This little bag is a great quick project that can be cut and sewn in a night. It is wonderful for so many things - everything from carrying toys to books to sewing supplies. Make the same bag out of a netting or mesh and you have a wonderful bag for beach or bath toys. (An image of the finished bag is available on our web site under the "free pattern" section)
Materials:
0.8m (7/8 yard) printed cotton or lightweight twill
2.4m (2 5/8 yard) drawstring or cord
thread to match
Instructions:
Wash and dry your fabric. Fold the fabric in half, selvedge to selvedge, right sides together. To make the bag, cut out a piece of fabric 76cm (30 inches) long by 46cm (18 inches) wide. The bag is cut out on the fold of the fabric with the length of the pattern running along the fold resulting in a true size of 76 cm (30 inches) long by 92cm (36 inches) wide.
You will also require a loop for the bottom of the bag for the drawstring to go through (this makes a shoulder holder). Cut out a piece of fabric for the loop that measures 23cm (9 inches) by 8cm (3 inches)
Mark the fold line and the casing lines prior to stitching. From the top of the bag (this is one of the edges that measures 76cm by 92cm) measure down 12cm (5 inches) Mark with chalk or a marking pen this measurement along the length of this fabric. This will become your fold line for self facing and casing.
Now measure again from the same edge this time down 18 cm (7 inches). Mark this again along the length of the fabric. Once more, along the same edge measure down and mark 20cm (8 inches) along the entire edge. You have now made three lines. The first one will be the fold line and the second and third will become the casing lines for the drawstring.
To Make the Loop
Fold the loop piece right sides together, matching raw edges to mark a long cylinder. Stitch down the long seam. Turn to the right side and press flat.
To Make the Bag
Fold the loop you just made in half, matching short edges. From the opposite edge you just mark the fold and casing lines, measure up 7cm (3 inches) from the bottom. Place the loop at the point, matching the raw edges of the loop with that of the bag. Make sure the loop is pointing inwards. Now fold the bag in half, matching right sides and raw edges. The fabric will now look the same as it did when you where cutting out the fabric. Pin along the long edge and stitch. Be sure to attach the loop in your stitching. Press seam open.
For Top Casing
You will need to make buttonholes for the drawstring openings. At the center front of the bag, 7 ½" from the top, make the first buttonhole. Then make two more buttonholes at the center back seam. These buttonholes should be 7 1/2" from the top edge and in 1 ½" from the back seam. Make a buttonhole on each side of the back seam line. Once the buttonholes are complete, finish the raw edge along the top. This is done by making a narrow hem, pressing it in place and folding again. Press and stitch in place. After the narrow hem is complete, fold the upper top edge along the fold line, making sure the fabric is wrong sides together and the fold is going to the inside of the bag. Stitch along the upper casing marks previously made. Stitch again along the second stitching line, making the casing for the drawstring.
Once the casing is complete, thread one piece of drawstring from the front all the way around and out the front buttonhole again. Thread the second piece of drawstring through one of the back button holes, coming out at the other back button hole. Taking the drawstring, thread one piece through the fabric loop at the bottom edge of the bag. Tie the two ends of the drawstring together. The drawstrings can now be loosened or tightened. The drawstring coming out of the back of the bag and going through the bottom loop can also be used to hold the bag on your shoulder