Easy Bag Tutorial

There is a giant catholic church and school a block up the hill from our house where Malan will be starting preschool next week. Apparently out here all churches have preschools and that's where everyone sends their kids. We dropped by to enroll and when it was time to leave I had to manhandle Malan to get her out the door. No separation anxiety on her part, but my heart flutters when I think about her being big enough for school.

We went school clothes shopping and looked for a backpack, but couldn’t find a pack both Malan and I liked (I still have a little say). So we decided to make her a preschool bag (while stuff mom makes is still cool.) Here is a tutorial for the bag we made. It took two Janey nap times, so about 4 hours. (You can do it faster if, unlike me, you don't have to unpick things multiple times because you goofed.) These bags are great for trips to the library or anywhere your little one wants to tote stuff.

1. Cut out some sturdy fabric. We used striped canvas for the outside (about 3 bucks worth) and a sturdy cotton print for the liner. Just lay fabric out doubled over with right sides of the fabric together and with the fold at the bottom. then cut it as wide and tall as you want it (add 1/2 to 1 inch for side seam allowances and about 3 inches to the height for folding and the top seam.)

2. If you want to embellish your bag, do it now. sew down the raw edges on an accent fabric rectangle, same width as your bag. Stitch a felt letter or any embellishment you want onto that rectangle. Zigzag stitch the rectangle onto the front of your bag fabric.

3. In our family, pockets are a must for gum and jewels, etc. Create the pockets you want by sewing two squares, rectangles or whatever, together with right sides together. leave one side open. turn right side out. Tuck in raw edge and sew down. Sew your pockets to your lining fabric.

4. (This step gives your bag width, so it wont just lie flat.) Now fold your bag fabric in half again, embellishments on the inside and fold at the bottom. take the fold at the bottom and create a double fold by tucking the bottom fold about an inch into the middle of the fabric. Pin sides.

5. Sew down both side seams, sewing in the fold you made, and reinforce with zigzag stitch. (Unless you are lucky and own a serger.)

6. repeat this process with your lining fabric.

7. then you can add a ribbon or fabric strip around the top of your bag if you want. cut a strip of fabric long enough to wrap around your bag. sew it lengthwise with right sides together, then turn it right side out. tuck in raw edges on both ends. or cut a piece of coordinating grosgrain ribbon to use. pin it above the accent piece on your outer bag, overlapping the ends. sew just the bottom edge down. you will sew the top edge later.

8. now tuck your bag lining into your outer bag with all raw seams on the inside. turn bag inside out so lining is on the outside and bag is on the inside. line up the side seams, turn down the top edge of your bag about 1/2 inch, both bag and lining, and pin it. sew around top edge.

9. turn bag right side out. turn top edge under towards the inside of the bag, hiding your raw edge. then pin your ribbon/fabric strip in place, securing the top edge as well. (ignore the strap in the picture.) sew around top edge.

10. make your bag straps by sewing long strips of your bag and lining fabric together, with right sides together. turn right side out and sew 1/8 inch from each edge to give a finished look. tuck raw ends of straps in and sew shut.

11. sew straps in place where you want them.

12. sew another long strip of fabric, like the straps, but taper the ends, or cut a piece of grosgrain ribbon, for a bow. sew this in place where your other fabric strip overlaps. tie into a knot or bow.

13. enjoy your cute bag!