot all around. Do this
twice to reinforce the seam.

(I trim the inside seam of the RAW Fabric back just 1/8
before I top stitch the top of the bottom section to the
zipper part. This will reinforce the seam and hide the raw
edge leaving a completed seam.)

Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved

32. Straight stitch the bottom section to the zipper for a finished
look.

33. You will now work on the middle and top section. I fold the
middle section in half and tuck it into the bottom section.

31. Flip the zipper face up on the fabric and pull the middle
section nice and tight to take out any creases.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

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Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved


36. Sew a straight stitch (I always do a double stitch seam for
reinforcement).
Handles
37. Cut 2 pieces from Fabric A @ 3 x 21 . Cut 2 pieces
from the nylon handle @ 19.
Top lip of the middle section

Zipper top part

34. Line up the middle top lip with the zipper top part and the
top section of the bag and pin being sure that the seam is
facing out sew a straight stitch.

38. Press a seam on both short ends. Place right sides


together and sew a straight seam along the long side. Turn
right side out.

35. To explain this in more detail, you will take the middle
section top lip you tucked in and line it up with the top part
of the zipper. At the same time, you will also line up the
end of the top section that you have placed around the
outside of the bag (seam facing out) and pin that as well.
Once it is pinned in place, you should have a nice finished
look with your middle section neatly folded into the bag.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

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39. Insert the nylon handle into the Fabric handle to give the
handle more strength and stability.

40. Attach the handles to the top of the bag in the position you
would like them. I placed them 4 from each side seam of
the bag and 1 down from the top.

Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved


Bottom Insert
42. Cut a piece of chipboard or cardboard 11 x 10
Cut a piece from Fabric A 24 x 11 1/8

43. To create the cover for the chipboard you will press and set
the two short ends with a hem. I created a template
from Cardstock to get a perfectly straight hem line. You
will fold the end over the cardstock as the cardstock works
as a template and stopper on how much to fold over.

41. Sew a cross stitch into the handle. I call it the barn door
stitch. I do this several times for each handle end for
stability.
Your bag is almost done. I opted for a ribbon and button
closure. You could add a magnetic snap by adding it BEFORE
you construct the top piece.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

(Place the cut piece of Cardstock right up to the end of the


fabric and fold over. You know have a perfectly straight hem)

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44. Fold over right sides together hemmed end to hemmed end
and sew a straight stitch. Clip corner.

Shannon D. Hebert - All Rights Reserved


EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS
northerngirlstamper@yahoo.com

COPYRIGHT 2012 BY Shannon Hebert - All Rights Reserved. These


instructions are copyrighted by US Federal & International Copyright laws
and has been registered with the Copyright Registry. You are not allowed to
redistribute these instructions in any manner whatsoever. This includes
digital format, including scanning or copying. You are not to email in any
format or distribute in any way via the internet or intranet. These
instructions are not to be posted in any blog, in part or whole.
For personal use only - NOT for commercial use or resale.
You may Post a link for others to purchase the instructions from me directly
in your blog, followed by a picture.

45. Turn right side out and press.


46. Slip the chipboard/cardboard into the sleeve and insert into
the bottom of your bag for stability.

Shannon Hebert www.northerngirlstamper.blogspot.com

You may not create a finished product for sale in any manner from these
instructions.
I have made every effort to be sure that these instructions are complete. I
do not guarantee that there is no human error or typographical error that
has gone unnoticed.

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