Carry Me Bag almost finished!

Let’s finish this bag!  Chelsea can’t stand waiting for me to get done! 

Follow the pattern instructions for lining and pockets and insert lining into bag.

This tool is wonderful for pushing out the points of pockets. You can find it at Joanne Fabrics.

Time to add the Timtex!  Timtex is a little difficult to sew with but you can do it! 

If your Timtex has fold lines or is rolled, press it before you cut.  Put a pressing cloth over the Timetex and iron it flat.   Now cut to size according to pattern.

Insert Timtex into bottom of bag. Then insert  into each side of bag between lining and bag.  Pull up bag and lining to top of Timtex and pin in place.  

 

Open up free arm of sewing machine and put your needle in the needle down position. If your machine doesn't have a free arm, stitch with the lining facing up. 

 

Place bag over free arm and machine stitch the three layers together.  Here’s a few tips for this part:

1. The Timtex is awkward because it’s stiff. Be patient and don’t worry about bending it as you sew.
2. Start stitching at one end of the bag and stitch as far as you can. Remember you can bend the Timtex and it will go back into shape.
3. When it becomes difficult to stitch, backstitch, cut the thread and remove the bag.  (The only difficult part is the side section.  You have to pull the bag around the free arm a bit.)  Remember, the Timtex doesn’t break.
4. Put the bag back in the machine and begin stitching again where you left off.
5. Repeat this process until you have gone around the entire bag. 
6. When you come to where you started stitching, backstitch and cut threads

 

Follow pattern for binding, button loop and button.

Sew on the ribbon and it’s almost done!

This is what your ribbon will look like when you attach it to the sides of your bag.  

And that’s it!  The Carry Me Bag is finished!  Chelsea’s so happy she has a little surprise for you tomorrow.  Are you ready?

Have a great day!

 

Hugs,

Anne & Chelsea

Making the bag continued…

Let’s add the Craft-fuse interfacing…

Craft-fuse is wonderful, and it leaves any tote with a firm, but soft feel.   I’ve used it in the Carry Me Bag to give extra support to the sides, front and back. 

• Use a dry iron when pressing Craft-fuse to the lining.
• Check the front for wrinkles.  If you see any, lift the Craft-fuse and press again. 
• Turn over and press the lining from the front. Don’t touch any part of the shiny interfacing with your iron or it will stick. 

Tip: Check that the width of your bag front/back is 7 1/2” wide.  If not adjust as necessary by trimming any extra from the bottom strip. 

Sew the bag front and back to the gusset section following the pattern directions!  Tip:  DO NOT STRETCH the curve.  EASE  around the curve  slowly. 

 

Bag front stitched to one side of the gusset.   Repeat for the bag back and lining. 

Next I’ll show you how the Timtex fits into the bag! 

Back soon,

Hugs,

Anne

Making the bag! Let’s get started!

The most fun part of making the bag is opening up the Honey Bun Roll!   I love how they come packaged with each strip on top of another.   Lots of little Honey Bun “crumbs” all over now, but they can easily be cleaned up.  Just look at all this fabric!

I’m choosing assorted colors (thanks Dianne!).  It’s a gift, and I’m not sure of her favorite color.  Love the scrappy look and sure hope she does too!

 

Here’s what I picked for the bag: 

For the gusset strips I selected slightly darker colors. This becomes the bottom of the bag, and i don’t want light colors on the bottom.

Handles:

 

Binding:

 

Lining & Pockets:

I have all my pieces cut out, including interfacing, lining and pocket fabric and I’m ready to sew.

Note:  On the first printing the yardage amounts for the Timtex and the Craftfuse Interfacing were reversed on the pattern back.  It should read 1 yd of Timtex and 1  1/2 yd Craftfuse. 

If you only purchased 1 yard Craftfuse do this:

Cut 4 strips 1” wide x width of the Craftfuse and overlap two strips on each handle. Repeat for the gusset measurements. It will work and you’ll have enough interfacing.  

Sew all the strips together following the directions and then press the seams. Press from the front and then flip your strips over and press from the back.

And speaking of pressing…

Here’s where I iron!  No one ever gets behind this door unless they work here!  I have a built in wall ironing board in my large walk in closet that folds down!  The iron fits on the inside shelf when it’s closed up.

 

I’ve sewn the bag  and the gusset strips together, pressed the seams and I’m ready for the Craftfuse Interfacing! 

Next post:  Craftfuse, gusset, lining and pockets

Stay tuned…

Carry Me Bag & Timtex

What’s that stuff inside the Carry Me Bag called Timtex?   Well I can tell you this…without it, the Carry Me Bag would be wimpy and limp.  I left it out on my first prototype.  Oh my what a disaster!  Had to stuff the bag with paper to make it stand up!  LOL!

Can’t have that, so in came the Timtex!  It saved the day! If you haven’t used it, you may find it a strange beast at first, but believe me it can be tamed. 

Timtex is VERY stiff and almost feels like a soft cardboard.  The good news is that it’s 100% polyester, washes like a dream, and can be pressed into almost any shape with a hot iron.  

Some thought it had been discontinued and rumors were flying.  C & T Publishing picked up the manufacturing of Timtex and saved the day.  Why on earth would a publishing company manufacture interfacings?  It’s necessary for a lot of the projects in their books!  Look what you can do with it!

C & T is also manufacturing a lot of other  interfacings.  Some sound very interesting like the Fast2fuse Interfacings.  I’ll have to give them a try!

Normally when you are working with Timtex you cut off the seam allowance.  Notice in the picture above the seam allowance shows.

The cutting measurements in my pattern are minus the seam allowance, except at the very top of the bag.  I tell you to stitch it into the binding seam allowance for stability.  That’s the only reason.  You don’t stitch it into the side seams or the bottom seams.  I’ll show you in a bit…

Before I go onto my next post and start sewing my bag, I had to show you these photos sent to me by Diane Brown of Richmond Texas.  She has the cutest blog here!  She picked the “Sultry” Honey Bun and mixed all the fabrics.  I LOVE the look, don’t you? those Honey Bun rolls from Moda are so much fun!  One roll will make 3 bags!  3 not 2 like I say on the pattern.  How exciting is that?  One for you and two for gifts! 

 

Thanks Dianne!  I love your bag.  Now I’m off to start sewing.  Back in a few…

The Carry Me Bag

I love to see one of my patterns done in different fabric.  Debbie over at The Fat Quarter Shop has been busy sewing and she made my newest “Carry Me Bag” out of a Honey Bun roll from April Cornell’s summer line called “Spring Magic”.  Be still my heart!  I may have to make myself one of these for myself! 

In just a few days I’ll be doing a little tutorial on making this bag.  I used Timtex, that magical interfacing.  I’ll show you some tips and tricks to working with it.   It’s easy!

Tomorrow is basket day!  Are you ready?   See you then!

Hugs,

Anne

Almost forgot to tell you…Chelsea’s happy now that my son Doug is here.  When he leaves for work she lays down by the front door and waits.  Is that love or what?  Sad thing is he leaves on Monday to return to Germany.    I don’t have the heart to tell her.    ):