Drawstring Tote Bag/ Bookbag Directions

Transcription

1 Drawstring Tote Bag/ Bookbag Directions Created By Lyn Greco 8/5/10 0

2 Drawstring Bag Directions After fabric has been cut to a width of approximately 18 inches and a depth of approximately 22 inches when folded in half* it is time to begin. (*Students with a one way design fabric will have 2 pieces of fabric instead of one long piece of fabric that is folded in half.) Step 1: Marking the Top Hem The first step is to measure the hem at the top of your bag. While looking at the right side of the fabric, use a sewing gauge to measure down from the SELVEGE EDGE / TOP EDGE of the bag approximately ½ inch (or whatever amount necessary) to cover up any writing printed on the edge of the fabric. Mark this amount several times across the top with a chalk pencil. Repeat this step for the other top edge. 1

3 Step 2: Drawing the Top Hem chalk line Using a yardstick, connect your ½ * chalk lines. It is usually easiest to begin at the center and draw out toward the sideseams so that the fabric does not scrunch up as you draw the chalk line. This chalk line will be the first fold of the top hem. Repeat this step for the other top edge. 2

4 Step 3: Pinning the First Fold of the Top Hem To prepare this hem for ironing, fold fabric along the chalk line so the bad sides of the fabric are touching. Repeat this step for the other top edge. Pin points should be facing toward the folded top edge which will allow you to safely iron the fold without ironing the pin heads. 3

5 Step 4: Ironing the Top Hem Use the iron to press the folded edge of this hem. Remember to avoid running over the heads of the pins and keep your iron moving to prevent burning of the fabric. Repeat this step for the other top hem edge. 4

6 Step 5: Preparing the Right Side Seam NOTE: Because the open space of the machine is on the left side AND the marking for the 5/8 seam line is only to the right side of the needle, we always line our fabric up so that we are sewing on the right side with the balance of the project over to the left. Starting with the upper or top right corner of the bag, open up the hem by removing a few pins. Begin pinning down this side seam making sure to keep the fabric edges PERFECTLY EVEN. Pins should be perpendicular to the sideseams. The heads of pins should be at the sideseam and the points should be facing toward the center of the bag. 5

7 Step 6: Marking the Opening for Cording It is necessary to mark the opening for the cording to fit through. This opening on the sideseam will remain unsewn. First measure 2 ¼ inches down from the top corner and make a chalk line. Next, mark a second chalk line 3 ½ inches down from the top edge (this will leave an opening 1 ¼ inches wide for the cording.) 6

8 Step 7: Sewing the Right Side Seam It is important to leave an opening for the drawstring cording when sewing this sideseam together. Follow the directions below: A. Following all 10 Simple Steps When I Sew found on your sewing machine, sew only the 2 ¼ inch section at the top right corner. Make sure to begin with backstitching at the very top and end with backstitching at the first chalk line. Also, remember to remove the pins just before you are about to run them over with the presser foot and place the pins into a pin cushion. (Removing pins too soon will cause the 2 pieces of fabric to shift and no longer be lined up with each other.) B. Next, skip over the 1 ¼ cording opening and begin sewing at the second chalk line making sure to have backstitching when you begin. Continue sewing to the very bottom of the bag and make sure to end with backstitches. 7

9 Step 8: Pressing the seam open For that clean finished look, all seams should be pressed open before moving onto the next step. SO, open up your project and place the seam over the small end of the ironing board. Press this side seam open and also make sure to fold the top hem back down and re-press this in place. 8

10 Step 9: Preparing the Other Side Seam Now you will flip your project over so that the un-sewn side seam is now on the right side. Pin, mark, sew and press this New Right Side Seam following the same steps you did for the first side seam. (Steps 5 8) Step 10: Pinning the Bottom Seam NOTE: This step is only necessary for students that have a one way design and have had their fabric cut into 2 separate pieces. If your fabric has a fold at the bottom, simply skip this step and move on to Step 13 - Preparing the Casing. To prepare this seam, pin across the bottom seam with pins facing toward the center of the bag. 9

11 Step 11: Sewing the Bottom Seam A. Starting at the side seam (instead of the edge of the fabric), sew from one seam to the other with backstitches in the beginning and the end of this seam. 10

12 Step 12: Ironing the Bottom Seam Now, it is time to try and place this seam over the end of the ironing board and press the seam open as best as possible. 11

13 Step 13: Preparing the Casing at the Sideseams We are now ready to fold the top hem down for the second time to create a wide hem know as a casing that will hold the cording inside. Beginning at one of the sideseams, fold down the top hem again creating a new hem that is approximately 1 ½. (Note: Your hem is now a double hem, one ½ wide and a second hem 1 ½ wide). Make sure to line up the sideseams AND make sure that the cording opening is not visible on the inside of the bag. Now, fold and pin the other sideseam down over the cording opening in the same way. [Type Sideseams a quote matching from the document or the summary of an interesting point. You can position the text with box opening anywhere completely in the document. Use the Text Box Tools tab to change the formatting of the covered pull quote up text on the box.] inside by hem. 12

14 Step 14: Finish Pinning the Casing Continue to fold and pin the casing down, making sure to keep an even hem width of approximately 1 ½. Also, make sure that the hem is lying smoothly without any Rumples. Your pins should be perpendicular to the hem and should be pointing toward the top of the bag. 13

15 Step 15: Preparing to Sew the Casing NOTE: This step involves sewing in a big circle around the top of the bag. Therefore, before you begin sewing, turn your project right side out and place in the sewing machine so that the Good Side is now facing down. This will help you sew without sewing the top closed. 14

16 Step 16: Sewing the Casing Adjust the Pattern Selector and Stitch Length Dials to decorative stitching. (Using a decorative stitch instead of a straight stitch will hide any small wiggles that may occur while sewing the top hem). Beginning at a sideseam, line the left side of the presser foot up with the lower part of the top hem. Slowly sew around the top hem following these key points: Keep the left side of the presser foot next to the bottom fold of the hem. Keep the material flat as you sew to prevent it from folding over. Begin and end with backstitching at the sideseam so that it will be less visible when the project is complete. Keep the left side of the presser foot next to the bottom fold of the hem 15

17 Step 17: Measuring & Threading the Cording Cut a length of cording that reaches from the lower (bottom) corner of the bag, up the sideseam, around the top hem and then back down again to the lower corner. Cut a second length of cording the same length as the first. Insert a safety pin on the end of the cording to help push the cording around the top casing. Begin at one of the openings and push the cording all the way around in a complete circle. Pull the ends so that they are even. Starting at the other opening, push the second piece of cord around the casing in a complete circle and pull those ends until they are even. To make sure the cording has been threaded correctly, pull both ends to close the bag. 16

18 Step 18: Preparing the Corner Tucks Next the cording will be sewn into each of the lower corners. Begin by pushing the 2 ends of the cording into the one corner. From the inside of the bag, grab the cording and pull the bag inside out. Repeat this step for the other corner. 17

19 Step 19: Marking the Corner Tucks Keeping the cording in the corner of the bag, line up cording under the opened sideseam and create a triangle with the fabric. Pin the cording in place with pins on either side of the cording. Measure down 2 inches from the top corner and draw a chalk line across the side seam from side to side. Repeat this step for the other corner. Measure down 2 inches and draw a chalk line/sewing line 18

20 Step 20: Sewing the Corner Tucks Line the chalk line up with the needle of the sewing machine. As you sew over the chalk line, do not remove the pins but rather use the handwheel to carefully sew over the pins so that the cording does not move. Note: It may be difficult to sew over the cording due to its thickness. So, slowly turn the handwheel while pushing the fabric backwards until the presser foot is on top of the cording. Repeat this step for the other corner tuck. To keep cording from ripping out, make sure to backstitch over the cording before sewing to 19

21 Step 21: Finishing Touches Trim threads that connect the lettering in the embroidery both on the front and back of the fabric. Trim the extra stabilizer away from the embroidery. 20