Whether you're heading down the gym or off on a weekend trip, scoop up your belongings and chuck 'em in this roomy, use-it-for-anything duffle bag. The side straps are just long enough for comfortable handling, or for tossing onto your shoulder.
For the outer fabric try a canvas, light brocade or bark cloth (a woven furnishing fabric) - they're all the right kind of medium weight material. Consider limiting your colours for a striking look - one print, one colour for the piping, zip and straps, and one colour for the lining. A 7.5mm (1/4") seam allowance is used throughout, unless stated otherwise.
MATERIALS
■ Medium-weight outer fabric, 1m (1yrd)
■ Quilting weight cotton for the inside lining, 1m (1yrd)
■ Medium-weight fusible interfacing, 2m (2yrds)
■ Ready-made welting/piping in a coordinating colour, 3m (3yrds)
■ Sew-in Peltex stabilizer fabric, 25cm (1/4yrd)
■ 2.5cm (1") wide cotton belting, 3m (3yrds)
■ A pair of heavy-duty brass or silver snaps
■ Heavy-duty zip, 55cm (22")
■ Thread to match
■ Sewing machine
■ Iron
■ Rotary cutter
■ Quilting ruler
■ Self-healing cutting mat
■ Scissors
■ Needle for hand stitching
■ Seam ripper
■ Hammer to set snaps
1. Cut one set of fabric pieces from the outer fabric, one set from your inner lining fabric and one set from fusible interfacing. Each set is made up of two pieces from the side template (DOWNLOAD PATTERN); two 51.3 x 45.7cm (20 3/4 x 18 1/2") pieces for the front and back, and two 30 x 30cm (8 1/2 x 8 1/2") pieces for the pockets.
2. Heat the iron and fuse the interfacing to the wrong side (WS) of your outer fabric pieces.
3. Press the pre-made welting to remove the wrinkles. Pin according to the photo, then stitch it to the edge of the side pieces. Then stitch to the top edge of the pockets, making sure your raw edges will end inside the final seams. Trim any excess.
4. Pin the inner lining and outer pocket right sides (RS) together and stitch the top and bottom edges. Turn RS out, press, and top stitch the edge with the piping for the top of the pocket.
5. To place the pocket on the front of the bag, measure 15cm (5 1/2") up from the bottom, and 12.5cm (5") from the edge. Pin and stitch on the sides and bottom to attach.
6. Cut a 135cm (55") piece of the cotton belting, press bottom edges under, stitch to hold. Centre the belting over the unfinished edge of the pocket sides and pin. Stitch up the edge of the belting until you reach the top of the pocket, turn, stitch across, then down the other side of the belting. Be sure to add some extra stitching for reinforcement. Measure the centre of the top edge of the pocket and install the snap according to the manufacturer's instructions. Repeat Steps 4-6 to attach the pocket and straps for the back of the bag.
7. Now for the zip. Pin the top edges of the front and back pieces together, tack together using a 1.7cm (5/8") seam. Press the seam open. Centre the zip over the middle of the seam, stitch down each side. You can use tape to hold the zip in place on the underside while stitching, and then just tear away when finished. Using the seam ripper, turn the piece RS up and pull the stitching away gently to expose the zip. To trim the zip to fit the bag, first use a needle and thread to secure the edges closed. Trim the excess.
8. Stitch the bottom of the bag together using a 1.7cm (5/8") seam. Fold the side piece in half, then line up the zip on your front/back piece to the top crease, and the bottom seam to the bottom crease. Pin RS together around the edges and stitch.
9. Turn the bag RS out. Press. Cut a 42.5 x 25cm (17 x 10") piece of sew-in stabiliser fabric and place it inside the bag, on the bottom.
10. Assemble the inside lining. Press the top edges of the front and back pieces under 1.7cm (5/8"). Stitch the bottom edges together using a 1.7cm (5/8") seam. Press open. Fold the side piece in half, and align, RS together, the open top seams to the top crease, and the bottom seam to the bottom crease of the side piece. Stitch together. Clip the curves as needed.
11. Drop the lining inside the finished outer bag. Pin in place at the edge of the zip. Hand stitch the lining to secure using whipstitch.
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