It been a few years now since my baby girl had her first day at school but it seems just like yesterday. My eldest is starting secondary school in a couple of weeks - it's almost too hard to get my head around!
Over the next couple of week I will be posting a series on Back to School sewing including labelling, lunch boxes, pencils & more.
Today I'm starting with a library bag tutorial. It's really basic and can be made with or without an overlocker. I have chosen to just use my sewing machine so you can see that neat finishing off can be achieved without an overlocker too!
You will need:
1 fabric piece 90cm wide x 40 cm high
1 pocket piece 28cm wide x 24cm high
1 border strip 90cm wide x 11cm high
1 cord piece 120cm in length
2 cord ends
1 spring toggle
Start making the pocket (you can use this tutorial to get perfect pocket corners).
Fold in and press the remaining edges of the pocket. Fold large fabric piece in half and place pocket where you would like it to go (usually centred) and pin to top layer only.
Open up the large fabric piece and sew pocket on.
Sew the fabric band to the top of the larges fabric piece
With the right sides facing each other, sew the two sides together.
Important: Start your seam in the contrasting fabric about 9cm down from the top. You need to leave the top so you can thread your cord through.
Iron open your side seam so the top band of fabric is folded back.
Fold over a small hem on the top edge and press (5mm).
Then fold over the top edge again until it sits just over the joining seam as the picture seam. Use lots of pins to make sure it is even.
If you turned it in the right way, it would look like image 1.
Open flat at the seam (turned in the wrong way)
I always start at the seam join and run my machine back & forth a few times to add strength.
Once you have done this, turn in the right way and sew edging seam. I have used a contrasting thread so it must be neat. You could use a matching thread if you don't want the seam so noticeable.
Thread your cord, add toggle & cord ends.
Give it a final press and you are done!
6 comments:
oohh, I am going to love these posts Jodie!
my big one is turning 5 in Feb & starting prep aswell..soo many big things to get teary about.
hope you are keeping dry ♥
What a great library bag, I'm thinking it would make a fantastic 'dirty clothes' bag for school camp too! Can't wait to see what else you have to show us! X
Great tutorial - but where did you get the toggle and ends from.
The toggles & cord ends can usually be found in the button aisle at your local haby store. Either in hang sell packets of button tubes.
I am from California. What is a library bag? Do children use it to carry books to and from school? Super cute pattern. Do you use heavy weight fabric?
A library bag is usually required in most Australian Primary Schools. Children use it to place their reader books and/or library books in it. It then usually goes into the children's school bag :)
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