That’s good, because it looks like I’m only getting started … seems like I have been bitten by the “bag bug” and have made another. My sister gave me a box of upholstery fabric (the cat “Sophie” is all mine) and I made my first bag with fabrics from it, my tote bag, which I have been using everyday to lug my possessions onto the bus to work and back again. That bag’s big enough to carry my laptop, just to give you an idea of the size. You can read all about that one here, if you wish!
Next I thought I might try a zippered cross-body bag. Smaller, but not too small that I can’t fit my iPad in it.
For my front panel, I sewed in two contrasting inserts. I want to sew zippers in those seams.
View from the wrong side, zippers sewn in.
I carefully unpicked the seams to expose the zippers and reinforced the seam ends with hand stitching.
I sewed the pocket linings on the wrong side, one for each zipper.
Front zipper pockets completed!
I sewed a welt zipper pocket into the lining of the inside back.
After pressing, I sewed the zipper in.
Then sewed the pocket lining sides up, and the inner zipper pocket was completed!
Next the zipper gusset. One side done already. The other I’ve only just started.
Then I sewed the side seams and turned and pressed it so I could topstitch next.
Zipper gusset completed!
Straps being made, I trimmed them as much as I could.
No matter how many times I have done this, I always do a test run of how the strap is supposed to go through the strap slider and swivel hooks. Seriously, I have messed it up before!
This cross-body bag is being sewn by “Amber” my Singer 421G. I love the freearm. More about Amber here.
Strap tabs and strap completed!
Sewing my bag sides together at last!
I sewed the lining to the outer bag and turned it through the hole I left in the bottom of my bag lining.
Then after doing all that, I remembered that I forgot to attach my strap tabs to my bag and unpicked each of my bag sides enough to slip in my strap tabs and sew it up again!
Swivel hooks are handy but I have found with my large tote bag that they just make my strap twist and flip over too much. I might just take them off my large tote bag. We shall see how they work out on this smaller bag.
My zippered cross-body bag is completed!
Easily large enough for my iPad, wallet and sunglasses case, plus a zippered pocket inside for more things!
Outer zipper pockets for storage of even more THINGS! Like my cell phone! I attached small tassels to my zipper pulls! 😍
Obligatory long range shots!
I thought this one might rid me of my “bag bug”, but unfortunately not. Now I want to make one even smaller – like a wallet on a strap! But I’m torn … I have a half finished blue flowered dress sitting on my sewing table!
What’s on your sewing table? (and if you don’t sew … perhaps you knit or crochet or ? What are you working on?)
Happy Sewing!
STASH BUSTING WITH THIS PROJECT? Nothing’s changed! Still 132 metres left in inventory.