August 19, 2024
A friend recently gave me a bag full of brightly-colored floral fabric. One fabric made me smile because it reminded me of the floral patterns so typical of the 90s, similar to what my mom used to sew me clothes.
In my pursuit to encourage my children to read, an idea came to me for a project with this beautiful fabric. Why not make a library bag out of the fabric? On a recent library trip, we acquired a library card for my oldest, so I decided to memorialize the moment with a handmade library bag.
(The kind librarian gave my oldest a library bag which she quickly passed off to a sibling because “Mommy is making me a library bag.” Point for reading excitement!)
We actually used the bag from the library as our pattern for our handmade bag, and today I’d like to share the simple pattern that I came up with.
I have done my best to write out clear directions, but if something is fuzzy, please give me a holler!
Materials
--several yards of fabric, preferably 2 different patterns
--thread
--sewing machine and notions: scissors, pins, tape measure
Prepping the Fabric
1. Cut out two large rectangles measuring 15.5” by 33”. These rectangles will make the body of the bag (outside and liner).
2. On both ends of both the rectangles fold over the fabric about ½ inch and press with an iron (no need to double fold because the raw edge will be sewn later on).
3. Now we need to cut out fabric for the handles. Using a different fabric cut out 2 long strips measuring 5.5” by 66”.
(I promise my feet aren't dirty. I have a Chaco sandal tan...hehe).
4. Fold the handle fabric in half (hot dog style) so you end up with a 2.75” wide strip. Iron a crease down the length. Repeat with the second handle.
5. Take the two ends of the handle fabric and put them together. Using scissors round off the corners. Repeat with the second handle. You don’t have to do this, but it created a cute, tailored look.
Sewing the Handles
1. First, let’s start by sewing the handles. (Hint: We are NOT sewing the two pieces together!) Open each handle and fold over with the pretty sides facing in. With the pretty side facing in, start at one end of a handle and sew almost to the other end. I stopped where the curve started.
2. Turn the handle inside out. A trick I remember in a college sewing class is to take a pencil with a good eraser and insert the eraser end into the fabric opening. Use the tackiness of the eraser to “grab” the fabric and pull it out.
3. Now it’s time to finish off the handle (i.e. sew up the opening). I wasn’t worried about being really precise, so I just used my fingers to fold the fabric in. Then I did a quick stitch to close off the fabric.
4. Repeat this whole process with the second handle piece. I hope you have a handle on this situation (sorry, I couldn’t resist…lol).
Sewing the Bag
1. Sew a simple hem at each end of the large rectangles (the part where you pressed a hem). Again, there’s no need to tuck the raw fabric under because we will be sewing the two bags together later.
2. Position one of the large rectangles as it will be as a final product (this will be the outside layer). Set your handles in place as you want them (I measured about 3 inches in from each side). Pin the handles in place.
3. Open the bag so you have a large rectangle (with the handles pinned on). Sew the handles in place. I sewed down each side of the handles.
4. Now take the rectangle (with the handles sewn on) and fold it in half to form an inside out bag (pretty sides facing in). Sew seams down the sides of the bag. Turn the bag inside out.
5. Take the remaining large rectangle and fold it in half with the pretty sides facing in. Sew seams down the sides of the bag. Do not turn this bag inside out.
6. Insert the 2nd bag into the 1st bag (the one with the handles).
7. Align the seams from each bag and pin in place. Sew around the top lip of the bag (which will close off the raw edges).
Finishing the Handles
1. Loosely tie the handles together. Try not to make it too fat or your machine may not be able to sew through (the problem I encountered).
2. In the middle of the handle, sew a straight stitch back and forth several times.
3. Finish the look by tying the handle ends together.
4. Voila! You have a cute library bag!
It’s always hard knowing what to photograph in the middle of a project, and invariably as I type directions later on, I think of many shots that I should have taken. I apologize if I failed to take a photo that would have really helped you. Hopefully the directions are clear enough to get you through!
Happy sewing!
-Ashley
Personal Disclosure
As the author of Ashley Qurollo Blog, all opinions are my own. Any possible applications are universal in nature, not directed at any one individual or people group. My sincere desire is to help others by sharing what I am learning. Nothing stated on this blog is ever intended to hurt others. Ashley Qurollo, owner of Ashley Qurollo Blog and Website, is not held liable in any way for any application of the ideas and thoughts stated here.
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What a great way to use up extra fabric!