Project: Crumb Patchwork Drawstring Bag

Maker: Marushka Volkova

Make a simple patchwork bag with this project!

Marushka is a young russian artist, passionate about sewing, scrapbooking and photography. She loves playing with textiles bearing bright colours and childlike patterns, just like this lovely patchwork bag made with scraps of fabrics.

Enjoy the project!

Finished size: 31cmх7х31cm (5¹/₈” x 2³/₄” x 5¹/₈”)

MATERIALS

– Сotton fabric scraps

– Cotton fabric for lining, 35cmх35cm (14” x 28”)

– Cotton fabric for casings, 15cmх35cm (6” x 28”)

– Fusible fleece or cotton wadding, 40cmх40cm (16” x 32”)

– Ribbon or cord, 2m (2¹/₄yd)

– Two beads, 1,5cm (¹/₂”) diameter

– Matching thread

– Pins or clips

– Safety or quilting pins

– Scissors

– Marking pen

– Sewing machine

– Rotary cutter

– Cutting mat

– Acrylic patchwork ruler

– Machine needle size 80 or 90

– Chopstick

– Iron

STEP 1 :

Sort all scraps into long strips and small squares or rectangles. Take a strip of fabric, lay a small scrap face down on it and sew the scrap to the long side of the strip without cutting the thread. Then take another scrap of fabric, lay it next to the previous one and sew it too. Keep sewing the scraps with a 0,5cm (3/16″) seam allowance until the end of the strip. Take another strip of fabric and do the same. Keep sewing until all of your strips are done.

STEP 2 :

Take the strips from Step 1 and cut the pairs apart. Press all scraps open without steam.

STEP 3 :

Trim all sides of your fabric rectangles using a rotary cutter and quilting ruler. Sort all rectangles by size. You will have 3-5 different piles.

STEP 4 :

Sew each pile of rectangles into strips at least 18cm (7”) long with a 0,5cm (³/₁₆“) seam allowance.

STEP 5 :

Sew the strips together into 18cm (7”) squares and iron the seams. Make 18х18cm (7” x 7”) blocks using your rotary cutter and quilting ruler. You need 8 squares in total.

STEP 6 :

Sew 4 blocks into 2 rows with a 0,5cm (³/₁₆“) seam allowance. Put the first and second rows right sides together, align the edges and pin them. Make sure that all the seams match up. Then sew the rows together with a 0,5cm (³/₁₆“) seam allowance. Press all the seams on the inside. Repeat for the rest of blocks.

STEP 7 :

Cut two pieces of interfacing using the bag outer as a template. Place the first piece of interfacing right side down (sticky side) on the wrong side of your first panel. Press the two layers together. Mark quilting lines using an erasable pen and a ruler. If you use interfacing without sticky side, pin it to the wrong side of the panel using safety or quilting pins. Do the same for the other panel.

STEP 8 :

Stitch straight or zig zag lines along the markings. Make sure you start and end with a backstitch.

STEP 9 :

Trim all sides of the panels using the quilting ruler and rotary cutter into 34х34cm (6⁵/₈” x 6⁵/₈”) squares.

STEP 10 :

To create box corners for the bottom, measure 4cm (1¹/₂”) from edges on the wrong and right sides using the ruler or carton square and your marking pen. Repeat for the outer and lining.

STEP 11 :

Cut out two rectangles 34х34cm (6⁵/₈” x 6⁵/₈”) for lining. Then cut out two rectangles 7x32cm (2³/₄” x 5⁷/₈”) for the casings.

STEP 12 :

To make the casing, press over the short edge by 0,5cm (³/₁₆“) on the wrong side. Then press it over by 0,5 cm (³/₁₆“) again.

STEP 13 :

Run a straight stitch down the edge. Repeat this with all the short edges of your casings.

STEP 14 :

Press the casings in half wrong sides together.

STEP 15 :

Lay the first piece of lining right side up. Then line up the raw edge of the casing with the top edge of your lining. Keep it in place approximately 2,5cm (1”) from the side using craft clips or pins. Sew along the top edge to attach the casing. Use a 0,5cm (³/₁₆“) seam allowance. Repeat with the other piece of lining.

STEP 16 :

Take your lining pieces, pin it right sides together leaving an opening approximately 9cm (3¹/₂”) in one side for turning the bag out through at the end. Sew along the sides and bottom with a 0,75cm (¹/₄”) seam allowance.

STEP 17 :

Baste two pieces of your bag outer right sides together using pins or clips. Sew all sides and bottom with a 0,75cm (¹/₄”) seam allowance.

STEP 18 :

To finish the box corners, pull it out and create a little triangle. Match marking lines and make sure the seam is in the center. Then pin or glue the seams. Repeat for all corners.

STEP 19 :

Sew a line along the marking and trim the corner, 0,75cm (¹/₄”) from the stitching. Repeat with other corners.

STEP 20 :

Put the lining inside the outer bag right sides facing together with the casings inside. Then match up the side seams and pin your outer bag and lining all the way around using craft clips or pins.

STEP 21 :

Sew with a 0,75cm (¹/₄”) seam allowance all the way around the top.

STEP 22 :

Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the lining. Grab the lining and push it down inside the bag. Make sure the casings are flipped up and sew a top stitch all the way around about 1cm (³/₈”) from the edge. This will help keep the lining inside the bag and the casing up right. Pull the threads to the one side and tie them twice. Take a sewing needle and pull the threads in between the layers. Then snip the threads.

STEP 23 :

Using a chopstick, make your corners look really nice. Then press the bag and sew up the opening in the linings with the sewing machine. Next, fold your ribbon in half and snip it. Using a safety pin, thread one ribbon through the hole in the casing.