Shoulder Bag Tutorial - E.L.

I really should be sleeping but I've been meaning to post a clearer photo of this bag ages ago, so now here it is with a tutorial on how to sew one!

This is a fun piece as you can use your favourite cloth prints to create your own bag, I've picked out this fairy-tale-goth-like cloths in 2 different colours and a Japanese flowers print for my bag

For this simple shoulder bag, you will need:

2 Patterned cloths - 1m each [this is an estimate with extras in case of mistakes]

Interface lining 1m - I used felt as it is thicker and firmer so it gives the bag more shape

A big button [optional]

 I actually used 3 pattern cloths for mine, the outside patterns are different front and back, and the inside pattern is also different from the outer - to keep it simple you can just use 2 patterns with the outsides the same and only the inside different - or if you prefer you can just use the same pattern throughout, just try to label your pieces so you don't get mixed up!

So here is Step 1:

Cut out the following pattern, my drawing is not drawn to scale so just use the measurements and chalk it out on your 2 patterned cloths and felt interface - make 2 pieces for each cloth and felt. I usually overestimate my measurements so that I leave enough allowances for seams when I sew them together.

Step 2:

 When sewing together, try not to sew to far in or out, maybe about a 4cm margin from the edges.

Step 3:

The strap I made is slightly more complicated, where I used the all the different patterned cloths, but this is the simplified version where we use only the outer patterned cloth to make the strap.

Also I did a piping on the inside of the carrying part of bag to hide the stitching, by using scrap pieces of cloth and overlay the seams and used invisible stitching to hide them. But for beginners you can just leave it, I'm just a little too detailed for my own good.

 Step 4:

So here, when you have all the pieces sewn together, you can leave it as it is at the end of step 3, or for aesthetic purposes like mine, I pleated in the middle part and added a button. I also made a rubber band type of attachment on the opposing side of the button, so that I can use the rubber band strap to sling it over the button as a way to 'close' the bag.

Use a nice big button to make it look cuter! I used an old vintage button I found in my mother's collection :)

So ta-da! you have a shoulder bag! This tutorial can be really versatile too, if you want it bigger or smaller, you can just adjust the measurements accordingly.

If you're going to try it out, feel free to ask me questions if you're not clear and I'll do my best to help! Show us your final piece if you tried out this tutorial!

Cheers, E.L.
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