Rowan Shopping Bag Tutorial & Pattern

Grocery Bag DIY. Tutorial + Free Pattern

Materials

Two selections from the Rowan collection 42" (110 cm) wide
Fabric 1: Rowan Casbah-BM01 Dusk - Art. QBM0100-DUSKX40" (100 cm)
Fabric 2: Rowan Fish Lips-BM07 Pastel - Art. QBM0700-PASTE 25" (65 cm)
Strong fusible batting 36" (90 cm) wide 50" (125 cm)
Matching thread (from Coats)
1 cover button with flexible button maker in diameter 1" (23 mm)
Inlay to stabilize bottom of bag - piece of medium weight cardboard 3¾ x 14½" (9,5 x 37 cm)

General Instructions

Fabric shrinkage is possible. Pre-wash and steam iron all fabrics.
½" (1 cm) seam allowance is included.
Turning right side out: This refers to sewing together two identically cut pieces (sometimes with batting) leaving an opening in the center of one side. Trim corners. Gently poke out corners (e.g. with a letter opener). Turn through opening. Turn under seam allowance on opening and blindstitch.
Decorative zig-zag-stitches are 1/8" long, 1/8" wide and 1/8" form the edge.

Cutting

Refer to diagrams 1-4

Piece A 16 x 19" (40 x 48 cm) cut 4 x from fabric 1 cut 2 x from batting

Iron batting onto wrong sides of 2 fabric pieces

Piece B 4 x 19" (10 x 48 cm) cut 4 strips from fabric 2 cut 4 strips from batting

Iron batting onto wrong sides of fabric pieces

Piece C = outside pocket 7¼ x 7½" (18 x 19 cm) cut 2 x from fabric 2 cut 1 x from batting

Iron batting onto wrong side of 1 fabric piece

Piece D = straps for handle 6½ x 21" (16 x 54 cm) cut 2 strips from fabric 2 3¼ x 21" (8 x 54 cm) cut 2 strips from batting

Iron a batting strip centered on the wrong side of a fabric strip (diagram 1). Repeat for second strap.

Covering for cardboard inlaid piece leave a space as above a rectangle 8½ x 15½" (12 x 39 cm) from fabric 1

Construction

Bag:

Referring to diagram 1, sew the 2 pocket fabric pieces C together and turn right side out (see general instructions). Zig-zag along side c. Place pocket 2½" (6,75 cm) from edge e and centered onto a fabric piece A with batting. Baste. Zig-zag the sides and bottom. Sew both A pieces with batting right sides together on sides and bottom.

Refer to diagram 2. Form the bag to make a flat bottom. Fold at both ends, sew 4" (10 cm). Repeat for other corner. Turn bag right side out.

For the lining, sew the remaining 2 A pieces and form the bottom as instructed for the bag. Insert lining into the bag with wrong sides together along side e.

Handles:
 
Referring to diagram 3, fold the long sides of D over the batting strip and press. Now fold in half and press. Zig-zag both long sides. Repeat for second strap.

Border:
 
Referring to diagrams 4 and 5, place two strips of fabric B right sides together and stitch both short sides, forming a ring. Iron the seam allowance open. Repeat with the other two strips. Place rings right sides together matching seams. For the front, between the rings, insert the short ends of a handle along the upper edge b and 4½" (7 cm) from the sides. Repeat for the back of bag. Sew along b, catching the handles in the seam. Turn right side out. Press the open seam allowance ½" (1 cm) to wrong side. Slip bag ½" (1 cm) deep between border pieces B matching markings. Iron. Pin. Zig-zag-stitch and iron again.

Inlay Cover (reinforcement for bottom of bag):

Fold fabric piece right sides together along the long side and sew a short and the long side together. Turn right side out. Press the seam allowance on open end inwards. Slip in cardboard. Sew open end closed. Whip-stitch to inside bottom of bag.

Button:

Cover the button using fabric 1 according to package directions. Sew button onto front of pocket.

GO SHOPPING & ENJOY!