Lunch Bag or Purse Tutorial and a Giveaway!

 I was looking through a sewing book from the 1940's that had a description of what they called a "Miser's Bag". It was basically a bag formed by a tube with a circular bottom and a drawstring at the top. I thought it would make a great lunch bag, so I used the basic idea and added my own touches to give it a little more appeal! 


To start with, you need a few things:
                                   
 Fabric - (fat quarters will work) Although I have specified the the fabrics I used, use any fabric you want! I have shown other examples at the end of this post. You will need:

Black with cherries:

 21" x 6 1/2" strip 

Red Cherries:

21" x 5" strip , bottom body of bag

21" x 3" strip , casing

14" x 4" strip, handle

7" circle, bottom of bag

Lining (red check):

21" x 13", body of bag lining

7" circle, bottom of bag lining

Felt or batting (for inner lining to give body and insulation)

21" x 13"

7" circle, bottom

Ribbon -
1 yard of red for drawstring
various 3" pieces to coordinate with bag fabrics

1. Gather your materials and cut your circles and strips the sizes given above.  (Note: I show green fleece, but when it was too stretchy, I changed to felt as the inner lining. Batting also works!)

2. Fold the 3" pieces of ribbon in half and pin along the top of the red cherry 21" x 5" strip, raw edges at the top. Mine are spaced about 3/4" apart.

3. Pin the top of the bag (the 21" x 6 1/2" strip of black) right sides together over the ribbons.  Sew together with a 1/4" seam.

4. Press seams so that ribbons face down.

5. Right sides together, sew 5/8" side seams.

6. Using a 5/8" seam, sew the circle bottom (red cherries) to the tube formed when you sewed the side seams. Sew right sides together. Turn the bag right side out. NOTE: You can also sew the bottom circle on BEFORE you sew the side seams. This may be easier for you because you have a little more forgiveness if your circle is not quite the right size. You can then adjust the side seam to make the circle fit!

7.
Stack the felt or batting circle with the lining circle. Sew as one piece, sewing just as you did for the outer bag - sides and then bottom, 5/8" seams. Do not turn.

8. Put lining inside bag, making sure the bottom goes all the way to the bottom of the outer bag. The top will be longer than the lining. You will be trimming it later.

9. Zig-zag together around the top of the outer bag.

10. Trim away the excess lining and inner lining.

  

11. Taking the 21" x 3" casing strip, fold in half and press well.

12. Fold in the raw edges 1/4" on one long side and each end  and press.

13.With right sides together and sewing a 1/4" seam, sew the unturned side of the casing to the top of the bag.

14. Using 1 yard of ribbon, (cording would also work), lay the ribbon inside the casing and turn the casing to the back.

15. Pin the turned edge to the back over the seam. Sew down by hand.

16. For the handle, take the 14" strip of the casing fabric and the 13 1/2" strip of felt. Lay the felt in the center of the wrong side of the fabric strip. Turn the edge of one side and each end and press. 

17. Bring both long sides over the felt, making sure the turned edge is on top. Sew  down the middle and across both ends. I made two rows of seams. Do whatever you want here, but be sure you catch the edge of the folded side in it.

18.Pin to the center back (opposite where the ribbons emerge from the casing), straddling the casing, and sew on, anchoring well!

That's it! You have a cute little lunch bag or purse to show off. Change it up by changing fabrics,leaving off the ribbons, putting in piping, adding lace, piecing flying geese along the bottom, or whatever else you might think of. You can change the size, but you'll have to do the math. The strip has to be long enough to go around the circumference of the circle, taking into account the seam allowance.

Here are a few variations you might want to try. The flowers are sewn on before the side seams.
I'm a guest blogger for Madame Samm today (June 27)! If you go  to Sew We Quilt @ Stash Manicure, you will see a tutorial for the little recycled denim bag. 

 

    Because you took the time to visit me today, I'm having a little giveaway. All you have to do is leave me a comment for a chance to win. For a second chance, let me know you are a follower (either a new one or an existing one-  Please do this in a separate comment.) That's all you have to do.  Contest will close Wednesday, July 6, at midnight (CST). What do you have a chance to win? How about 2 patterns of your choice (to be shipped) from B.Bumble & Co.  (this includes new patterns on the What's New page) plus my new little bee pin cushion kit. See it here .
Have fun! Thank you for visiting today!!!