Sunday Etsy Club - Fat Quarter Bag Tutorial

I’ve recently discovered the amazing joys of sewing. It has been such a fun adventure for me, and I’m REALLY having a good time with it. I’m sure my husband is tired of my continual requests for just a few bucks for fabric, the little excited noises I make when I see a garage sale and my running off to set up the sewing machine for “just a few minutes, honey”!

I’m addicted. It’s all I can think about, and now I’m dreaming of sewing too! I woke up at 4:00 this morning and had a craving to sew that was pretty powerful. I had to force myself back to sleep! While writing this post RIGHT NOW I’m really just wanting to be in my dining room, with my foot on the pedal creating something beautiful!

Today’s Sunday Etsy Club is a tutorial to make my easy-peasy fat quarter bag. Since I’m pretty new to sewing I’m about to make all kinds of little mistakes. When I do, PLEASE don’t laugh, but instead let me know in the comments so that I can learn more!!! I’m learning with you in Sunday Etsy Club…

Ok, so pick yourself up two corrdinating fat quarters - on sale. Don’t pay full price for fabric unless it’s the end of the world, or you can’t help it, or it’s really pretty, or you simply MUST have it. You know, a real emergency. In case you’re not familiar with fat quarters, they are 18″ x 22″ pieces of fabric usually sold on sale after the rest of that particular fabric has been sold.

This is from the Qulter’s Buzz Blog:

Many quilters buy “fat quarters” (an 18” x 22” piece of fabric) when they shop. A fat quarter gives you a nice big chunk of fabric, instead of a regular cut of a ¼ yard of fabric which measures 9” x 45”. Fat quarters are usually pre-cut and waiting for customers to “grab and go”. Fat quarters are a great way for quilters to “build up their stash”.

The fabric store may take the last yard or so and cut it up into fat quarters because quilters often will buy fat quarters to work with. I love fat quarters because they are the perfect size for making cute little bags!

Fold your two fat quarters in half, so that you have pieces that are 11″ x 18″ Iron them so that they’re relatively flat.

Then, measure and cut two four inch strips from one side of both quarters.

NOTE: if you’d prefer a larger pocket (mine is about the size of a cell phone) then cut a single 8″ strip from one fabric, and two 4″ strips from the other fabric for the straps/handles. You’ll end up with two 4″ x 22″ strips, and the main bag section sized 10″ x 22″ (unfolded). Now, decide which fabric (since you have two that coordinate, right) you’ll use for the handles, and which one for the pocket. It doesn’t necessarily matter which you choose, but I personally think a lighter fabric makes for a better pocket, with the darker for the handles on my own bags.

Handle fabric -fabric “A”

Pocket fabric - fabric “B”

The larger pieces of your two fabrics will be the reversable bag pieces. open them up and iron out your fold. Then, iron down the “top” of the bag edge about the width of a finger or 1/2″.

You can see that my fabric is inside out, and I’m ironing the top edge down. After ironing the two top edges, fold the whole “bag” piece in half with the inside out and iron. Do this for the other large piece of fabric as well.

Take the two cut strips from your pocket fabric, and discard one of the strips as you wont be needing it. Take the other strip, unfold it and cut it in half.

You should then have a pocket piece that is 4″ x 11″. Fold and iron this piece of fabric the same as your larger bag pieces.

Next, fold the two handle strips in half the long way and iron them inside out.

Take one of your larger bag pieces (it should be inside out, folded in half, with the two top edges folded and ironed down about 1/2″) and sew the sides up with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

After you have sewn both sides, take the bottom corner of one side and pull it apart to create a flat triangle like this:

Sorry for the dark photos…I had a kid take the pics for me and apparently they can’t do so without including a finger or two in the shot!

Then, sew across the bottom of the triangle, about an inch from the point.

A beautiful squared bottom for your bag!

Do this for both sides, and for both large bag pieces of fabric.

Now, take your pocket fabric (same as the bag fabric, it should be folded inside out, with the top 1/4 inch on both sides folded under and ironed) and sew up the sides as you did for the bag fabrics. Don’t sew triangle bottoms, however. Instead, sew around the top hem of the pocket like this:

Man my photos are dark…again I’m so sorry! I’ll try to get some better lighting next time, and try not to rely so much on the flash. It’s obviously not enough. Give your pocket edge about a 1/4″ seam allowance, or if you can’t sew like me, just line it up on the right side with the foot of your machine every time - perfect seam allowance in my opinion. (ok, there’s someone out there that’s about to say something like “That IS 1/4″ seam allowance, nitwit!”).

Sew your two handles closed, turn them right side out, iron them flat, and top stitch on both sides, again with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Pin your pocket on the oposite fabric’s bag, wherever you’d like it on the bag, or about midway down and lined up with the top edge.

Sew the inside top first, makeing sure to only sew the back side of your pocket to the front side of your bag. Don’t sew the pocket closed, nor the bag closed, or you’ll be seam ripping (and we all know how fun that can be, don’t we)! then, top stich around  the rest of your pocket, beginning on the top of one side and ending at the top of the other side. When you hit a corner, stop your machine and pick up the foot and turn the pocket 90 degrees.

Now, turn one of your bag pieces inside out. It doesn’t matter which one, because our finished bag will be reversable. Set the inside out bag inside the other, like this:

Line up your bag seams:

and pin your bag pieces together at the top:

Determine where you’d like to have your handles. I found it easiest to lie the bag flat and then add the handles so that I could be sure and have them in the same place on the front and back of the bag. Pin the handles securely.

Our bag is almost done!

Sew around the top of the bag, backstitching and going over the handles a couple of times for strength. That’s it!

Here is my completed bag:

101 Fabulous Fat-Quarter Bags with M’Liss Rae Hawley: 10 Projects for Totes & Purses - Ideas for Embellishments, Trim, Embroidery & Beads - Stylish Finishes - Handles & Closures

Lastly, I added a little yo-yo with a vintage button, just for a little extra pretty!

This bag is the perfect size for an adult to carry some essentials and a couple of good books to the local coffee shop. It’s also darling for a little girl as well. I’m planning a nature-themed bag for my toddler’s nature walks too.

A random person participating in this week’s Sunday Etsy Club will be chosen to recieve a set of coordinating fat quarter fabrics to make one of these bags!