Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags (16 page)

c. Turn the bag
Right
side out through the opening along the back main panel. Push the lining down inside. Gently push out the seams and press along the top edge.

d. Fold each side of the opening under ½″ (1.3 cm) toward the
Wrong
side, and press. Pin it together. Edge stitch completely around the top edge and backstitch at each end.

a. Using your ruler and fabric marker, measure and mark 1½″ (3.8 cm) in from each side edge along the long straight edge on the exterior flap.

b. Measure and mark ¾″ (1.9 cm) down from the top edge on each end of the back of the bag. Line up the two marks and draw a line connecting them.

c. Center the long straight edge of the flap along the marked line on the back of the bag and pin it in place.

d. Starting at the first 1½″ (3.8 cm) mark on the flap, edge stitch over the existing stitching, stopping at the mark on the opposite side. Backstitch at each end.

e. Topstitch ⅜″ (1 cm) from the first stitching line, starting and stopping at the 1½″ (3.8 cm) marks. Then, again topstitch ⅜″ (1 cm) from the second stitching line, making sure to catch the top edge of the bag underneath. Backstitch at each end.

Please set the bag aside.

a. Place one
interfaced
divider panel and one without interfacing
Right
sides together, matching all the edges. Pin in place.

b. Stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam around the panels, leaving a 10″ (25.4 cm) opening centered along the bottom edge. Backstitch at each end.

c. Trim all the corners in the seam allowance, making sure not to clip your stitching.

d. Turn the divider panel
Right
side out through the opening. Use a turning tool to gently push out the corners. Press the panel flat. Fold each edge of the opening under ½″ (1.3 cm) toward the
Wrong
side, and press. Pin the opening closed.
Note: You will stitch the opening closed in step 16g.

e. Repeat steps 16a through 16d to make a second divider panel.

f. Place both divider panels together. Match and then pin around all the edges.

g. Edge stitch close to the finished edges, down both sides and across the bottom edges. Backstitch at each end. You have completed the first divider. Set this divider aside while you make one with a zipper closure.

h. On the third
interfaced
divider panel, place the zipper and panel
Right
sides together, with the edge of the zipper tape ¼″ (0.6 cm) down from the top edge of the panel. Align the head of the zipper ½″ (1.3 cm) from the side edge and pin it in place. Fold the end of the tape so it angles off the top edge of the divider panel on each end of the zipper.

i. Using the zipper foot for your machine, stitch ⅛″ (0.3 cm) from the coils. Backstitch at each end.

j. Place this divider panel and one without interfacing
Right
sides together, matching the edges, and pin.
Note: The zipper is sandwiched between the panels.
On the
interfaced
side of the divider panel, stitch a ½″ (1.3 cm) seam around the panels leaving a 10″ (25.4 cm) opening centered along the bottom edge. Backstitch at each end.

k. Trim the corners in the seam allowance, making sure not to clip your stitching.

l. Turn the divider panel
Right
side out, pulling out the zipper through the opening. Use a turning tool to gently push out the corners. Press the panel flat. Fold each edge of the opening under ½″ (1.3 cm) toward the
Wrong
side, and press. Pin the opening closed.
Note: You will stitch the opening closed in step 160.

m. Repeat steps 16h through 16l to make and attach the last two divider panels onto the other long edge of the zipper.

n. Place both divider panels together, with the
Right
side of the zipper on the top outside edge. Pin down the sides and across the bottom edges of the divider.

o. Edge stitch close to the finished edges down the sides and across the bottom edges. Backstitch at each end.

a. Working on one of the exterior side panels, measure 1¾″ (4.4 cm) in from both the front and back seams across the top finished edge of the side panel, and mark. Repeat to mark the same measurements on the second side panel. You will attach the divider without the zipper between the front set of marks and the zippered divider between the back set.

Figure 5

b. Place the divider without a zipper inside the bag. Line up each end of the divider with the two front marks. Then, pinch the top of the side panel around each end of the divider and pin through all the layers.

c. Bar tack* the divider in place, ½″ (1.3 cm) down from the top edge and ½″ (1.3 cm) in from the folded edge. If the fabric layers are too thick for your machine, bar tack by hand with a double strand of thread, stitching a few times in place. Tie off securely.

d. Repeat steps 17b and 17c to attach the zippered divider between the back set of marks.

Your Blossom Bag is complete! Show your new custom designer handbag to the world—you can bet nobody else has one just like it.

8″ (20.3 cm) wide × 5″ (12.7 cm) tall × 1¾″ (4.4 cm) deep

10″ (25.4 cm) wide × 7″ (17.9 cm) tall × 1¾″ (4.4 cm) deep

• ¼ yd (0.23 m) of one print for the exterior flap

• ⅜ yd (0.34 m) of a coordinating solid for the exterior and handle

• ⅝ yd (0.57 m) of a coordinating print for the lining

• ¼ yd (0.23 m) of one print for the exterior flap

• ½ yd (0.46 m) of a coordinating solid for the exterior and handle

• ⅞ yd (0.8 m) of a coordinating print for the lining

• 1¼ yd (1.14 m) of 20″ (50.8 cm) wide fusible woven interfacing (I use Shape Flex SF-101 by Pellon)

• ½ yd (0.46 m) of 20″ (50.8 cm) wide Peltex #70 by Pellon or a similar extra-heavy stabilizer

• One ½″ (1.3 cm) magnetic snap (I use Prym-Dritz brand)

• 1 spool coordinating all-purpose thread (I use Coats Dual Duty XP)

• One 7″ (17.9 cm) coordinating zipper for the small wristlet (I use Coats brand)

OR

• One 12″ (30.5 cm) coordinating zipper for the large wristlet

See Basic Tools Needed for Each Project
(page 14)
.

• Masking tape

• Marker

• Hand sewing needle

• Zipper foot for your sewing machine

Tip: Using a piece of masking tape and a marker, write the name of each panel on the tape and place it on the individual fabric pieces to identify them
.

a. Fold the exterior print in half lengthwise,
Wrong
sides together, matching the selvage edges*. Gently press a crease on the fold. Open the fabric and fold the selvage edge in to meet the center crease. This will give you enough folded edges to cut out the flaps.

• Cut 2 flaps on the fold*

b. Using ruler and fabric marker, measure and mark the dimensions below directly on the
Right
side of a single layer of fabric. Then, cut along the marked lines.

• Cut 1 main panel: 11″ (27.9 cm) wide × 12″ (30.5 cm) long

• Cut 1 handle: 2″ (5.1 cm) wide × 10¾″ (27.3 cm) long

• Cut 1 main panel: 13″ (33 cm) wide × 15″ (38.1 cm) long

• Cut 1 handle: 2″ (5.1 cm) wide × 10¾″ (27.3 cm) long

• Cut 1 lining panel: 10½″ (26.7 cm) wide × 18½″ (47 cm) long

• Cut 2 card pocket panels: 6¾″ (17.1 cm) wide × 16″ (40.6 cm) long

• Cut 2 zipper end pieces: 4″ (10.2 cm) wide × 1½″ (3.8 cm) long

• Cut 1 lining panel: 12½″ (31.8 cm) wide × 21½″ (54.6 cm) long

• Cut 2 card pocket panels: 8¾″ (22.2 cm) wide × 24½″ (62.2 cm) long

• Cut 2 zipper end pieces: 4″ (10.2 cm) wide × 1½″ (3.8 cm) long

c. Open the fabric flap and use it as a full-size pattern piece to cut out the interfacing and Peltex pieces.

• Cut 2 flaps

• Cut 1 main panel: 11″ (27.9 cm) wide × 12″ (30.5 cm) long

• Cut 1 lining panel: 10½″ (26.7 cm) wide × 18½″ (47 cm) long