Bright Satchel Bag

This month I thought it would be fun to play around with some dies and use the shapes in a different way than was indicated on the front of the die packaging. I absolutely loved the shapes that Ricky Tims used to create his flowers for AQ55436 GO! Bohemia #1, they gave me a lot of scope for creativity.

In need of a new bag to carry to some art and drawing classes I am going to attend gave me the perfect excuse to create something to share with you all.  Mandy Murray helped me out by modelling the bag at the Melbourne Quilt and Craft show and I’m sure you’ll all agree it looks fab.

Bright Satchel Bag Finished Size: 13in square x 3in deep

GO! Dies Used

  • AQ33368 GO! Bohemia #1 by Ricky Tims
  • AQ55325 GO! Queen of Hearts
AQ55368 GO! Bohemia #1 by Ricky Tims AQ55325 GO! Queen of Hearts

Fabric Requirements:

  • 50cm (5/8 yard) Black and white background print
  • 50cm (5/8 yard) Co-ordinating lining print
  • 50cm (5/8 yard) Black solid fabric or 20cm (1/4 yard) strip of black solid fabric and 1 packet of black bias binding.
  • Fat quarter of bright rainbow floral print
  • Double-sided fusible bag batting (Inn-Control Plus)
  • Double-sided fusible webbing (Steam-a-Seam II Lite)
  • Non-woven lightweight fusible interfacing
  • Magnetic clasp
  • 38mm (1½in) D rings: 2
  • 38mm (1½in) Swivel hooks: 2
  • 38mm (1½in) Tri-glide: 1

Cutting Requirements:

  • From the black and white background print
    • Cut one 14in strip and remove selvedges (outer bag)
    • Cut one 3½in strip and crosscut two 3½in x 12½in strips (outer side panels) and two 3½in x 5in rectangles (D ring holders)
  • From the lining print
    • Cut one 14in strip and remove selvedges (bag lining)
    • Cut one 3½in strip and crosscut two 3½in x 12½in strips (lining side panels)
  • From the black solid fabric
    • Cut four 2¼in strips (binding)
    • Cut two 3½in strips (handle)
  • From the double-sided fusible bag batting
    • Cut one 14in x 42in strip (bag)
    • Cut two 3½in x 12½in strips (side panels)
  • From the non-woven lightweight fusible interfacing
    • Cut one 3½in x 52in strip (handle)

Applique Instructions

  1. Fuse the double-sided fusible webbing to the wrong side of the bright rainbow floral print with a hot, dry iron. Using the photograph of the bag front as a guide, cut the 20 assorted shapes required using AQ55368 die, then one large heart and three smaller hearts using AQ55325 die.

Tip: Cut the fabric into smaller shapes to cover the blades of the required shapes.

  1. Using the photograph of the bag front as a guide, remove the paper backing from each shape and arrange as desired (with the exception of the lowest marked petal shape – this is fused at the end after attaching the magnetic clasp. Set this shape aside for later use). The shapes should be placed at least 1½in away from all edges and in the lower 12in of the outer bag. Fuse them to secure using a hot dry iron.
  2. With a small zigzag stitch and matching thread stitch around each shape. Pull the thread ends through to the back of the work and secure.

Quilting the bag

  1. Lay the 14in lining strip face down on a flat surface then layer the same size fusible bag batting and the appliqued outer bag on top with right side up. Pin the layers together in each corner to hold, then fuse these layers together using a hot, dry iron and pressing on both sides to activate the glue.
  2. Divide the outer bag by marking a line from the un-appliqued side at 12½in with a Frixion pen, then another line 3½in from that line.
  3. Use a white thread to quilt as desired all over the fused outer bag. I used my background fabric as inspiration and stitched a large square spiral all over, then stitched around each applique shape. Within the 3½in marked section I stitched straight lines ¼in apart, this section will be the bottom of the satchel. Press to remove any pen marks.
  4. Layer the 3½in x 12½in outer side panels, bag batting side panels and the lining side panels in the same way as the outer bag and fuse together to make two side panels. Quilt these sections using white thread and straight lines ¼in apart as before.
  5. The size of the outer bag will shrink after quilting, trim the outer bag to a width of 13½in, then straighten both ends.

D Ring Holders

  1. Fold the two 3½in x 5in black and white background rectangles in half with right sides together and stitch down the length on the open edge, using a ¼in seam.
  2. Turn the strips through and press. Thread a D ring onto one end, fold the strip in half and stitch ½in from the fold to keep the D ring in place. Repeat to make two holder. Pin and baste a D ring holder to one short end of each of the two quilted side panels.

Binding

  1. Press one 2¼in black binding strip in half lengthways with wrong sides facing. Cut two 6in strips and one 15in strip.
  2. Sew the 6in binding strips to the one short end of each quilted side panel, making sure to stitch through the D ring holder, ¼in from the raw edge on the right side. Fold the binding over to the back and slip-stitch in place along the seamline with matching thread. Trim away any excess binding. Stitch the 15in binding strip to the un-appliqued end of the outer bag in the same way and trim the excess binding as before.

Outer Bag

  1. Mark a point on each corner, ¼in from the bottom edges of both quilted side panels using a Frixion pen. Mark these same points on both sides of the outer bag within the 3½in straight stitched satchel bottom section on the lining side.
  2. Pin the marked sides to the marked outer bag with lining sides facing. Stitch between the two marks on each side securing at both ends. Using a sharp pair of scissors, snip into the marked points on the outer bag being careful not to cut the stitching.
  3. Fold the un-appliqued edge up and pin the long edge of the side panel to this edge with linings facing. Stitch from the top edge to the marked point using a ¼in seam securing at both ends. Repeat for both long edges of each side panel. The satchel bag should now be taking shape.

Outer Bag Binding

  1. Join the three remaining 2¼in black solid binding strips together using 45 degree seams, trim and press the seams open. Press the strip in half lengthways with wrong sides facing.
  2. Starting at the top of one side panel edge and leaving 1in overhang, stitch the binding onto the outer bag using a ¼in seam. Continue all the way around the outer edge matching the raw edges and mitring the corners as you go and leave 1in overhang when you come to the end.
  3. Fold the 1in overhang in, then fold the binding over and slip-stitch in place with matching thread as before.

Magnetic Clasp

  1. Fold the outer bag front over and mark the positions for the magnetic clasp at the centre of the bag. Attach both clasp pieces through all quilted layers using the manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Fuse the set aside applique shape over the part of the clasp showing on the front outer bag front then stitch a small blanket stitch around the edge to secure with matching thread.

Handle

  1. Remove the selvedges from the two 3½in black solid fabric strips, stitch together end to end and press the seam open. Crosscut a strip 3½in x 52in then fuse the same size non-woven lightweight interfacing to the wrong side using a warm, dry iron.
  2. Fold the strip in half lengthways and then stitch around all three open sides using a ¼in seam and leaving a 4in gap for turning. Turn the handle through and press neatly.
  3. Using a black thread topstitch 1/8in around all edges, this will also close the opening, then stitch three straight lines through the centre evenly spaced apart.
  4. Thread one end of the handle through the centre of the tri-glide, fold the end over and stitch this end down 1in from the hardware to secure. Put a swivel clip onto the handle then thread the other end of the handle up one side of the tri-glide and down through the other side to create the adjustable section of the handle.
  5. Put the second swivel clip onto the other open end of the handle fold over and stitch the end down 1in from the hardware.
  6. Add the handle to the bag by clipping the swivel clips into the D rings, adjust using the tri-glide to the desired length and then enjoy your new satchel.

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