Bump up your baggage status to first class with this Japanese-inspired sew. Combining the inkiest indigo fabric with a delicate gold-flecked print, its minimal aesthetic and roomy proportions give it a grown-up feel we love. And, while its box corners and contrasting top stitch look impressive, they're easier to master than you might think.
Pick your fabrics and sew it in just an evening, then book a weekend break with pals to show it off.
MATERIALS
■ 50cm (19 3/4") plain cotton fabric
■ 50cm (19 3/4") patterned cotton fabric
■ 50cm (19 3/4") wadding
■ Zip, 40cm (15 3/4")
■ Matching sewing thread
■ White sewing thread
■ Gold sewing thread
■ Tailor's chalk
1. Place the patterned fabric right side (RS) down and mark out two 30 x 40cm (11 7/8 x 15 3/4") pieces. Add a 1.5cm (5/8") seam allowance to both of the pieces and cut out, then cut a piece of wadding to the same size, using the fabric as a template. Place the wadding between the two pieces of fabric with wrong sides (WS) facing, then put to one side.
2. Place the plain fabric RS down and mark out four 14.5 x 40cm (5 3/4 x 15 3/4") pieces. Add a 1.5cm (5/8") seam allowance to each piece and cut out, then cut two pieces of wadding to the same size, using the fabric as a template.
3. Place one plain fabric piece RS up and position the zip along one long edge, RS up and aligning the edges. Place another plain fabric piece on top with RS down, aligning the edges. Add a piece of wadding on top in the same way, then pin along the edge of the zip. Using a zipper sewing machine foot, sew along the pinned edge, approximately 3-4mm (1/8") away from the teeth of the zip.
4. Fold back the fabric and wadding to reveal the zip, then press the fabric in place. Repeat Step 3 along the second long edge of the zip, using the remaining plain fabric and wadding pieces. Once sewn, fold back the fabric and wadding and press again.
5. Pin along the outer long edges of the fabric and wadding layers to hold in place. Using the white sewing thread and the regular sewing machine foot, sew along either side of the zip, 0.5cm (1/4") away from the seam as shown.
6. Continuing in white thread, begin sewing lines along the length of the fabric, parallel to the zip, and 1.5cm (5/8") apart. Stop approximately 3cm (1 1/4") from the outer long edge, and repeat on the opposite side of the zip.
7. Open the zip halfway and, with the zip RS up, place the patterned fabric and wadding sandwich on top, aligning the raw edges. Pin and sew along all four edges, 1.5cm (5/8") in, then trim the seams to 0.5cm (1/4"). Oversew the seams using zigzag stitch.
8. Flatten out one of the corners so the seam between the plain and patterned fabrics runs away from you. Measure 8cm (3 1/8") up from the corner point and draw a line horizontally across the corner.
9. Pin and sew along the marked line, then trim the seam to 0.5cm (1/4"). Repeat with the three remaining corners, then oversew all raw edges using a wide zigzag stitch. Turn the bag RS out.
10. Wrap a length of gold thread around two fingers until you have enough to make a small tassel. Take the loop of thread off your fingers and thread another length of thread through the loop, tying it securely. Holding the tassel at the top, take a third length of thread, approximately 20cm (7 7/8") long, and tie it around the tassel, 0.5cm (1/4") down from the top knot. Loop the thread around the top of the tassel, then knot to secure and trim off any excess. Cut across the bottom of the tassel to finish, and attach it to the zip pull using the thread at the top.
0 comment:
Post a Comment