BACK TO SEWING Part 2

Did you see our Janomelife post on Wednesday this week –  5th September? If not check it out.

Here is the photo tutorial of how to make this baggie:

Cut your baggie fabric and batting to your desired size. I made mine about 10×8 inches. You will need 2 little sandwiches that size: outer bag fabric, batting and lining. I left mine as one piece (10 x 16 inches), quilted it and then cut it in half. I used the Serpentine stitch on the Janome MC15000 Quilt Maker + the Acufeed flex dual prong foot to quilt the bag layers. Quick and easy with rows approx an inch and a half apart.

Prepare the zipper:

pic#1

1. Cut a strip of fabric about 1.5 x 3-4 inches long. pic #1
   

   pic#2

2. Press in half lengthwise Pic #2 and then press the 2 long edges in again so that all raw edges are tucked away inside.
3. Now measure the length of your baggie opening. If it is 10 inches, you will need a longer zipper than 10 inches. You will be cutting some of the zipper off.
   

   Pic #3 Looks like I need to clean my cutting mat!

4. Cut off the end of the zipper/metal staple which stops the zipper. Pic#3.Don’t pull the zipper open!
   

   pic#4

5. Take your folded and pressed zipper tab fabric and tuck the cut end of the zipper between the folds. Pic#4. Sew a straight stitch or zig-zag stitch across the tab. This essentially becomes the new “staple” holding the end of the zipper closed. Trim the excess fabric off so that the tab is flush with the edges of the zipper tape.Pic #5a & 5b

Pic #5a

Pic 5b

6. Add another fabric tab to the other end of the zipper, sew and trim the fabric excess off the sides of the tab.Make sure that the completed zipper with tabs is 1 inch shorter than the baggie. Pic 5b

7. Sew the zipper face down onto the 2 top edges of the baggie so  that about 1/2 inch of the baggie sticks our beyond both ends of the zipper. Use a zipper foot or use a regular sewing foot and move your needle position closer to the zipper teeth. I prefer a zipper foot. Pic #6.

Pic#6

8. Fold the zipper over and top stitch so that it lies flatter. pic #7.  If your machine has the HP foot and plate, you can use this fabulous system as it works really well for top stitching. (not shown)  Do the same for the other side of the zipper: attach zipper to other half of the bag. Zipper face down to right side of back, zipper half an inch in from both sides. Stop and move the zipper pull if necessary. Top stitch again.

Pic #7

8. Now open the zipper and sew your side seams as well as along the bottom of the bag. ie all 3 sides. Neaten seams with your preferred method: zig-zag? serger? overcasting stitch? Pic #8  I used an overcasting stitch. I used black thread merely for photographic reasons. I would have otherwise matched the thread colour to the grey of the lining fabric.

Pic #8

9. Flatten out the bottom corners of the bag and sew across to create a “box bottom” shape to the bag. Cut off or leave the “bunny ears”.  Pic #9. And ensure the seam is facing he same way…unlike mine! Good to make these mistakes so I can point them out so you don’t do the same!  Overcast/neaten these seams as well.

Pic #9

10. Turn bag out to the right side and you are done! Pic #10

pic #10. No, you are not standing on your head! The first baggie I made had an oopsie! Have you ever done that? Finish a project and realize you sewed pieces together upside down? Maybe I’m the only silly one? Yes, well, there may or may not have been some choice words heard after I realized my mistake. Never mind…….opportunity to make another one which is pictured above with the pearls and one of the big shells in my collection.

As an aside: many charities are looking for baggies as they pack them with gifts and toiletries for Christmas and other purposes like victim relief and so on. Imagine being given a little baggie with soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc when you have been forced to flee your home due to fire evacuations? BC is currently on a State of Emergency due to our awful summer fires but I know other areas are similarly affected. I think I would want to cry with appreciation and relief if I was in that situation and someone gave me a little handmade baggie. Inquire in your area to see if there are any charities which could use little baggies you make. If I don’t do much embellishment on a baggie (like this one), it can be made in around 30 minutes so you can make many of these to make some person’s life a little easier. AND you can vary the size for all sorts of purposes.

ARE YOU READY TO GET BACK TO SEWING???

I sure am!