Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Sling Bag Tutorial - Part 1

      I tend to have a short attention span when it comes to projects, that's why I like making a variety of things. My Etsy shop has an assortment of stuff in it for that very reason...I don't want to make the same style of the same product over and over! Bags are one of my favorite things to make when I feel like changing up the pace a little.


       I whipped up a few of these hobo/sling bags to put in the shop. The fun thing about these totes are they are reversible!



       Fun! So, if you are the sewing type, here is how you can make one all of your own. Cut out two pieces for the outer bag, and two pieces for the inner bag, following these measurements. I just "wing" the curved part. I cut one piece and use that for the pattern for the rest of the bag...that way they are all the same curve.


      It will look like this when you open it up.


       We are going to be very thrifty with our use of fabric, and use the cut out pieces from the straps as the pockets. Lay them out flat like this.


      Measure down from the top straight edge, nine inches.


       Trim off the rounded bottom. Hem the sides and the shorter strait edge. I serged my edges before hemming to keep them nice and tidy. Leave the top un-hemmed.


       Cut a strip of narrow elastic, 8 inches long. Hem the top edge of the pocket, sewing the elastic into the hem as you go. I used a very narrow, zigzag stitch for this. I set it so that it was so narrow it looked almost straight when sewn. The tiny bit of zigzag allows the elastic to stretch properly.


     Your pocket should now look like this.


     Do that to all four pockets. Now, sew them onto each piece of the bag. I center mine four inches below the top.


      Now sew just the outer edges of the bags together. You should have two "bags" that are open at the tops.


     With RIGHT sides together, stuff one bag into the other. Pin it in place.


      Sew the two bags together. Leave the top of the straps open.


      Reach your hand through there and pull the bags right side out. About half way through, it will be a tight jumble mess, and you will think you've done something wrong. Just keep working at it, it will come.


       When you finally get it apart it will look like this.


     Stuff one of the bags into the other. Now, we need to connect the straps. Make a 5 inch long tube of whatever fabric you want your "handle" to be.


     Flip it right side out, and slide it onto one of the straps.


      Fold one end of one of the straps in, about a half inch.


      Stuff  about a half inch of the other strap into this one.


      Sew it down.

   
      Then slide the handle over the seam.


      I top-stitched around the openings of a couple of them, before doing the "handle" part. I think it helps it look neater.




You can get all kinds of creative with this. On one bag, I used four different fabric colors, and did a different color combination for each side of the bag.

        The reason this is a "part 1" tutorial is because, tomorrow, I'm going to show you how I took this same method and made myself an awesome leather bag. Want to see a sneak peak?


       I'm. in. love. See you tomorrow!

Psalms 84:11   For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give graceand glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 

49 comments:

  1. I'm just learning how to sew . . . I want to make 800 of these : ) Pinning!

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  2. Very cute! You did a great job! And, I really appreciate the scripture you shared. It was good for me to hear that, today.

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  3. Oh.My. LOVE.THEM.too! Adding to my Make SOON list, as in, very soon. I NEED this for summer on the go. Thanks for sharing!
    JoAnn

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  4. love these totes! thanks so much for posting the tutorial! visiting via a link on someday crafts. :)

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  5. I just LOVE these totes...and reversible! GET OUT! :) Would be perfect for my ever changing need for a new purse haha! I would LOVE to have you share this at my link party and even enter the giveaway thats going on! I am your newest GFC follower!

    http://www.pincushioncreations.com/2012/05/homemade-by-you-11-giveaway.html

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  6. Great instructions! I plan to make one this summer.

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    I am a new follower - hope you will visit and follow as well!

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  7. Very, very cute! So many possibilities with the bag being reversible. ;)

    I have a question about the measurements. The strap says 2 inches. Do you mean 2 inches wide/across or depth? And, do you just "wing it" for the curve?

    Thanks for sharing such a fun project!

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    Replies
    1. Connie,
      The strap is 2 inches from the raw edge...so that, when you sew the back to the front, it is actually four inches. I hop that makes sense. Yes, I do just wing the curve.

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    2. Thanks! Can't wait to dig through my fabric stash and get started!

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  8. What a cute little bag! I really want to make one now!

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  9. Oh I love it! I am stopping by from Under the Table and Dreaming and I am so glad I did! Thanks for sharing, I might have to give this one a try!

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  10. this is a cute tote! I cant decide which one I like more, the stripes or the lace. Well done!

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  11. Oh my goodness! This is so cute, and the leather one too! Love Love Love them. Pinning!!

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  12. This is very beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I made the bag and your directions were perfect. It is a large size for sure! Will be good for the pool or gym. ~Marie

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  14. Probably a lame question. How much of each fabric do you think is needed? Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Not lame, I actually had the same question? thanks :)

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  15. Carmen,
    You will need a yard of both the outer and inner fabric. Hope that helps!
    Abby

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  16. Hi there! I'm Andrea from Sparrow Hill and I would love to feature this project on my blog as part of our new "Pinned it-Nailed it" series! All I ask for is your permission to link to your page and that when I have my post up using your project idea, you attach my blog button to your page that will simply state that you were featured on my blog! You can contact me at anamarie_04@yahoo.com. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you! :) Have a wonderful day!

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  17. Love these! How much fabric do you use for 1?

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  18. Thanks! I can't wait to get started on my new bag!

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  19. I love this! Thanks so much for posting. I adore the knitted lace on the first bag pictured. Can you tell me where you got it from? I've looked for something similar at multiple local fabric stores and haven't been successful. :(

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    Replies
    1. Heathrli,
      The lace can be purchased at walmart or any fabric store. I put several pieces together to make it look that wide, it's only about an inch and a half wide. I used a different one for the edge that is about a half inch wide. I think it was a simplicity brand trim.(?) I hope that helps!
      Abby

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    2. OHH that makes sense! I keep finding thin trims of it but I thought it came in one of those giant rolls. Haha - I'm a complete beginner at this stuff! :) I have one more noob question - how do you attach that type of knitted lace on the fabrics? Is it glued.. or sewn? Thank you so much for your responses!! I am SO motivated by this tutorial!

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    3. I probably should have explained that to start with! =) I just sew it on, but lace is kind of stretchy so I use a zig-zag stitch when I sew over top of it. Let me know if you have any more questions, good luck!
      Abby

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    4. Oh, great! Thanks SO much for all your help and info. :D I'm super excited! I'm gunna stop by a fabric store tonight!

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  20. I have had this thing pinned for a while and just realized this post was made on the day my daughter was born. Cool. :) I am going to try this today!!

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  21. Okay so for some reason I am stuck between "With RIGHT sides together, stuff one bag into the other. Pin it in place." and the next step. I don't know if I am sewing it wrong or messing it up, but when I try to pull the bag through the 2 inch hole in the strap, it is impossible to fit and won't go through. HELP! haha

    This bag is super cute that you made and I hope I can figure out how to fix my mistake.
    Thanks, Beck

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  22. Have you found a particular weight of fabric that works best for this hobo bag?

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. What kind of fabric did you use (apparel, quilting, etc.)

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  26. Your bag turned out amazing and the tutorial almost makes me want to give it a try. I'm just too timid to use a machine for sewing.
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  27. Your instructions were great, made a bag and it turned out perfect. Thanks

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  28. Great tutorial about sling bag. I am planning to make sling bag at home,so this post will be very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing the post!!
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  29. This sling bag tutorial is nice.
    Thanks for sharing

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  30. I love the blog. Great post. It is very true, people must learn how to learn before they can learn. lol i know it sounds funny but its very true. . .
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