Second bag this weekend: again from Soul Blossoms. This was leftover fabric from the skirt, and I was totally winging it! I had to give myself words of encouragement before starting without a pattern and just a vague idea of what it would look like when completed! I had the full length--a yard and a half--and about 20" of the width. I started by cutting off the border. The top band is 15" on each side, and the remainder became the handle. Both of these pieces were stiffened with heavy iron-on interfacing. I then cut the main piece in half and started pleating. Amazingly enough, when I finished the first set of pleats the bottom came out to exactly 15"! This was pure luck--I had planned to cut off which ever side was necessary to get them to match. After that, sew the band to the bottom. Baste the handle in, round the corners with a bowl, and make a simple lining. Sew the bag to the lining at the top and turn through an opening in the side of the lining. Stitch up the hole in the lining. Remember that I didn't put in a snap. Open back up the hole in the lining and finagle a magnetic snap into place, then re-stitch the lining. Voila! A new bag for my daughter!
