Quilters Companion - AU (2019-11)

strips and position the strips so that

the side that you’ve stitched ricrac to is

facing the bag. See Diagram 11. Check

that the position of the strips on the

front of the bag matches the position

of the strips on the back of the bag.

Stitch across the ends of the strips

several times using a ⅛in seam.

5

Slide the folded panel that you’ve

stitched the casings to over the

bag and down over the appliquéd

panel, with the side that you’ve sewn

the casing matching the right side of

the bag. The folded edge of the panel

should be lying over the appliquéd

panel and the raw edges should match

the top raw edge of the bag. The

handles will be sandwiched between

the bag and the folded panel. See

Diagram 12.

6

Pin the layers together around

the top edge of the bag, then sew

them together using a ¼in seam. Flip

the panel with the casings on it up so it

lies above the seam you’ve just sewn.

7

Place the outer bag into the lining

‘bag’. The right sides of the outer

bag and lining fabrics should be facing.

Match the side seams and top raw

edges. Sew around the top edge using

a slighter smaller stitch for added

strength. If you have a walking foot for

your machine, you might wish to use it

for this seam to make sewing through

so many layers of fabric easier.

8

Turn the bag right side out

through the opening in the

bottom edge of the lining. Turn the

raw edges of this opening in and hand

stitch it closed.

9

Press the top edge of the bag.

Insert a tie into one end of a

bodkin or insert a safety pin in one end

of a tie. Thread the bodkin/safety pin

through one casing on one side of the

bag and then through the other. Tie a

knot in each end of the tie to prevent

it from being drawn back inside the

casing.

10

Repeat with the second tie, but

this time start from the other

end of the first casing and thread

it around the bag in the opposite

direction. When you’ve loaded your

project inside the bag, just pull up the

ties to gather the top together.

Diagram 9

Diagram 10

Diagram 12

Diagram 11

1in

2in

¼in

2½in

98