Me + Susie Watson fabric = a cute oversized bag (and a gift for you!)

When lovely Jenni, from the Susie Watson Designs team, contacted me a few weeks ago and proposed me a little collaboration on the occasion of Mother's day, I got really excited straight away! It happens to me every now and again to receive proposals similar to this but I usually regrettably have to always say no to anyone and everyone due to my severe lack of spare time and difficulty in committing to any kind of activities, deadlines and collaborations like this. 

But this time.... I mean... Susie Watson!!!

You have to know that I am absolutely crazy for that brand, I love their handmade pottery (and I am lucky enough to have been treated with some gorgeous pottery pieces from hubby and from some special friends in the past as everyone knows how much I love them) and I am a frequent and loyal fabric buyer, in fact you've probably been reading me mentioning their  fabric in some of my old posts, as I tend to use them quite a lot (for instance my utility room and my family bathroom are entirely furnished in handmade items created using Susie Watson fabric). 

So yep, it's clear to see that I couldn't possibly say no this time.. plus I took the occasion to also make a little gift to all my lovely and loyal readers and so here I am with this cute project! 

Jenni offered to send me a bundle of matching different pieces of Susie Watson Designs fabric for me to create a little (or large in this case!) project and then share the tutorial for my readers and their customers to be able to make the item themselves. 

..and I had such fun designing and making this project (a little behind the scene down here ^_^!) and I have to thank again and again the lovely Jenni for choosing such a pretty selection of fabric for me, as that made my job soooo much easier ;)

So as you have guessed by now (from the first pic above), I decided to make a very cute oversized tote bag which you can create as a treat for yourself or as a gift for someone really special... like for instance your mum, being Mother's day just behind the corner. This oversized tote is just perfect for grocery shopping, running errands, short weekend getaways, an afternoon at the beach, a spring pic nic, it can be filled with toys for your kids play dates or with craft materials for a crafternoon with a friend or... well.. whatever really! For me it's just perfect for my frequent post office trips overloaded with packets and parcels and I can't wait to proudly show it off next time I'll have the occasion to.

Ready to make your own??? 
Here we go!

 

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Oversized tote bag

(final size: approx. 55cm x 33cm excluding handles)


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What you will need:

- fabric for exterior 

- fabric for lining

- fabric for pocket

- fabric scraps for heart applique and bow

- webbing/belting tape for handles ( I used a 4cm wide cotton one) 

- medium weight fusible interfacing

- a scrap of fusible applique paper

- some cute buttons

- cotton tape

- embroidery floss

All seam allowances are considered to be 0.6 cm (or the width of a standard presser foot) unless otherwise stated.

Mark and cut (fig. 1):

- two 60 cm x 42 cm pieces from exterior fabric

- two 60 cm x 42 cm pieces from lining fabric

- two 60 cm x 42 cm pieces from interfacing

- two 23 cm x 16 cm pieces from pocket fabric (for main pocket piece)

- one 12 cm x 25 cm piece from pocket fabric (for pocket flap)

- two 72 cm pieces of webbing tape

{fig 1}

Apply the fusible interfacing onto the reverse of the exterior fabric through ironing. 
Cut 7 cm x 7 cm squares at the bottom corners of the exterior and lining pieces as in fig. 2.

{fig 2}

Pocket

Lay the two pocket pieces, right sides together, and sew all around the edges leaving a gap at the top to turn the pieces inside out. 
Turn the pieces inside out through the gap. Iron carefully. 
Close the top gap with some hand slip stitches.
Finally topstitch the pocket a few mm from the top border (fig. 3).

{fig 3}

Create the heart applique (download pattern here) using some fusible applique paper following the instructions of the manufacturer.

Iron the heart applique on the front of the pocket placing the bottom of the heart 1.5 cm away from the bottom edge of the pocket. Sew all around the edge of the heart using a satin stitch (a very short zig zag stitch) as in fig. 4. Decorate the rest of the pocket as you prefer using your creativity! I added a little piece of cotton tape where I hand stitched the wording "Love" and some little cross stitches but you can also add some little buttons, some lace and trimmings etc.

{fig 4}

Fold double the 12x25cm piece of pocket fabric right sides together and draw the pocket flap shape (you find it in the file you previously downloaded for the heart shape). Sew all around the markings leaving a gap at the top. Turn the flap inside out through the gap. Iron carefully and close the gap with some hand slip stitches.

Topstitch a few mm from the border on the bottom rounded edge of the flap as in fig. 5.

{fig 5}

Lay the main pocket piece with its bottom edge approximately 15 cm away from the bottom edge of one of the exterior pieces. Topstitch a few mm from the border around the sides and the bottom of the pocket to fasten it to the bag exterior (fig. 6).

Lay the flap with its top edge approximately 2.5 cm away from the top edge of the main pocket piece, so that it partially covers it. Topstitch a few mm away from the border along the top edge of the pocket flap to fasten it to the bag exterior (fig. 6).

{fig 6}

Finish the pocket, again making the most of your creativity, with some cute buttons (maybe some fabric covered ones too!) to be handstitched on the flap.

Bag construction

Lay the two bag exteriors right sides together and sew along the sides and the bottom but leave the square corners open (fig. 7). Repeat the same with the lining pieces but this time use a wider seam allowance (approximately 1 cm) so that the resulting bag lining shell will be slightly smaller then the exterior one and will fit properly inside it.

{fig 7}

Fold the bottom corners of the exterior and lining bag shells to create a squared base (fig. 8). Sew along all of the corners.

{fig 8}

Fold back the top edge of the exterior bag shell and of the lining bag shell, wrong sides together, by approximately 1 cm and iron to set.

Place the lining bag shell inside the exterior bag shell, wrong sides together, and sew them together along the top edge, approximately 2-3 mm away from the border.

Handles

Take the two pieces of webbing tape previously prepared and mark them at 14 cm from both the ends. Fold double the handles lengthwise between the marks and stitch them along the free edge (fig. 9). Remember to strengthen very well the beginning and the end of the sewing line, stitching back and forth for at least 4-5 times, because these areas will be subject to a lot of stress.

{fig 9}

Fold the handles ends twice by approximately 3 cm and pin them in place on the bag laying them 16 cm away from the side seams (fig. 10). Sew a square shape twice around the handle tabs to fasten them to the bag.

{fig 10}

Add a little bow made using a scrap of contrasting fabric and iron very carefully all the bag.

Enjoy it yourself or give it to someone you love as a very special gift!!!

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{Clicca qui per scaricare le istruzioni in Italiano}


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