Bag Lady Week: Roll-up market bags and a giveaway by Needle and Spatula

Welcome to Bag Lady Week!
(enter Oprah-like whoops and hollers)

I thought I would kick things off with a tutorial for some fabric market bags that can be rolled up and tossed into your purse, ready when you are! These babies are lined, so strong enough to tote the heaviest of purchases, and the twill tape handles are a fun feature. I hope you enjoy!

Here for the giveaway by Needle and Spatula? Scroll down for details!



I came across this super cute fabric (on clearance!) at my local Fabricland:

Perfect for making reusable grocery bags! I have a few that I have picked up along the way that are compact and fit nicely in my purse, and I love having them on hand. I have been itching to make some with twill tape handles ever since seeing those made by Elizabeth. Making handles is classically my least fabric part of bag making, so the twill is the answer! I decided to make a few for myself and for swaps for some of my bloggy friends. And while I was at it...a tutorial for you!

Here a few examples of the bags. The first I made for Kaelin, using some linen and patchwork. As you can see, it is a nice, generous size :)

The second one made its way to Sandy in Australia, using the scraps Elizabeth sent me:

I made one in Dream On and Meadowsweet for me, and one for Sarah:


And finally, one all for me. Perfect for trips to the wine store, for some "Mommy Medication," is it not?? Used some of Victoria and Albert's wine bottle print I won from Megan, lined with one of my very favorite older prints by Alexander Henry:


Two different ways to roll 'em up, folks! Ribbon ties (easy peasy):


OR more twill and snaps (a bit more work). Your choice!


Let's get started!

What you need:
-1/2 yard of fabric for exterior
- 1/2 yard of fabric for lining
- 3 yards of wide twill tape (mine was 1.5 inches wide) for snap closure. If using ribbon closure, you will need 2 yards only
- snap (I used a heavy duty magnetic purse snap, but you could use a standard one) OR 1 yard of ribbon

Sew it up!
* all seams are 1/4 inch unless stated otherwise*

1. Cutting (be cognizant of directional fabrics):
a. Cut 2 lining pieces measuring 18" tall by 16" wide.
b. Cut, or piece together as desired, 2 exterior pieces also measuring 18" tall by 16" wide.

2. Place lining pieces right sides together and sew along 3 edges, leaving top edge open. *Leave a 3 inch opening in the bottom of the bag* Reinforce with a zig zag stitch if desired for added strength.

3. Place exterior pieces right side together and sew along 3 edges, leaving top edge open. Reinforce with a zig zag stitch as in step 2.
4. Square off bottom corners of bag. To do this, take exterior bag, inside out, and line up the bottom seam with the side seam as shown:

Take a ruler and draw a line 2 inches from the tip of the corner.


Sew along drawn line and trim. Repeat for lining!

5. Decide if you are adding ribbon ties or a snap tie.

For ribbon tie- cut into 2 pieces, 0.5 yards each.

For twill tape and snaps:
-take 1 yard of twill tape. Attach "male" part of snap, approximately 1 inch from end.
-fold under 0.5 inch of raw edge, and fold again as shown:

-stitch to secure

-place this end face down. Attach "female" counterpart of snap on the other end of the twill tape in the same manner, also facing down. Then fold over the female end so that it is facing up, 9.5 inches from male end as shown:

-sew to secure:


6. Once your ties are made, place exterior bag, right side out, inside of lining bag, which remains inside out (i.e. right sides should be facing each other). Insert tie between layers (sandwiched between the right sides) centered on the back of the bag, and pin in place.
Note- if using snap tie, insert so male end dangles down, and female end is near upper part of the bag. The female part should be face down against the exterior of the bag:


The total length dangling down should measure 12" (see here, finished):



7. Sew along top edge. No zig zag needed here.

8. Turn the bag right side out through the hole you left in the lining in step 2.

9. Fold raw edges from lining hole into bag and sew hole closed with a 1/8" seam.

10. Press the top edge. Your bag will now look like this:



Attaching handles:
1. Grab your 2 yards of twill tape for the handles and measure center- press to mark. Fold end of twill tape over 0.5 inch and pin horizontally, aligned near top to the bag, so it overlaps one side seam slightly. Extend twill tape 4.5 inches towards center of the front of the bag. Fold twill tap upwards on diagonal to make handle.

2. Find your pressed center of the tape and pin it to the opposite side seam. Line tape towards center 4.5 inches in mirror image to the other side- the remaining twill tape will form your handle. Ensure it is not twisted and pin in place.
3. Flip bag over and repeat for other side, with the end of the twill tape overlapping the start on one side seam. If centered properly, the handles should measure the same length (give it a check to be sure!). Pin it all in place.
4. Sew around top of tape around entire top of bag, then continue sewing along the diagonal and bottom edges of the twill tape to secure. Just be sure to move your ribbon or snap ties out of the way, eh? Ask me how I know :)
Finishing Up:
- if using ties- roll up and tie it up. Trim length as needed and knot ends to finish.
- if using twill and snaps, verify that it fits snugly when rolled up. Should fit well! If too short- grab your seam ripper....if too long, you can fold over some of the twill tape and sew to shorten.


That's it, people- you're done! Time to go shopping!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! For personal use only, please. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at obsessivecraftingdisorder {at} yahoo {dot} ca

I would love to see what you made! E-mail me a picture or add it to my Flickr group for creations inspired by my tutorials.


NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Phew! You deserve a treat after all that. How about a giveaway??

Have you met Kate from Needle and Spatula? Her site is filled with sewing/knitting/quilting and cooking inspiration and free tutorials! She also hosts a monthly Blogger's Dinner Party where you can show off your kitchen creations and win great prizes! She and I will be getting cozy over the next couple months as we do a joint quilt along, details to be announced next month! But right now, Kate is in Hawaii recouping from a cross country move...sweeeet! Kate has offered up a couple FREE PATTERNS from her shop! Would you like to make one of these little lovelies?

I thought so! Leave me a comment telling me your favorite vacation destination. I will draw 2 winners on Monday, September 5- winners will get their choice of pattern! The patterns are also available for instant download in her Meylah shop or on Etsy and are currently on sale for only 5 bucks!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED