Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.

com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!

BAGS
Includes
Full-Size Patterns
Fresh + Pretty
Projects to
ew and Love
Kay Whitt Kay Whitt
SEW SERENDI PI T Y
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1
Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
What a stylish way to carry your lunch! This little
bag i s a moder n twi st on the ol d-fashi oned
lunch pail from long ago. Featuring decorative
hardware on t he handl e and a conveni ent
drawstring closure, this bag is not only functional,
but good-looking and easy to make. Once you
carry this little number to work, everyone will
want one!
materials list
Fabric
Fabric Abag exterior & handle:
5
8 yard (
7
8 yard if using laminated cotton)
Fabric Blining, binding & drawstring:
5
8 yard (
1
4 yard if using laminated cotton)
Fabric Cdrawstring section for top of
bag:
1
2 yard
All yardage is based on 45"-wide cotton fabrics.
Other Materials
One-sided fusible stabilizer (Peltex 71):
3
4 yard
Fusible interfacing for light- to mid-weight
fabrics: 1 yard
Two 1
1
4" rings for handle (can be
rectangular or circular, though the latter
may require extra stitching to secure)
Rotary cutter, ruler and mat
Sharp, pointed scissors
Removable marking pencil
Heavy-duty machine needle (such as for
denim)
Thread to match fabrics
Large safety pin (or bodkin)
Finished Dimensions of the Bag
10" (counting the drawstring
unit) 7", without the handle
The handle has an 8" drop.
my initial sketch
Make this bag your own with a funky
choice of fabrics. This is the perfect oppor-
tunity to use all of those cool food prints.
Another great idea is to use laminated
(vinyl-coated) cotton for the liner so that
any spills or moisture can be easily wiped
away. (See page 41 for tips on working
with laminates.)
2 Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
layout & cutting
The only pattern piece provided for this bag is the
circular Bag Base (sheet 2). The rest of the pieces
should be cut according to the measurements
provided using a rotary cutter, ruler and mat.
main bag & handles
1
Using the Circular Base pattern piece, cut one base each
from Peltex and Fabric A; transfer all markings. Fuse the
Peltex to the Fabric A piece (fusible side of Peltex to wrong
side of fabric). Set the base aside until Step 10.
2
For the main body of the bag, cut one 6"24" rectangle
from the Peltex and one from Fabric A. The design motif
should run parallel to the short edge. Fuse Peltex to the
wrong side of the rectangle. On the fabric side of the
rectangle, mark the ring tab placement. Measure in 6" from
either end and down 1" from top edge, and mark. (gure
1)
3
For the handles, cut two strips2
1
4" the width of the
fabricfrom Fabric A. Cut three 2
1
4"20" strips from
interfacing; cut one in half crosswise. Apply the interfacing
strips to the wrong side of the fabric strips, overlapping the
interfacing strips by
1
4" to piece.
4
Follow the instructions in Essential Techniques for Making
Handles (pages 1617).
5
Trim the handles down to 30". Cut two 3" lengths from the
leftover pieces for the ring tabs.
6
Place the ring tab through the ring and fold in half. Sew
across the end with a
1
4" seam allowance. Trim the corners
diagonally and position the seam at the center of the back
side of the tab. Press seam at and to one side. (gure 2)
7
Center the tabs on the 6" mark, with the top of the tab at
the 1
1
2" mark. Sew across the lower edge of the tab, then
pivot and stitch up the side to just below the ring. Pivot
again and stitch just below the ring (dont stitch too closely
to the metal or you will break the needle). Pivot once more
and stitch back to the beginning. Backstitch when you
reach the start of the stitching. (gure 3) If youre using
circular rings, sew again over the stitching under the ring
for more stability.
1
1
2"
1
1
2"
6"
6"
1
4" seam
Cut corners diagonally
Center the
seam along
the back
Tabs, centered on 6" marking
Detail of
stitching on
ring tab
Attach handle to rings
Detail of
stitching on
handle
fgure 1
fgure 2
fgure 3
fgure 4
3
Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
8
To add the handle to the rings, place one end through a ring
from the front. Fold the cut end over
1
4", and then turn that
end up by an inch or so (take care not to twist the handle).
Stitch in place in the same manner as the ring tab in step 7.
Repeat for the other end of the handle. (gure 4)
9
With right sides together, stitch the ends of the rectangle piece
together with a
1
4" seam allowance to create the main bag
piece. (gure 5) Press the seam open. Fold the bag at with
the seam along one side and mark the opposite side at the top
and bottom edges. Now open the bag out and align the marks
just made with the seam and mark the opposite ends the same
way. This divides the bag evenly into quarters, to be used later.
(gure 6)
10
Divide the bags base into quarters by folding the circle in half
and snipping each end to mark. Open it out and fold in half the
other direction (aligning your previous snips), then snip at each
end to mark. (gure 7)
11
Complete a series of
1
4" deep snips along the entire bottom
edge of the main bag piece and the base. (gure 8) With right
sides together, pin the main bag piece and bag base together
with the wrong sides out, aligning the quarter marks. Allow the
snips to ease the two pieces together. Pin fairly close together
and then stitch around the bottom of the bag with a
1
4"
3
8"
seam allowance. (gure 9)
12
Press the bag briey so that the steam will soften the Peltex
then turn the bag right-side out. Press along the bottom seam
to smooth the main bag piece. A wadded-up tea towel held
inside the bag while pressing will help shape the bag and
also protect your hand from the steam. Refer to the Essential
Techniques section (page 22) for more details on pressing.
1
4" seam
allowance
Fold bag base
in half. Snip to
mark
Fold in half the
other direction.
Snip to mark.
Result:
divided
into equal
quarters
A series of snips
helps ease the
pieces together
Mark the bag to indicate four even sections
The bag base
added to the
main bag piece
fgure 5
fgure 6
fgure 7
fgure 8
fgure 9
4 Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
lining, drawstring & binding
1
For the lining, follow Steps 1 and 2 on page 36, cutting
from fabric B and interfacing (not Peltex). Apply the
interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric.
2
Sew the side seam of the bag lining with a
3
8" seam
allowance. This larger seam allowance accounts for the
bulk of the Peltex, making the pieces t together better.
3
Refer to Steps 911 on page 37 to assemble lining, except
here, use a
3
8" seam allowance.
4
Leaving the lining wrong-side out, place it inside the main
bag. This will put the wrong sides of the bag and lining
together. Line up the quarter markings and pin the bag
and lining together. Trim any uneven edges. Stitch around
the top of the bag,
1
4" from the top edge. (gure 10)
5
To make the drawstring unit of the bag, cut two 12"18"
rectangles from fabric C. The direction of design motif
should run parallel to the short edge.
6
Mark on the wrong side of fabric so the markings face up
when sewn. Along the 12" edge, mark 4
1
2" up from the
bottom, and again 1" above that. Repeat on the other
12" edge. This will mark the drawstring opening. (gure
11)
7
Place the two rectangles for the top portion right sides
together matching raw edges and making sure design
motifs run in the same direction. Sew with a
1
4" seam
along one side, backstitching at the rst mark. Skip the
1" section. Continue the remainder of the seam from the
second mark. Repeat for the other side. (gure 12)
8
Press the seams open and turn right-side out into a
circular shape. Edgestitch around each opening to
reinforce it. (gure 13)
9
Fold the drawstring unit in half, wrong sides together with
bottom raw edges even and the openings on the outside
of the folded piece. Press. From the top folded edge,
measure down
1
2" and mark. Mark again 1" below that.
Repeat the marks on the other side, and then draw a line
with removable marking pencil. (gure 14) This will create
the casing for the drawstring. Edgestitch along the top
folded edge, then stitch along the
1
2" marked line and the
1" mark.
Lining, right side
Top Portion
4
1
2"
12"
1" 1"
4
1
2"
1
4" seam allowance
Drawstring Unit, Right Sides Together
Break stitching between markings
Edgestitch
around opening
Down from top edge
1"
1
2"
fgure 10
fgure 11
fgure 13
fgure 12
fgure 14
5
Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
Gathering stitches
Drawstring Unit
Opening
Binding
Overlap
Binding opened out and folded over
to front, edgestitched in place
Drawstring unit,
opened out
Drawstring Unit
Stitch along
finished edge
of binding
to secure
drawstring unit
to upper edge
of bag.
10
Divide the drawstring section into equal
quarters (see Steps 9 and 10 on page 37). To
create gathering stitches, complete two rows
of stitching, using a long straight machine
stitch,
1
4" and
3
8" from the edge. Break
stitching at each seam. (gure 15)
11
Pin the drawstring unit to the inside of the
bag; make sure the side with the openings
is facing away from the lining. Pull the
gathering threads until the drawstring section
matches the bag opening in size. Distribute
the gathers evenly and pin the lining to the
bag. Stitch along the top of the bag,
3
8" from
the edge. Trim the seam to
1
4." (gure 16)
12
For the binding, cut a 2
3
4" strip the width of
fabric from Fabric B. Trim away the selvedges
and press in
1
2" to the wrong side on one
narrow end. Fold the strip in half lengthwise,
wrong sides together, and press.
13
Starting with the pressed-under edge, place
the binding against the drawstring section
on the inside of the bag. Pin in place until
reaching the pressed end. Allow for a 1"
overlap and trim away excess. Open up the
pressed end and tuck the cut end inside.
Close and pin in place. Stitch around the top
of the bag with a
3
8" seam allowance.
(gure 17)
14
Open out the binding away from the bag and
press. Fold the binding down over the bags
top edge. Edgestitch the binding in place
along the lower pressed edge. (gure 18)
15
Open out the drawstring unit from the inside
of the bag and press. Stitch through all
thicknesses at the upper nished edge of the
binding to secure the drawstring section to
the upper exterior of the bag. (gure 19)
fgure 19
fgure 18
fgure 17
fgure 16
fgure 15
6 Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
Reinforcement
stitching for
handlecircular
rings only
Drawstring
tube, right sides
together
Edgestitching
Drawstring tube,
right-side out
Drawstring 1
Drawstring 2
Ends of drawstring turned
inward and stitched
Enclose seam,
stitch across end
once more
16
If you used circular rings, the bag may
have a tendency to tip. To prevent
this, place the handle over the binding
directly opposite the ring and tab and
stitch through all thicknesses (including
the handle) along the previous stitching
at the top edge of the binding. (gure
20) This will make the handle stationary.
You can also do this with a square ring,
but it may not be necessary. The bag on
page 34 shows the reinforced stitching;
the variation using laminated cotton on
the facing page does not.
17
Cut two 2"27" strips from Fabric B for
the drawstrings.
18
Trim away the selvedges and fold in
half lengthwise, right sides together.
Stitch along the long edges with a
1
4" seam allowance, forming a tube.
Repeat with the second strip. Turn the
tubes right-side out and, with the seam
along one side, press. Edgestitch along
each edge. (gure 21)
19
Pin a large safety pin through one end
of one of the drawstrings. Insert pinned
end into one of the openings in the
drawstring casing. Pull the drawstring
all the way around until you reach the
opening where you started; pull the
end through. Remove the safety pin.
Attach the safety pin to the remaining
drawstring, insert through the opposite
opening and draw through the casing
the same way. There should be two
ends coming out of each opening.
Test to see that they were properly
threaded by pulling all the ends at the
same time. This should result in the
bag pulling closed. If not, then the
drawstrings are not correctly inserted.
(gure 22)
20
Open the bag fully. With the ends of
the drawstrings together and folded
inward as shown in the illustration,
stitch them together with a
1
8" seam
(gure 23). With the seam inward, stitch
across the end again, encasing the
seams (gure 24). Tie a knot close to
the stitched ends.
fgure 20
fgure 21
fgure 22
fgure 23
fgure 24
7
Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
1" x 1"
8 Project excerpt from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt, now available in stores and online. Visit store.marthapullen.com for all your sewing needs and inspiration!
Bag designs that youll love to sew!
SEWING
FnL1 04 0120 01 JUYrVyBQdWJsaWNhdGlvbnMsIEluYyAo
02 SW9sYSBkaXZpc2lvbikPR3JlZ29yeSBL
03 cnVlZ2VyAE3DyOsCMTMDMTAwATEFVVBD
04 LUEMMDc0OTYyMDEyNjQ39A==
74962 01264 0 7
U
P
C
Includes 6 Full-Size
Pattern Sheets!
A Bag for Every Skill-Level,
Every Occasion, Every Style
E
A
N
Z9866
FnL1 04 0124 01 JUYrVyBQdWJsaWNhdGlvbnMsIEluYyAo
02 SW9sYSBkaXZpc2lvbikPR3JlZ29yeSBL
03 cnVlZ2VyAE3D350EMTAuNAI4MAExBkVB
04 Ti0xMw05NzgxNDQwMjE0MTU4AA==
781440 214158 9
52999
ISBN-10: 1-4402-1415-8
ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-1415-8
US $29.99
(CAN $31.50)
take your pick of styles:
With full instructions for twelve bagsand with a few clever
variations thrown inthere are plenty of designs to choose
from! Pick a handbag that is sweet, sleek or funky. Or check
out some of the other great designs: a flirty little backpack,
the perfect lunch bag, convenient shopping bags and handy
task-oriented bags (whether that task involves a laptop, gym
clothes or diapers). Each design is easy to adapt to your style.
hone your skills:
Check out the technique section, which includes step-by-step
photos, to freshen up your skills and learn about a few new
notions, too. Next, move on to the projects to put your know-
how in motion.
Flip to the Simple Bags for something quick and fun to sew.
And even though these bags are easy to make, the end results
are clever and cute.
Step it up in the Intermediate Bags section, with bags that play
up your style. Learn a few new skills, try out a few new tools and
make yourself a bag you can really show off.
The Challenging Bags section takes you to the level of bag maven.
The bags construction may be complex, but the instructions
are not. Sew it together step by step, and find yourself with a
truly professional, beautifully constructed bag.
The bags in this book are truly extraordinaryand with Kays
instruction, they are oh-so-easy to make.
Kay Whitt designs dress, skirt and
bag patterns through her company
Serendipity Studio, and is the author
of the best-selling Sew Serendipity. See
what else Kay is up to at her blog,
blog.sewserendipity.com!