Embroidered Tweed Bag

Remember my giving thanks post from a couple of weeks ago? All that lovely fabric… I have decided to make a thank you embroidered tweed bag for Ann.

It may not be winter but it seems completely appropriate to make her a tweed bag out of the fabrics she kindly gave me.

I picked out this lovely grey, with subtle hints of other colours. Branching out from my comfort zone I have decided to add some embroidery to pick out these subtle colours.

 

If you would like to make your own…

Tweed Fabric Bag Tutorial

Cut two pieces of fabric using an A4 sheet as a pattern, add 1 cm seam allowance all round. This forms the body of the bag.

Mark in at 7cm from each side, and a further 4 cm in from each side. These marks are for creating pleats. Fold in to form two pleats on each piece of fabric.

Baste stitch pleats to hold in place. Place right sides together of front and back and stitch along sides and bottom.

Next we are going to create some width to the bag. Fold at the bottom corners so that the seams line up with each other.

If you have a quilter’s ruler are great for finding the right angle to mark a stitching line across. I made my bag 2″ wide.

Mark and stitch, then trim the seam.

Repeat the above steps for the lining, add any internal pockets you wish. I have added a small zip pocket.

Lets create the handle next. Cut fabric 7cm by 64cm, fold in 1cm seam allowance along edges, and fold handle in half. Stitch along both sides of the handle. Place to one side.

Cut the top band of the bag, 4 pieces of heavy weight interfacing 26.5cm by 7cm, and four pieces of fabric 28.5cm by 9cm (1cm seam allowance). Iron on your interfacing to the wrong side of each piece.

Add any embroidery you would like to one piece.

Place two pieces right sides together and stitch along sides, and repeat.

Pin the handles along side seams. Now place the two bands on top of each other, ready to stitch the top seam of the bag opening – check your embroidery is the correct way up for this seam, and the handles pinned correctly for this.

Insert magnetic fastenings to the two inside pieces.

Top stitch the top of your band. If your sewing machine does not cope with the thickness of the fabric I suggest you understitch, as shown. This is a row of neat stitching just on the inside of the inside of the band, which captures all the internal fabric from the seams.

Assemble the bag – this is where it all comes together. Insert the lining inside the main bag and tack in place.

Place the top band, right sides together, round the bag. make sure your embroidery is at the top so that when it is turned the correct way out it is on the outside of the bag.

Tack, and then sew in place. If your machine struggle with the three layers of fabric I suggest lengthening your stitch and using a walking foot.

Fold the top band over. Then turn in your seam allowance, and hand stitch. If your machine will cope with the layers, top stitch this seam from the outside of the bag. (Sadly mine doesn’t)

There are so many different ways you can customize this bag, add a bow to the front, one large flower… Have fun making your own.

 

If you make this bag I would love to see it:)

As usual I am off to check out fellow Handmade Harbour creative:)