A new duffel bag for my daughter.

I love when my daughters ask me to make things for them.

Last week, my eldest asked if I could make her a new swimming bag. 

I made both my girls duffel bags for swimming about three years ago.  This is the one I made my eldest - when it was brand new.

Since she swims almost every day, this bag has had a lot of use and now looks very well worn.

So - only to happy to oblige, I got out my fabric for her to choose what she wanted and whipped up this new one for her!

2 Handles

Plus a shoulder strap

The inside is fully waterproof fabric, important for soggy towels and togs! Plus there's one zipped pocket too.

The duffel bags are made using my free 

Personalised Duffel Bag Pattern

The pattern covers 4 sizes as shown in the picture above.

The swimming bag I made for my daughter was a slightly different size - the measurements for that can be found here.

I also have over 100 other free sewing tutorials available for all levels of sewing ability and to make all kinds of different things.

You can browse them all here.

I shall be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons and direct links can be found on my linky party page.

Upcycled Flowers on Denim Peg Bag Tutorial

I've needed a new peg bag for a while now. Mine is getting a little bit worn...

It has lasted 3 years of constant use and being left out in the harsh Queensland sun means it has faded somewhat. Here's what it looked like when I first made it (that tutorial is here):

Anyway, I decided I wanted a change this time and I'd seen some pictures on Pinterest that inspired me to try something different.

So after a bit of puzzling, drawing and altering patterns and a couple of practice attempts..

I was finally happy with my new peg bag!

Once I'd figured it out and perfected the template, it was quite simple to make. Here's how you can make one of your own!

You will need

The templates - download the free PDFs here. You will need to print them then match up the main pieces where they are marked A and B, then fold your fabric to cut where marked as the templates are rather large!

Inner and outer fabrics - approximately a fat quarter of each (46 x 56 cm / 18 x 22") - cut two of each fabric from each template.

Small scrap of fabric, cord or I used a jeans seam strip for the hanger.

Metal ring or clip for hanging - I used a clip salvaged from an old keychain.

For the outer denim of my peg bag, I just cut strips of denim scraps from other jeans projects. They were varied in sizes and I just arranged then stitched them together so the resulting piece was large enough to cut out my two templates.

Embellishments

At this point you need to add any extra embellishments you want to the outer fabric of your peg bag.  I have a stash of small 

fabric yoyos that I wanted to add.

I stitched them on with buttons in the centre and used green embroidery thread and a simple chain stitch to stitch stems and leaves.

To assemble your peg bag

First take your hanging loop and hanging clip or ring and place them like this on the tip of your large outer fabric piece, right side facing up. 

Then place your two large pieces right sides together and pin, then stitch them around all edges except the curved base.

Turn right sides out, making sure to poke out the corners.

Now top stitch around all the edges you just stitched around - only the curved bottom edge should be open.

Now fold this whole piece in half with the outer fabric on the inside, and pin along the two straight edges.

Stitch along those edges. With the top edge, if your hanging loop is thick as mine is, you can just stitch up to that point and leave the rest open.

Now to attach the base. Take your outer fabric circle and the bottom edge of the outer fabric main piece you've just been working with.

With right sides together, pin the circle all the way around the base edge of your bag.

 Then stitch all the way around.

Now take your inner fabric circle and the inner fabric part of the main bag. 

Again with right sides together, pin the circle to the bottom edge of the bag inner. This time leave a gap of about 10 cm (4") so you can turn the bag right sides out when you're done.

Once you've stitched your inner base circle on, turn right sides out through the gap you just left.

Finishing off

Finally you need to reach inside your bag and pull out the inner base and find the open gap in your stitching.

Pin then stitch this gap closed. You can hand-stitch for a neater finish, but I just used the machine as this seam will be hidden at the bottom of the peg bag.

Push the lining back inside the bag, and you've now finished your new peg bag! Fill with pegs and hang out some washing.

I was very happy to transfer my pegs out of my old peg bag, which is definitely at the end of it's life!

When I was figuring this peg bag tutorial out, I did try making one with a layer of buckram in it (very stiff interfacing).

Although this helped the bag to hold its shape really well, I didn't like how bulky all the seams were so decided to leave this out in the final version. I like the softer feel of my bag, but you could just as easily add a layer of interfacing if you prefer a more structured look or bag.

Overall I'm really pleased with my new

 Flowers on Denim Peg Bag

It's nice to have a change don't you think?

For the free downloadable PDF version of this tutorial with the templates included, click here.

If you liked this tutorial, then do take a look at my other free sewing tutorials. There are over 100 to choose from to make all kinds of different things and for all levels of sewing ability.

I shall be linking this project to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons and direct links can be found on my linky party page.

Lunch bag Tutorial

My eldest daughter was in need of a new lunch bag for school this year as her old one was falling apart. So I dissected the old bag and made a new pattern and tutorial to make her a new one.

I made 3 bags in total. For the materials I used waterproof fabric for the outer fabric in two of the bags and rip-stop nylon for the inner fabric. The long zips were reclaimed from the above old lunch bag and old school bags. For the insulating layer between the inner and outer fabric I used foam sheets reclaimed from old lunch bags and some pieces of old silver car windscreen shades. Finally for the handle, I used parts of straps reclaimed from old backpacks.

For the bag I made to produce this tutorial, I used an old pair of jeans and an old favourite nightie of my daughter's for the outer fabric 

and for the inner, I used sections cut from an old pool toy - an inflatable ring that somehow got a puncture!

I used the Hello Kitty Pictures from the nightie as applique to add to the plain denim from the jeans for the outer fabric.

The pictures were a little sticky and glittery, so I used a thin piece of tissue paper on the top when I stitched around the edges. this helped the machine foot slide across the fabric better, and when I was finished the stitching the excess tissue just pulls off.

So - here's how to make your own lunch bag.

First cut your materials.

You will need

 Outer and Inner fabric

2 main panels each - outer and inner fabric template - click here for free download

1 side panel piece each fabric 62 x 10 cm (24.25 x 4")

1 back piece each fabric 22 x 11.5 cm (8.75 x 4.5")

Extra inner fabric (rip-stop nylon is ideal) for binding the seams.

Foam Insulation (an old car windscreen shade is ideal)

2 main panels - foam template - click here for free download

1 side panel strip 59 x 6 cm (23.25 x 2.5")

1 back panel 18 x 8 cm (7 x 3.25")

Zip  

1 zip 62 cm (24.25") 

Handle

Piece of webbing (or cutting from old bag strap) 28 cm (11") long and approximately 4 cm (1.5") wide

First of all take your long side outer fabric panel and your handle.

To seal the ends of your handle - heat gently using a lighter to melt, seal and prevent fraying.

Now pin one end of your handle in the centre of the end of your long side panel and pin the other end 20 cm (8") from that edge.

Stitch both ends of the strap into place securely in the shape of a box with cross in the middle, like this:

Now you need to put the 4 panels of your bag together, each piece will have outer fabric, inner fabric and a foam piece sandwiched in between. Make sure the outer and inner fabric pieces are 

WRONG SIDES TOGETHER.

Pin around all 4 edges of each panel and stitch together. Use a 2/8" seam around all these pieces. The foam part should sit in the middle and the stitching should run around the outside of it.

Repeat this pinning and stitching the other 4 pieces together.

You should now have 4 bag panels ready to assemble into your lunch bag.

To assemble you first need to attach the zip to the long side panel. Place the zip face down along one long edge of the panel. Then lay a strip of your extra inner fabric (around 4 cm (1.5") wide) on top of the zip (this is to bind the seam and hide the raw edges) and pin through all layers.

Using the zipper foot on your machine stitch along the long edge where you have pinned.

Trim the edges in line with your panel.

Now to use that extra strip of fabric you just attached to the zip to bind the seam and hide those nasty raw edges.

Basically you double fold the fabric over the seam and pin it to hide the raw edges. The finished seam will stick out from the other parts but will be fully enclosed.

Now to join the small back panel to this long side panel. Place one edge of the long panel right sides together with one edge of the back panel. Once again as you pin these together, add a strip of fabric to bind the seam afterwards. Now you need to start making your seams 3/8" to make sure you hide all your previous stitching.

After stitching the pieces together, fold the binding fabric double over the seam, pin and stitch to hide the raw edges.

Now join the other ends of both the side and back panels together - make sure they are right sides of the outer fabric together, and once again add a strip of binding fabric and enclose the raw edges of the seam.

You should now have the outer edge of your lunch bag ready to attach to the two main panels. First the base.

Pin one of your main panels right sides together to the bottom of your bag side panel (the edge without the zip!)

Stitch all the way around.

Now is where you add your fabric to bind the seam. Pin, then stitch, a strip all the way around the seam you just stitched. Fold and overlap the edges of this binding strip so there is no raw edge showing where they join!

Then double turn it over and stitch to enclose all the raw edges. Your bag should now look like this.

Finally you can attach the top panel to your bag. Open the zipper and pin the zip edge and top of the back panel to the top panel of the bag,. Right sides together.

Once you have stitched all the way around, it's time to add one final strip of binding to enclose your last seam and raw edges.

Once you have finished this binding, your lunch bag is finished!

Here are the three bags I made together.

Which is your favourite? Mine is the Kitty one in the middle - mostly because it's made from so many different parts and so has the best 'story' - old clothes for the main fabric, the zip from an old school bag, the lining from an old pool toy, the foam insulation from old lunch bags and car windscreen shades and the handle from an old backpack! Awesome!!

My girls both like the the green and brown one with the turtles and leaves in the design of the fabric!

For the free downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

If you liked this tutorial, then take a look at the other free sewing tutorials I have available here. There are over 100 for all kinds of things to make and all levels of sewing ability!

For example you could make a coordinating water bottle carrier to go with a lunch bag for back to school!

I shall be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons and direct links can be found on my linky party page.