The latest step in my quest to reduce my reliance on single-use plastics has been to make some cloth bags to carry with me. I mainly intend to take them when I shop at the Source, but I also think they will be very useful just to keep in my various bags for incidental purchases. I always try to keep a clean empty container with me, but I still get caught out quite often.
I used this tutorial as a jumping-off point. I accidentally got given an extra length of the cotton I bought to make a summer blouse, meaning that I had a little over half a metre left over. Since I have learnt to my cost that white is a terrible colour for facings, I decided to put it to use here.
I cut the fabric to various sizes. My only criteria were to have the print the correct way up, have bags that seemed of a sensible size (given that I don’t use them yet, so I don’t really have a sense of which sizes will be most useful) and waste as little fabric as possible.
I experimented a little with the construction because I wanted to use French seams on the inside of the bags. I found a way but I imagine there’s a better method so I won’t bother posting pics of how I did it. This is how the inside ended up.
Love me a French seam.
You can see that the top right corner looks a bit weird due to the way I botched constructed the drawstring opening. They lie flat when right-sides out so I’m not bothered by that.
A fun aspect of this project was that I felt very free to make mistakes. On the second bag I sewed the seams on the top incorrectly, so that the channel for the drawstring was on the right side rather than the wrong side. I considered unpicking the overcast stitches before realising that it really didn’t matter which side the channel is on.
I used shoelaces as the closures. I took part in a colour run nearly four years ago and took a load of the laces they were giving out. I’m quite relieved to have finally found a use for them!
I have a rough colour-coded system to differentiate the sizes.
Blue = big
Pink = petite
Y = yeah, I couldn’t think of one for that colour
I am now aware of just how white this fabric is. I am planning to make a second set of produce bags so that one can go in the white wash and the other in the coloured wash. Being in your thirties is so boring and domestic at times.
I went to a workshop at the Knitting and Stitching Show to learn how to make a padded and lined boxy bag. I feel like these would come in handy as knitting projects bags, or make good gifts. They are a great project to use up fabric scraps too. This project can easily be done on a domestic machine with an overcasting foot. An overlocker would make it even easier and quicker.
I haven’t attempted to sew anything like this in four years (documented here) and again it was nice to see that I have come a long way as a sewist in that time.
Since it was actually super easy, I had time to photograph each step. So here is a photo tutorial!
Materials
- Main fabric backed with fusible fleece- 15×10″
- Lining- same size
- Lining fabric- 2×6″ (I think 6″ of 1/2″ wide ribbon would be even prettier)
- Long zip- 16″ or longer
If sizing up or down, ensure that the zip is significantly longer than you need, for ease.
Mark the centre of the long edges of both main fabric and lining with snips.
Make the bag pulls (skip if using ribbon)
Pin and stitch along the long edge with 1cm seam allowance. Press flat and then cut in half so you have two pulls.
Install the zipper
With zip teeth against RS of main fabric, sandwich with lining fabric along short edge. Leave roughly even amounts of zip either side.
Overlock or stitch with overcasting stitch.
Fold up and repeat on the other half of the zip, again with zip teeth facing RS of main fabric.
Grab the end of the zip and fold so the lining is on the outside.
Stitch the non-pull end of the zip
Line up one of your tabs with the zip teeth, with the folded edge pointing down.
Pin the raw edges together, ensuring that the centre marking snips line up with the zip teeth, and with each other.
Stitch with overcasting foot. Go carefully over the teeth.
Now work on the other end of the zip. Move the pull down so it is below the stitching line. Tack the two sides of the zip together to ensure it remains even.
Pin and stitch as above.
Trim the ends of the zip.
Finger-press the folded edges flat to act as a guide. Fold the bottom of one corner, matching the finger-pressed line with the side seam. Measure down 1.5″ and mark a line across. The line should measure 3″.
Stitch along the line and then trim off the excess.
Repeat with the other corners.
If you marked with a Frixion pen, make sure to iron away the lines. I probably wouldn’t have bothered for myself but I gave this bag away and the recipient checked the inside. It definitely looked messier with my pen lines.
I’m really pleased with how my Wool and Gang Hold Tight clutch bag knitted up. I think I picked colours that go well with my wardrobe and I’m loving the neon colour pop trend. Why have highlighters trapped in a pencil case? Let them be free! Here are a couple of pics of the finished item.
Can you tell I’m pleased with it?
Jade helped bring out my inner model on the South Bank.
I was surprised at how long the project took overall. The bag is made with Jersey Be Good held double, which gives a really sturdy structured fabric, but is a killer on the hands!
I have a few tips for anyone who wants a double contrast trim like me.
For the binding, I found it easiest to stick closely to the pattern by starting with a WS row. I switched to CC2 (the yellow) and cast off before picking up the same number of stitches behind the ‘braid’.
I started the woven stitch with a RS row, I don’t think it matters whether you start RS or WS. I found the instructions a little unclear- you need to start every row by slipping the first stitch.
As other makers on Ravelry noted, the snap closure seems small compared to the size of the bag. I just tried to sew it neatly and hope it worked out, which it did.
I also did a picture tutorial for the cute tassels.
Ever since I first heard of Wool and the Gang through Anna, I’ve thought about knitting their Hold Tight clutch bag. I’ve put it off for different reasons over the past couple of years- the hassle of ordering yarn, the stress of choosing a colour combination, the usual. This is actually a slight fail because I’d hoped to have it ready in time for the wedding the other week. I knew the needles and yarn were massive, so I can knock out most WatG patterns very quickly. I had not factored in the woven stitch. Look at it!
For the binding, I found it easiest to stick closely to the pattern by starting with a WS row. I switched to CC2 (the yellow) and cast off before picking up the same number of stitches behind the ‘braid’.
I started the woven stitch with a RS row, I don’t think it matters whether you start RS or WS. I found the instructions a little unclear- you need to start every row by slipping the first stitch.
The Crafty Crusader 