How to Sew a Quilted Bag

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Find your style and create your own handmade bag with easy-to-follow Simplicity sewing pattern. Learn all the great tips and tricks on making this pattern work best for you.

This project is suitable for beginners. However, if you haven’t used zips before we recommend having a little practise on a spare zip before starting this project.

Project and instructions by Rosie's Craft Corner

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You will need

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Hobbycraft 19S Sewing Machine

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Hemline Purple Dressmaking Scissors 21cm

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Clover Multi-Coloured Wonder Clips 10 Pack

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Sew Easy Patchwork Quilting Ruler 6 x 24 Inch

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Gutermann Black Sew All Thread 100m (000)

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YKK Black Dress and Skirt Zip 41cm

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Stuart Hillard Indigo by the Metre Fabric - available in-store only

Choosing your fabric

Choose your fabrics you wish to use for this bag, I have chosen a two Stuart Hillard cottons which will be my outer fabric, and inner fabric. For the contrasting pieces on the outside of the bag, I have used a plain view. Be sure to check out the back of your sewing pattern, this is where you will choose the design on what you want to make but also what fabric and notions you will require to get started.

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Read your instructions thoroughly

Before taken any steps on cutting out your pattern, with any sewing pattern, I always recommend giving your instructions a good read through. This will help you understand how you will sew your project together and you’ll know about any hidden surprises that the pattern cover, might have not mentioned before.

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Top Tip

With commercial patterns, your pattern will be printed on a lightweight tissue copy paper. Always be careful opening the pattern sheets so that you don’t accidentally tear it. The pattern sheets will come very wrinkled, so I recommend giving it a quick iron on a low/medium setting, to iron out any crinkles and creases. This will make it easier to cut and will ensure your pattern pieces are accurate size when cutting out your fabric with them.

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Trace or Cut?

It’s your choice whether you’re a tracer or cutter but work out the correct pieces of your pattern to cut out from the pattern instructions and cut out. If it’s haberdashery patterns, I always cut, as unlike garment patterns, you won’t need to adjust your pattern pieces.

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Quilting with a Walking Foot

If you’re not using pre-quilted fabric for this pattern and have decided to create your own quilted design, there is nothing more suitable for this job than a walking foot and side guide to help you. Depending on the sewing machine you have, you may have purchase this separately, but it will be worth it for the quality results for your hand quilting. The side guide that sits along your walking foot, will help you create straight and even lines.

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Pattern Hack

Within the choice A bag that I chose with this bag, it stated to bias bind all 4 sides of the pockets, I instead chose to fold the 3 stitched sides and keep the bias binding for the top instead. I used a mixture of bought pre-made bias binding and created my own, you choose depending on what you feel comfortable with.

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Top Tip

When you are about to sew around all your edges of the bag, tuck your handles into the pockets, this way you don’t have to worry about them getting caught in your stitching on the way around.

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Last Tip of the Day

Don’t be afraid to play around and hack patterns, it’s all fun and you’ll learn along the way. Some pockets, I changed, some I left out. Hacking patterns will help you fall in love with your own style but also grow your confidence in understanding patterns. Happy Sewing!

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