action shot!


close up of closure

 



back view


back view with the closure flap open


...and the inside/lining



OK here's the tutorial:::

EDIT:::   I had to upload these pics to Craftster's picture hosting because my Photobucket ran out of bandwidth, so if they are too small for you (this is as big as Craftster lets them be I guess?), PM me and I can send you an email personally with bigger pics

 Let me start by saying that every time I try to make a tutorial, I get super wordy and give way too many directions, but I try to not leave anything out.  This may seem long and tedious, but I always feel like too many directions are better than not enough!! 

1.  Cut one rectangle of your fabric and one of your lining (set aside the lining fabric for later).  The measurements for my bag are about 15” at its widest point and about 6” tall.  If you want this size, then make your two rectangles about 16”x13” because they’ll be folded in half later…the extra inch I added is for your seam allowances.

2.  Lay out your fabric rectangle and pleat both ends as shown (this part is way easier to explain with a picture than with words, so bear with me).
   A.  Start in the middle of one 16” side and fold your pleats, securing them temporarily with pins.  Sew across the top of the pleats to secure them.  Be sure to    make your pleats at an angle, as shown in the picture.  Iron them flat.
   B.  Repeat the pleating on the other 16” side.  This will seem to make your fabric rectangle get all wonky and miss-shaped in the middle area between the two 16” sides, but it will work out.

3.  Cut of the excess fabric above the pleats so that you have a straight line.  Be sure to leave at least a half inch above the pleats.

4.  With right sides together, fold your rectangle in half lengthwise as shown.  Make sure that the pleating matches up on either side.  Sew your bottom seam along the fold line.  Because of the pleating you did earlier, when you sew this seam, it should create the nice rounded bottom like on my bag.



5.  With right sides still together, sew the two side seams.  Make them at a slight angle as shown.  Turn right side out.

6.  Set that section of your bag aside, and start working on the lining.  (Now is the time to attach interfacing if you want your bag to be stiffer…if you do want to, just attach it to the wrong side of your lining.)  Now, with right sides together, fold your lining rectangle in half lengthwise as shown, and sew a curved line to match the bottom seam you just made on the bag.  This is so that when your lining goes in your bag, it will fit snugly into the curve of the bottom.  Cut off the excess fabric in the seam allowances.

7.  To make the side seams of the lining, place your lining pouch over the fabric pouch, and match up where you should sew so that your lining fits snugly into your bag.  Sew them at the same angle as the side seams of the outer fabric.  Trim extra seam allowances.  Leave your lining with right sides together, but turn the outer fabric right side out.

8.  Put the lining inside the outer fabric.  Your lining will probably end up being taller than the bag fabric, which is good.  Fold the lining down as shown, making the fold slightly above the top of the outer fabric edges (this will make sense later).  Sew the lining and the outer fabric together at the top.




9.  Set the whole thing aside and begin working on the bands across the top.  To do this, cut out four equal rectangles out of your outer fabric.  They should end up being as wide as the top part of your bag that you already assembled, so measure that length and add an inch for seam allowances, then make the height of the rectangles about 2 ½”(this includes seam allowances).

10.  Take aside two of the rectangles (if you want interfacing to make a nice, stiff band across the top of your bag, attach the interfacing to the wrong side of one of these rectangles now).  With right sides together, sew a curved seam to mirror the curved line of the bottom of your bag.  Trim seam allowances from the seam.  Turn right side out and iron flat.  Fold the remaining open sides inward and sew closed, making sure the width is equal to the top of your bag.  This will complete one band. 

11.  For the second band, repeat the band-making process with the remaining two rectangles, but there is one alteration on this band.  Before folding and sewing the final seam on this band, leave an opening a few inches wide in the center.  This alteration will be for the button closure flap.
   A.  Cut two 3”x2” rectangles from your outer fabric.  With right sides together, sew a ‘U’-shaped seam across three sides as shown.  Flip right side out and iron flat.
   B.  Stick the flap partly inside the opening you left on the second band and sew    the opening closed as shown.

12.  Now it’s time to attach the bands to the bag/lining.  Pin the band with the flap to the back of the bag and make sure it’s exactly where you want it.  Also make sure that the top of the band lines up with the top of the lining.  Sew the band and lining together neatly at the top.

13.  Sew the bottom of the band (which is curved) neatly to the bag as shown.  This will secure all parts nicely.

14.  Repeat with front band.

15.  Sew together the sides of the bands as shown.

16.  Now that everything is all sewed in place, mark on the front band and the flap where you want your button to go.  Attach it to the front band, and make a button hole on the flap.  (If you’re like me and are afraid of making button holes, just carefully cut a button-sized hole and put some anti fray stuff on the hole!)

17.  Hallelujah you’re done!!!!