Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Cut your fabric pieces. You will need to cut canvas fabric (in a shade of deep orange-red if you want it to resemble Coraline's) in the following way: four pieces that are 12-by-15 inches, two that are 12-by-12 inches and two that are 3-by-30 inches.
Pin together two of the 12-by-15-inch pieces with the right sides facing. Sew around the two 15-inch sides and one 12-inch side, leaving the other side open. Repeat this with the other pair of 12-by-15-inch pieces.
Cut a 3-inch square out of the bottom corners of each sewn piece. Flatten this corner with the side seam centered and the cut edges lining up and sew across this cut edge; this will create depth to the bag. Repeat the sewing process on the other corners that you cut. These pieces will become the lining and the outer shell of the bag.
Pin the two 12-by-12-inch pieces together with right sides facing. Sew around three sides, then turn right side out. This is the flap for the bag.
Place the two long, thin pieces together with the right sides facing. Sew along the two long sides, then turn the tubes right side out. Top-stitch along the two long sides. This is the bag strap.
Take one of the pieces you sewed from Step 3 and turn it inside out. Fold down the top edge toward the wrong side by 1/2 inch; this is the lining. Fold down the top edge of the outer bag piece toward the wrong side by 1/2 inch as well and place the lining inside the outer section, lining up the side seams.
Sandwich the bag flap between the lining and the outer pieces, positioning the flap so that its raw edge is hidden between the lining and the outer section of the bag and the body of the flap sticks out. Pin this in place all along one 12-inch edge of the bag, going through all three layers -- lining, flap and outer layer.
Sandwich one short end of the strap between the lining and outer layers of the bag on one side, centering the strap against the side seams of the bag. Pin in place, then repeat with the other end of the strap on the other side of the bag. Be careful to keep the strap straight.
Pin around the remaining top edge of the bag to secure the lining to the outer layer. Sew a straight seam all around the top perimeter of the bag, going through the straps and the flap layers when you get to those points.
Use your sewing machine's buttonhole function to sew a large buttonhole in the flap, centered along the bottom edge and about 1/2 inch up from that edge. Hand-sew a large button to the outside front of the bag to line up with the buttonhole when the flap is closed.