Going to make these bags for craft shows

[DevNAbbyMom]

It folds up to wallet sized for easy carry along, then unfolds to a nice roomy bag--a little bigger than a grocery sack! (approx 2 feet deep and a foot and a half wide).

This is all folded up!
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/jodee_p/DSC01788-1.jpg

And laying flat..
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/jodee_p/DSC01791.jpg

They are so cool! I started putting one in my diaper bag so if I get extra stuff from DS's group therapy to bring home, I am not trying to balance it all in my hands!

[thebeckery]

VERY cute! Do you have a pattern for this that you would be willing to share?

[MaeinTX]

I would love to make something like that for my mom and sisters for Christmas... are you willing to share the pattern or sell me one to copycat?

[DevNAbbyMom]

Right now my pattern is a paper bag so I don't know how well that would go over! :biglaugh::biglaugh:

I'm so bad at following regular patterns. I just come up with stuff and do it.

I could either make one and sell it to you so you can copy it or try to come up with a pattern. I don't care if people copy cat it. I copied it from one I saw similar to it and just made it up as I went along! If you can think of an easy way for me to tell you the pattern that you will understand, let me know. It is super easy to make and can be made by someone who sews at an average level in about an hour to 1 1/2 hours.

Let me think on how to explain instructions for it. I'd have to figure that out!

[carlislehomemom]

okay I need one for my mom! She would LOVE something like that...will you PM me about prices and such....the one you have pictured is a great pattern...have one like that to sell? PM me...what a great idea!

[MaeinTX]

http://whipup.net/2007/09/01/wallet-sized-fold-up-re-usable-shopping-bag/

[thebeckery]

could you give me the measurements and maybe I could kind of play around with it from there with a little coaching on the pocket part?

[DevNAbbyMom]

I'll get the measurements posted tonight after the kids go to bed. The front that folds into the snap closure is a pocket as well.

I'll post by 8 or 9 pm the measurements.

[thebeckery]

I'll get the measurements posted tonight after the kids go to bed. The front that folds into the snap closure is a pocket as well.

I'll post by 8 or 9 pm the measurements.


Thank you!

[roscoepc1]

Ok...the bag part is a breeze. The fold-up part, I believe, is quite simple too....a long rectangle, edges ironed to be sewn in, and the bottom sewn up about 3 inches to make the wallet top loose.

That's genius! I'm going to have to give one a go myself!

[DevNAbbyMom]

This is the best I can do and if you have any questions, let me know. It makes sense to me but that doesn't meant anything if anyone else can't understand what I am doing.

I am putting pictures with it to help.

Add a 1/4 inch seam allowance on either side of fabric (example: If the front of bag is 17 1/2 inches wide by 16 1/2inches long then start with 18 inches wide and 17 inches long to allow for seam)

The front and back of the main bag is 17 1/2 inches wide by 16 1/2 inches long.

Pocket (the striped part) is 5 1/2 inches wide by 11 1/2 inches long.

Work on pocket first. Sew a 1/4 inch hem around the whole pocket except for bottom edge. Round the edge slightly with scissors and then make the hem. Take 1 1/2 inch wide by 6 1/2 inches long piece of fabric that is the same as pocket and make a 1/4 inch hem around both long sides. Wrap the piece around the rounded edge of pocket so that 1inch is showing on each side of pocket edge (see close up picture) and sew across. Tuck side edges into the side that will be inside of pocket while sewing down to make a nice edge on either side. Add outside snap to rounded edge and inside snap to top of pocket edge making sure that when folded around itself that it will snap.

Attaching pocket to bag. Before sewing bag together, add pocket. Material will be 18 inches wide by 17 inches long because seems are not sewn yet. Place pocket with finished side of the bottom part of the snap facing outwards. Pocket is approximately 4 1/4 inches below the top with about 1 1/4 inches below it and 6 1/4 inches on either side of it. Sew down one side of pocket but leave the last 2 inches (2 inches at middle of rounded edge...see picture) not attached to bag so that there will be about 3 inches from sewn part of flap to the bottom of bag. Sew across and then back up other side. You should have the unfinished side of the snap at the top facing out and the finished side of the snap on the flap with the finish side facing out.

Sew 1/4 inch hem across the top of both sides of bag. Put two "right" sides of bag together and sew 1/4 inch seam around the remaining three sides. You should now have the bag almost done.

Cut two handles to be approximately 18 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide each. Make a 1/4 inch hem all the way around both handles. Pin each handle at top of bag making them approximately 1/4 inch in from the sides of the pocket (so they will tuck nicely when you fold bag up). Reinforce with X stitching after stitching a square around each attachment (see picture).

Folding: Fold one side evenly behind pocket, then the other. Fold bottom in and then handles down. Fold top part down twice (evenly) and then fold the whole thing in half. Your pocket should now snap and you have a bag on the go.

I don't know if any of this makes since. I don't "write" patterns but I am great at showing someone how to do something. If you have any questions, let me know.

Here are pictures that may help:

http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag1.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag2.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag3.JPG

http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag4.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag5.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag6.JPG

http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag7.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag8.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag9.JPG

http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag10.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag11.JPG http://www.mommysrealm.com/pictures/bag/bag12.JPG

[roscoepc1]

This is what I came up with for the pockets....dotted lines are for folding and tacking.

Hard interior lines are sewing lines.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/roscoepc1/pocket.jpg

:dunno:

[thebeckery]

Amy,

Thank you SO much for typing all that out and for the pictures! I appreciate it!

[DevNAbbyMom]

No problem. I tried to explain it as best as possible but if it doesn't make sense...I'm sorry! :lol: My brain sometimes works differently then others and I feel like I can't get my point across b/c nobody understands what I'm trying to explain! :gaah: :biglaugh:

If you have questions, let me know. I hope it is pretty self explanatory though. You kind of have to stick with those measurements or at least those ratios so it folds up right. If you are going to make it bigger, I'd suggest trying it out on a paper bag and folding it where you drew the pocket and see if it would fold properly. That is what I would do.

Hope that helps!

[Kelly]

Wow,neat bag!!!

[joy at home]

Very cool idea for a tote bag. What kind of fabric did you use...is it a reversible fabric or two layers of fabric? (In one of the pics, it seemed like the inside of the bag was a contrasting fabric to the outside?) Is it pretty durable, heavy duty or just a light weight cotton?

You have Great taste in fabric and the ones you paired up - Too Cute!!! :thumbup:

[dedife]

Cool idea! :)

[DevNAbbyMom]

Very cool idea for a tote bag. What kind of fabric did you use...is it a reversible fabric or two layers of fabric? (In one of the pics, it seemed like the inside of the bag was a contrasting fabric to the outside?) Is it pretty durable, heavy duty or just a light weight cotton?

You have Great taste in fabric and the ones you paired up - Too Cute!!! :thumbup:

It was plain cotton. The only part that was doubled up were the straps and the front pocket (just realized that I didn't put that in the instructions). Everything else is just the one layer. I think the inside looked a little different only b/c it was lighter being the "wrong" side of the fabric. It is pretty durable though. I wouldn't go putting like 50 lbs of stuff in it but for your basic needs it would serve you good. I'd say it could probably hold up with a gallon of milk in it (not that i would but that is an example of weight).

[paliz]

You can pm me a price for a completed one. That could come in very handy on library days.

[iamsoblessed]

Is your name on the list for the Christmas exchange?:giggle:

[DevNAbbyMom]

It sure is! :wink::giggle:

I pm'd those of you asking about these. Check your inboxes!

[MommaK]

My daughter loved this and wants me to make one for her!!

[sewinlove]

I love that Idea... may I steal the idea of it to make some totes to sell on my etsy store??? Just don't want you to go there one day and say HEY, what the heck... I said that on HAH....LOL, kwim!
I do love the idea and think it would be a great sell, with everyone going green, I have a great market tote that the front pocket thing would be wonderful with!
Denai
Thanks!

[DevNAbbyMom]

I know the person that I got the pattern from is going to sell at Etsy so I guess it would be up to you. I don't want to step on her toes. If she didn't sell there, I was thinking of it but not sure if I will.

[sewinlove]

THANKS... I may just use the concept and change it up a bit!
Denai