Fabric Lunch Bag
For a fun project that's really easy, try this lunch bag. Here's how it's done.
Materials List
1/2 yard of sturdy fabric for the bag
1/2 yard of oilcloth (for lining)
18" of piping
Velcro for closing
thread, scissors, ruler, pins, sewing needle, craft glue
1 jazzy decoration (we used a black flower with a 'parkly middle)
1 button
1 covered ponytail elastic
We'll be using a 1/2" seam allowance throughout, except for the top stitching.
1/2 yard of oilcloth (for lining)
18" of piping
Velcro for closing
thread, scissors, ruler, pins, sewing needle, craft glue
1 jazzy decoration (we used a black flower with a 'parkly middle)
1 button
1 covered ponytail elastic
We'll be using a 1/2" seam allowance throughout, except for the top stitching.
Cut the Pieces
1. Cut two 12"x14" pieces of the bag fabric. Cut a 2"x2" square from the bottom left and bottom right.
2. Cut two 12"x14" pieces of the lining fabric. Cut a 2"x2" square from the bottom left and bottom right.
3. Cut one 8"X6" piece of the bag fabric (for the flap) and one 8"x6" piece of the lining fabric (for the underside of the flap)
4. Fold the flap pieces in half (6" sides together). Using a saucer as a guide, trace a curve onto the flap pieces.
5. Trim the curve.
2. Cut two 12"x14" pieces of the lining fabric. Cut a 2"x2" square from the bottom left and bottom right.
3. Cut one 8"X6" piece of the bag fabric (for the flap) and one 8"x6" piece of the lining fabric (for the underside of the flap)
4. Fold the flap pieces in half (6" sides together). Using a saucer as a guide, trace a curve onto the flap pieces.
5. Trim the curve.
Sew the Flap
1. Sew the piping to the right side of the flap lining. Clip the piping to ease onto the curves.
2. Place the right side of the flap fabric onto the right side of the lining. Sew close to the piping. Trim the seams. Turn the flap so that the right sides are out. Press the fabric side, being careful not to hit the oilcloth lining with the hot iron.
2. Place the right side of the flap fabric onto the right side of the lining. Sew close to the piping. Trim the seams. Turn the flap so that the right sides are out. Press the fabric side, being careful not to hit the oilcloth lining with the hot iron.
Sew the Bag
1. With right sides together, sew the side seams...
2. and the bottom seam. Line up the two seams, as shown in the second photo, and flatten.
3. Stitch that short (4") seam on both sides.
4. Turn the bag right side out. Kinda cute, isn't it?
5. Go through steps 1-4 with the lining fabric. Don't turn it right side out; you want the seams to be hidden between the layers.
6. Slide the lining bag into the outer bag.
7. To reinforce the bag, make a 1/8" seam up all four sides and along the base. Be sure to catch the lining in these seams for support.
2. and the bottom seam. Line up the two seams, as shown in the second photo, and flatten.
3. Stitch that short (4") seam on both sides.
4. Turn the bag right side out. Kinda cute, isn't it?
5. Go through steps 1-4 with the lining fabric. Don't turn it right side out; you want the seams to be hidden between the layers.
6. Slide the lining bag into the outer bag.
7. To reinforce the bag, make a 1/8" seam up all four sides and along the base. Be sure to catch the lining in these seams for support.
Finish Off Top Edges
This part takes some manipulation with pins. You'll want to trim any uneven edges at the top, and then fold under the edges of the lining and the bag. Slide the straight edge of the flap into one wide side of the bag, between the bag and the lining. Stitch around the top, finishing off the edge.
Add the Velcro and the Bling
1. Measure the area for the Velcro. (I wanted to sew the Velcro in with a solid zigzag stitch that would be covered by the flower, so we put the flower on the flap and pinned around it.)
2. Then on the other side of the flap, we could see where to sew safely. Use a bit of craft glue to place the Velcro for stitching.
3.Attach three strips of Velcro to the underside of the flap.
4. See why we needed to place the flower?
5. Slip the base of the bag over the sleeve arm of the machine and attach the receiving pieces of Velcro.
6. Attach the flower with both craft glue and hand stitching.
2. Then on the other side of the flap, we could see where to sew safely. Use a bit of craft glue to place the Velcro for stitching.
3.Attach three strips of Velcro to the underside of the flap.
4. See why we needed to place the flower?
5. Slip the base of the bag over the sleeve arm of the machine and attach the receiving pieces of Velcro.
6. Attach the flower with both craft glue and hand stitching.
The Coozie
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1. We wrapped a strip of the lining around a standard sized cup and marked the dimensions we wanted.
2. We used the lining as the pattern and cut the outer piece to match the lunch bag.
3. With right sides together, sew the two long sides and one short side. Turn it right side out, press, and stitch close to the edge. Fold the raw edges in, and stitch those, as well.
4. Add a button. To hold it tight, we attached a covered ponytail elastic with a zigzag stitch.
2. We used the lining as the pattern and cut the outer piece to match the lunch bag.
3. With right sides together, sew the two long sides and one short side. Turn it right side out, press, and stitch close to the edge. Fold the raw edges in, and stitch those, as well.
4. Add a button. To hold it tight, we attached a covered ponytail elastic with a zigzag stitch.