Polkadot Toiletries Bag

Transcription

1 Polkadot Toiletries Bag This is a fun and funky mid-sized washbag to take with you on your next weekend away. It is a very simply pieced bag with a decorative folded ribbon trim, and one large and two small inner pockets. This zippered bag also has a clear plastic layer on the outside, to "splash-proof" and help you keep it clean. Bag Dimensions are 10 inches wide x 8 ½ inches high, and 2 inches deep. You Will Need: 1 fat quarter brown polkadot fabric for bag outer Piece of pink polkadot fabric at least 11 x 7 inches for bag outer Piece of clear (tablecloth / table protector) plastic at least 11 x 20 inches in size ½ metre ( ½ yard) cream coloured fabric for lining ½ metre ( ½ yard) light-weight iron-on interfacing ½ metre ( ½ yard) iron on pellon 24 inch dress zip in a colour to match 1.2 metres (45 inches) Ribbon to match ours was 1½ inches wide, but a minimum width of 1 inch would be fine.

2 Preparation: Please read all instructions fully before beginning. All measurements are in inches, and unless stated otherwise, a ¼ inch seam allowance has been used. Referring to the attached Cutting Guide, carefully cut the required bag pieces from the outer bag fabric, lining and interfacing as required. To prepare the bag sides, iron the light-weight interfacing to the wrong side of each piece and layer the pellon on too. Firstly, sew one of the pink polkadot rectangles to the 10 ½ inch end of the brown polkadot rectangle. Repeat at the other end with the second pink piece. Centre a length of ribbon over each seam and topstitch it in place. To make the folded bow, cut one 10 inch length of ribbon and fold around so that both ends slightly overlap at the back. Cut the second length 7 ½ inches long and do the same with this. Place the smaller bow on top of the larger, and sew together with a single row of stitching down the centre to hold all pieces together. Cut a 4 inch length for the centre of the bow, fold in half lengthwise and fold it over the bow in the middle to hide the row of stitching. Overlap the ends at the back, and carefully topstitch down both sides to finish the bow. Position the bow on the ribbon strip on the front of the bag and sew securely, following the same topstitching sewing lines from before. Lay the clear plastic sheet over the right side of the bag outer and sew a scant seam down each side to hold it all securely together. (If your machine foot sticks to the plastic, you may find it easier to turn the panel over and stitch from the back.) Finally, trim each of the four corners to gently round them, so the top of the bag has a soft curve at the top corners as pictured. Lining: Iron the light-weight interfacing to the wrong side of each of the lining pieces. Press under the seam allowance on the bottom edge of each of one of the two pocket trims. Align the top raw edge with the top edge of the pocket piece and topstitch the folded bottom seam to hold the trim in place on the pocket. Place a second pocket piece over the first, and with right sides together sew across the top. Turn right sides out and press and topstitch along the top edge. Position the pocket on the right side of one of the bag lining sides, matching both bottom raw edges. Sew a scant seam across the bottom and up each of the sides to hold the pocket in place.

3 Repeat for the second inner pocket. When the second pocket has been finished, also sew the pocket to the lining with another seam halfway across the width, to create two small pockets equal in size. Make the two side gussets in the same way you did the pockets. Sew the top seam with right sides together, then turn and press. Lay these two pieces over the right side of the second pocket you just made one on each side, matching the side seams, and keeping the gusset top level with the top of the pocket. Sew in place, then sew the lining base to the bottom of this lining/pocket piece. Bag Construction: The next step to putting the bag together is to insert the zip. This is not difficult, but can be a little bit fiddly. Lay the bag outer face up on your table. Place the zip face down on top, curved around the top edge, so that the ends start and finish at the same distance down each of the bag sides. Lay the second lining piece (with two pockets, gusset pieces and base) face down on top of that. Carefully pin the zip in the middle of the two bag layers, matching the raw edges and making sure the side gusset pieces are tucked between the layers. The base will hang free. Using your zipper foot, sew the zip in position. Turn, and fold the lining into the inside of the bag. You need to repeat this process for the second side. To do this, fold the bag inside out (bag outer right sides together), and open the zip too. Lay out as before, with the wrong side of the zip on the right side of the bag outer. Place the lining panel face down on top and pin carefully. Make sure this time you fold the side gusset pieces back on themselves, so that the remaining raw edge is sewn in with this seam too. (You may find it easier to sew three smaller overlapping seams, rather than trying to do it all in one go.) To finish the bag, bring up the opening at each end of the zip and fold it together and sew across the end. This will form a more squared off base for the bag. With the bag still inside out, fold under the seam allowances and topstitch the lining base to the other three sides of the bag lining. Turn your bag back, and you're finished and ready to go!

4 Polkadot Toiletries Bag Cutting Guide Cut the required number of each piece according to the measurements on each diagram. * Please note all measurements are in inches. Cut 1 Outer fabric (brown polkadots) Cut 1 light-weight interfacing Cut 1 Pellon Cut 2 Outer fabric (pink polkadots) Cut 2 Pellon Cut 1 clear plastic

5 Cut 2 Lining fabric Cut 1 Lining fabric Cut 1 light-weight interfacing Cut 4 Lining fabric Cut 1 Outer fabric (brown polkadots) Cut 1 Outer fabric (pink polkadots) Cut 4 Lining fabric