In this project you will pick up/apply these bag making skills

Use an internal Hex Open bag frame very practical and secure Sew a zip in the bag lining adds value and security Sew with poly. Boning which helps provide structure Sew a flat bottom into a bag - so stuff doesnt roll around in the bags Sew a fabric strap - with D-rings and spring lever clips

Heres How I put it all together Shopping list (as if you were shopping and not using your own stash fabrics)

yard of Sweet Home in kiwi fabric for the exterior and strap. And matching thread. yard of Clean Sweep in Kiwi fabric for the exterior and (optional) inner pocket. 1 x 14 Hex Open bag frame. 1 x 6 x 22 Grid Bag Bottom 1 x 7 Zip for optional inner pocket 1 x 42 x 2 strip of double sided fusible fleece (112cm x 10cm) for padding the strap (this is optional; I prefer to use this for all of my fabric straps, it makes fabric straps comfy). yard of firm iron interfacing (stabiliser) yard of heavy sew-in interlining 2 x 1 bronze bolt snaps 2 x 0.5 bronze D-rings

NB: all seam allowances are 1cm (3/8) unless otherwise stated. Pattern includes 1cm seam allowance. 1. Make up your pattern there is only one pattern piece for this bag. This pattern is shown halved.

Make up your pattern as shown in the photo. Double your fabric over and place the pattern on the fold before cutting out. Use chalk to mark a Hinge Marking (22cm up from the bottom edge) on the sloping side of all fabric pieces. From the pattern piece cut: 2 pieces of exterior fabric, 2 pieces Clean Sweep fabric (lining), 2 pieces firm iron-on, and 2 pieces Heavy sew-in interlining. 2. Cut out other fabric pieces:

1 x 42 x 4 strip of Sweet Home (exterior fabric) for the shoulder strap. 2 x 10.5 x 6 Clean Sweep (lining fabric) for optional inner pocket 1 x 10.5 x 6 firm iron-on interfacing for optional pocket 1 x 3 x 2 strip for shoulder handle loops interlining.

3. Make a comfy shoulder strap - follow these comfy bag handle instructions (see step 3) to the letter (except you do not need to divide the strap into 2 lengths). Then take one of the

ends of your finished strap and thread it through the ring of one of the bronze bolt snaps to 1. Stitch the end of the strap down in a box formation for strength. 4. Make the handle loops make up the handles loops in the same way as for the shoulder strap, (in the previous step) except there is no need for fusible fleece, you need to divide the strap into 2 equal lengths, and do not stitch the ends of the loops. Take one of handle loops and thread it through one of the bronze D-rings. Fold handle loop in half and stitch handle loop (with ring still attached) onto the bag exterior bag (one handle loop each for bag front and bag back) as shown

Sew 1 handle loop on the front exterior, and the other on the back exterior onto (right hand side) side edge 1 6/8 (4.5cm) down from the top edge as shown in the photo (jeez thats a mouthful! Hope it all makes sense). 5. Sew exterior bag - iron the firm iron-on interfacing onto the wrong side of the exterior fabric. Make a sandwich with the 2 exterior pieces (right sides together), and the heavy sewin on the outside of the sandwich. Match all edges and pin all together. Starting from one of

the hinge markings sew the sides and bottom of the exterior finishing at the other hinge marking as shown by my wonky pink arrow.

Stitch sides and bottom from hinge marking to hinge marking as shown by wonky pink arrow. 6. Sew polyester boning in side seams - for side support (this will help the bag to stand up on it's own)

This is a close up view of the side edge of the exterior. See that marking at the bottom of the pic? Make that same mark 1.5 up from the bottom edge just like I have. Now measure the distance between the hinge marking and the new marking, and minus 6/8 that measurement (or in other words 1cm short at both ends, my final measurement came came to 6). We need to make the boning slightly short of the 2 markings so the bag will move naturallyyoull see what I mean later. Cut 4 pieces of polyester boning to that measurement and stitch the boning into each layer of the side seams in the same position as shown in the photo

Heres me stitching boning into 1 of the layers of the side seams. Not a lot of room in my 1cm seam allowance is there? That's 'cos I like to sew right on the edge man! Hold the boning in place with your fingers as you sew. 7. Create a flat bottom for your bag take one of the corners of your exterior bag and match the side seam line with the bottom seam line. Flatten to form a triangle. Measure 1.5down from the tip of the triangle mark the line with chalk and hold with your fingers. Stitch along the marked line and trim the excess fabric 1cm for the seam. Repeat for the other bottom corner of the exterior. Turn exterior bag right side out.

Measure 1.5down from the tip of the triangle mark the line, make sure the line is a right angle to the seam line that runs down the center of the triangle.

Stitch along the line you just made and trim off excess triangle as shown. Turn bag right side out. 8. Place grid bag bottom and purse feet into exterior bag Measure up the base of the bag for the grid bag bottom and cut to bag bottom to size. Make chalk markings on the exterior bag base for the bag feet (not too close, and not too far from bag corners). Using those markings make corresponding markings on the grid bag bottom for the purse feet. Use fine scissors to cut through those markings on the bag bottom. Positioning it carefully, place grid bag bottom inside the base of the exterior bag (I like to stick it down with super strong double sided tape). Turn the bag upside down and using a stitch ripper carefully make tiny slits into the bag feet makings on the exterior bag. Push each bag foot into the fabric slits, right through into the holes made in the grid bag bottom, and push the prongs down away from each other with your thumb. The bag feet are handy for keeping the bag bottom secured down.

I usually place the bag bottom onto the base of the bag and then make markings for the bag feet using a pen This way I can mark the bag and the bag bottom at the same time. 9. Sew lining if you want to insert an inner pocket in to the lining do so now by following these zippered pocket instructions (give it a go, its not very difficult!) I placed my pocket centrally in the lining, 7 up from the bottom edge. Sew the lining bag in the same way as in step 5 EXCEPT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE AN 8CM OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE LINING and you dont need poly boning in the lining either.

Heres my zippered pocket in the my lining (I like having a loo brush in my bag heh!) 10. Slip exterior bag into lining bag the right sides of the exterior and the lining bags should now be touching each other.

Pop the exterior bag into the lining bag. 11. Stitch the 2 flaps of the bag youll see that there are 4 layers which havent been stitched yet (2 layers from the lining, and 2 layers from the exterior), these will become flaps. Bring the right sides of one of the lining and the exterior flaps together and pin. Sew all around the sides and top edge stopping at the stitching on the lining. Clip off top corners off. Repeat with other purse flap.

Pin the lining and the exterior flaps together and stitch. Start and stop stitching and the hinge markings (or in other words, start and stop stitching at the previous stitching made in step 5).

Start stitching the flap on one of the hinge markings. I like to sew the purse flaps on the lining side, because that way its easier to push all of the layers back and out of the way. Youll see what I mean when you come to do it 12. Pull the exterior bag out through the gap in the lining yep, I love this bit. Pop the lining into the exterior bag, push the corners out, and give everything a good iron.

Hello bag! Ive been expecting you! 13. Sew gap in lining shut - push the raw edges into the hole and top stitch a few mms to edge for a neat finish.

Shut yer gap! 14. Make casing for the Hex frame fold one of the flaps down 1.5 (4cm) onto the lining side, press the fold, and pin. The top edge of the flap should now be almost touching the hinge marking. Double check that casing will accommodate the frame by testing, adjust if necessary. Stitch the casing a couple of mms from the edge. Repeat with the other flap.

Fold flap down 1.5 (4cm) onto lining side, press, and pin (I know I havent pinned but Im lazy). Stitch a couple of mms from the edge from one end of the casing to the other. Take your time to stitch a straight line because your stitching is going to show on the exterior side of the bag. When sewing straight lines it helps if you havent drunken lots of wine, and you sew slowly without stopping (when you stop and start the line can become wobbly well, mine do). 15. Secure the pin in one of the hinges youll see that the frame already has the pins inserted into the hinges, but they are not secured (so you can sew with them). Take one of the hinges out, and open the frame (like a book). Get yourself some pliers and a piece of leather (or thickish fabric), ensure that the pin in the hinge in fully inserted, and using the leather wrapped pliers squeeze the tip of the pin (youll see that the tip of the pin is hollow). Youll end up with a flattened pin tip and now the pin is trapped secure inside the hinge.

Squeeze the pliers to flatten the tip of the pin think of the driver that cut you on the road the other daygrrr!

Tip of pin is flattened so pin cannot escape out of the hinge. 16. Insert the frame into the casing the free end of the frame goes in first. Push the right frame through the casing until the free ends of the frame are sticking out the other end. Now we need to make up the hinge on the other side of the frame. Get your pliers again and squeeze the hinge halves together until you can insert the other pin. Slip the pin into the hinge and flatten the pin tip as in the previous step (make sure the head of the pin is pointing towards the top of the bag).

In the frame goes 17. Clip the shoulder handle on the handle loops and you're done!- Rock up to your local Stitch and Bitch in style (or enjoy the envious glances on the bus) and enjoy the Ohhhs and Ahhhs at your bag when you tell them that you made it yourself :)