Vintage Fabric Bag

Hey, I'm Anna and I work in Oxfam Oxford Road as volunteer on Monday afternoons.

I study Fashion and Textile Retailing at the University of Manchester and love crafting and making things out of old fabrics and odds and ends.

A few weeks ago I spotted some old floral fabric which was donated to the shop and decided that it would be perfect material to make a bag!

So as soon as I got back to my flat I had a look through some of my crafting magazines and I remembered that I'd seen a pattern in one of them for a messenger bag.

If you've never heard of Mollie Makes then you should check it out. It's a new crafting magazine full of contempory and fresh ideas, great photos and inspiraition to get you crafting.I've seen it for sale in Sainsbury's, Fallowfield as well as W.H.Smiths and I guess in the more niche shops in the Northern Quarter too.

Ok, so it's probably something to buy as a treat (it sells at £4.99 per issue) but it will fuel your crafting thirst for at least a few weeks! That's if you're anything like me!

http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/

The magazine's designed to be really easy to follow and make things from and comes with templates which you can copy from the magazine or download and print from the internet!

Here's the link to the pattern peices see pages 2-5

http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/sites/molliemakes.themakingspot.com/files/attachments/mms10.blog_templates.pdf

The pattern and method I used is by designer Jane Hughes of teawagon.blogspot.com and it’s really easy to follow.

All you need is:

120cmx75cm medium-weight fabric (for the outside), 100cmx75cm lighter weight (for the lining), ric-rac, ribbon or lace for the pocket decoration, 1 button, small piece of velcro, thread, tape measure, pins, scissors and a sewing machine.

Method:

Outer bag

1. Cut out the templates from the link above and place on fabric.
2. Take the front pocket and hem over the top (1cm from the top). Mark the centre point 1cm down and sew a button hole.
3. Place ribbons and decoration on the front pocket and sew in the desired place.
4. Place the front pocket piece face down onto the front of the bag and sew together (right sides together) leaving a 5mm seam allowance.
5. Pin and sew the front and side panels (right sides) together and snip the corners to allow movement.
6. Press the seams.
7. Take the back piece and pin and sew to the side (like you did with the front).
8. Press a 2cm hem at the top of the fabric.

Lining

1.  Take the inside pocket piece and hem the top (1cm). Fold over the other three sides of the pocket (1cm) and press.
2. Place the pocket in the desired place on the back lining piece and sew along the sides and bottom of the pocket – leaving the top open.
3. Sew the side panel of the lining to the front and back panels of the lining (right sides of the fabric facing).
4. Press a 2cm hem at the top of the lining fabric.
5. Pin and sew the velcro to the centre front of front and back of the lining. Leave the lining inside out.

Strap

1. Take the strap fabric and fold under 1cm on both edges along the length. Fold in half lengthways, wrong sides together, press and sew along the edge.

Assembling

1. Place the lining (inside out) in the outer bag.
2. Pin and the lining to the main bag at the top inserting the strap between the outer and the lining. Make sure that the strap is not twisted.
3. Sew together along the top and then run another row of stitching 1cm below for strength.
4. Cut open the button hole and sew your button in place.

 

So here's the end product and I love it!