Again, a big thanks to SonyaV for writing these instructions. She even sent me drawings to follow! I made a sample bag. If my pictures aren't clear, I can ask Sonya if I can post one of her drawings.
Fabric:
EITHER a single piece that measures at least 27 wide and 20 long You want the pattern to run upright in the width - when laid flat the print points to the long side [if you look at the fabric with the 27" side on top, the print should be right side up]
OR 2 squares of 14 wide by 20 long.
Drawstring: Piece of ¼ wide inch ribbon that matches your fabric or drawcord - 1 ¼ yards
Step 0 - ONLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE STARTING WITH 2 SQUARES OF FABRIC! With wrong sides of fabric together, Sew together along the 20 inch side leaving a 5/8 inch seam allowance. With fabric open flat, trim one side of seam allowance to ¼ inch. Fold over other piece of seam allowance and press. Sew along folded edge. This is called a flat-fell seam.** You now have 1 large piece of fabric.
Step 0. Flat Fell Seam.
Step 1: Lay fabric flat wrong side up and measure and mark a line ½ inch from longest edge of fabric. Mark another line 2 inches from the edge of the fabric.
Step 1.
Step 2: Fold in tip of corner so the short side lines up with the 2 inch mark and press/iron. Repeat for other corner.
Step 2.
Step 3: Fold in edge of fabric to the mark you made at ½ inch and press.
Step 3. (I did actually fold the top all the way to the first line. The fabric is just curling up a little on the edge. When pressed down, it touches the line.)
Step 4: Fold folded edge in to the mark you made at 2 inches and press. This will form the casing for your drawstring.
Step 4. (I did actually fold the top all the way to the second line. The fabric is just curling up a little on the edge. When pressed down, it touches the line.)
Step 5: Lay drawstring tightly into the fold for your casing. Stitch with bottom edge of seam at the edge of your sewing foot to make sure you catch the first fold you pressed. [You need to stitch less than 1/4" from the edge of the casing. For me, this was the inside edge of my foot.] When crossing the folded down part, when onto the main part of the casing, back stitch to reinforce the edge to prevent separation when pulling on the drawstring. Be careful when stitching to make sure you do not catch your drawstring. If preferred, you may insert the drawstring at the end. (Inserting now is less time consuming than inserting it at then end IMO.)
Step 5. (My pencil is pointing to where you back stitch to reinforce.)
Step 5 again. Sonya's drawing, since my fabric's a little too dark to show the place to back stitch very well.
Step 6: Fold in half so the short edges are together and line up your upper corner where the casing is so the points of the missing triangle meet. Sew together short side making a flat-fell seam (see step 0) Sew bottom together starting from the flat-fell seam you just finished to the folded over edge making another flat-fell seam.
Step 7: Turn right side out and if you inserted your drawstring in step 5, tie the ends of your drawstring together near the very end and you are finished. If you didn't, use a safety pin in one end of your drawstring and thread it through the casing. Now tie the ends of your drawstring together near the very end and you are finished.
Flat-fell seam picture taken from Fabric Savvy by Sandra Betzina (ISBN 1-56158-267-0)
Sharon
Mommy to Sarah (8/14/98) and Michael (10/18/00)
Wife to Byron (devoted family man) since 1992<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by Sharon on Tue Sep 18 11:52 PM.</EM></FONT></P>