Making patchwork bags

[Simply Sewing]

If you don't mind a little more sewing then try making strips of coordinating fabric to assemble in to 'patchwork' effect bags.



I keep the seams pretty simple - I stitch the pieces right sides together with a 1cm seam. Then fold the seam allowance to one side and topstitch from the right side a few mm from the seam to hold the seam allowance in place. This gives a nice appearance and extra strength.

16cm method - bag on left
Cut the fabric into 16cm wide pieces with pinking shears (length varied) and assemble in coordinating colours. Then stitch them end to end into one long strip 16cm wide. Then cut this strip into pieces about 98cm long. Stitch three 98cm strips side by side to make one piece of 'patchwork' approx. 46cm x 98cm.

Folded in half this makes one bag (the fold is the bottom of the bag). Handles can be made in the same way with 10cm wide strips or just with whole pieces of fabric.

46cm method - bag on right
If you have slightly larger pieces of fabric cut it into pieces where one side is 46cm long and other variable lengths. Then sew these together along the 46cm edge until they reach approx. 98cm and continue as before.

Enjoy!

[scallywagbags]

Lovely bags - great instructions. Thanks SS

[Simply Sewing]

Once "the rush" is over I'd love to see pictures of any other patchwork bags people make.....

[zappers]

I am going to have a go next week, thanks for the instructions, (I'll have to convert it into inches..'cause I can't think in centimetres) I have lots of bits.

[sazziej]

Thank you for the instructions... will give it a go at the weekend

[zappers]

I can feel a 'great patchwork bag rush' coming on...............

[beattie]

Thanks from me too for the clear & inspiring instructions!

[sazziej]

i am like you Zappers - will also need to convert into inches

[Lady B]

I am going to have a go next week, thanks for the instructions, (I'll have to convert it into inches..'cause I can't think in centimetres) I have lots of bits.

S'easy, Zappers, just measure with the other side of the tape measure..........

[zappers]

OK, OK Very funny Lady B. but I still cannot look at a piece of cloth and know it is roughly the rightish size unless I think in inches. 46 centimetres does not conjure up any particular length in my mind at all...it might as well be half a mile.
I'm a 1940 Gal and it was bad enough being 'conned' into changing over to 'metric money' (and I was younger then!) without being forced to change our British measurement system.....and as for kilos, I'm tired of converting all my recipes...... and kilometres ditto.......GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Oh and by the way.....centigrade and fahrenheite too! See what all us 'oldies' have been forced to put up with in our lifetime!
Oh dear, but that's another 'soap box' sorry

[Lady B]

oooooOOOOOooooo Zappers!! That's told me then!! I'm not much younger than you actually, but I seem to be able to think in different terms, like when you go abroad I never need to convert currency I just seem to adapt overnight and think in new terms.

Dear Zappers, it is such a faff to constantly convert, I understand how you feel. So, when you've converted your brain you don't have to do all that stuff. You don't still convert back to £.s.d. do you?

An easy measurement to remember is a 12" ruler measures 30cm, a 6" ruler measures 15cm. Hope this helps!!

These days I only weigh myself in kilos, so I just get used to weighing a certain amount of kilos (51), and don't need to convert back to the cumbersome avoirdupois. After a while, when you hear of a number of kilos you can relate that back to your own weight.

* nips off quickly before Zappers gives me a slap*

[zappers]

lady B
An easy measurement to remember is a 12" ruler measures 30cm, a 6" ruler measures 15cm. Hope this helps!!

You're floggin' a dead horse Lady B! But thanks anyway.

[angiedesigns]

I love this thread....

I doubt the UK will ever be totally metric - I know I am 5ft 7 tall and everyone I know can tell me their height in inches and feet - I do not know many who know it in meters and cms.

Size 5 shoes... size 38 euro.

I know I want a pound of apples and not half a kilo thanks...

I know I want a meter of fabric rather than a yard?

I drink a PINT of lager or cider, but a 250mil glass of wine in the pub.

I know it is freezing at zero centigrade but body temperature is around 97f (I think)

I know my house thermostat is set at 17 and that is ok most of the time?

When I was on a diet - I knew 4oz of meat and 4oz of potatoes and 8oz of veg was the rule (GI Plan)

I know what a quarter pounder is! Very yummy - ha ha!

I get confused at 50g of butter but know what 2 oz is?

A cup of sugar.

Tyre tread over 2mm.

A litre of fuel versus my cars Miles per gallon!

I LOVE BRITAIN AND IT'S STUBBORN NEED TO BE INDIVIDUAL!

[zappers]

I love Britain too Angie!...very well put One of the worst things was when the money changed all the prices 'stealthily' went up and have never stopped since!!!

[Tabatuga]

If you don't mind a little more sewing then try making strips of coordinating fabric to assemble in to 'patchwork' effect bags.

[cut]

Enjoy!

Wow, Simplesewing, they are gorgeous!
For me it will be a bit difficult to realize because I am not so expert and also because I have to understand very well your instructions, but the idea is great.
And if I have to convert cm. in inches I use google...

For me it's exactly the opposite: speak to me of inches, oz, pounds, farheneit and you will see this face
But I come from a land where the metric system rules


Thanks again
I love this thread too.