My 'handbag', and I use that word very loosely, is a large canvas cross body bag - which is something akin to Mary Poppins bag, only less exciting and definitely less organised!! I often need to transport kids stuff, my stuff, and now dog stuff around with me, and wanted something that I could put over my shoulder but also carry by the handles.
After searching my books and on-line I couldn't find anything that was quite right, so came up with my own version. The great thing about this 'Shopper bag' is the dimensions do not need to be exact. I suggest a size where the finished bag will measure approx: 43cm wide x 53cm long, as this makes best use of the fabric I suggest to purchase and offers a good roomy bag, but really there is no limitations to the size. I also wanted to show that you can mix all the fabrics you can purchase in my shop, be it from my basic range or from designers such as Tilda, Cath Kidston or Riley Blake to create a stunning Shabby Chic look.
Snowflakes and Strawberries Striped Reversible Shopper Bag Tutorial
What you will need: 5 x Fat Eigths pieces fabric (approx 27cm x 45/50cmcm) 1 x Half Metre (50cm x 112cm) piece fabric, sewing machine, scissors, thread, Rotary Cutter (optional).
Take your 5 Strips of fabrics and fold length-ways (to have a piece measuring approx 45 x 13cm) and cut along the fold to create 2 pieces measuring this.
Decide which one of the 5 fabrics you would like as one side of the handles for the bags. Take these 2 pieces and fold both of them again length-ways (to create a piece measuring approx 45cm x 6.5cm) and again cut along the fold of each. You will then have 4 pieces that should measure approx 45cm x 6.5cm. Put aside 2 of these pieces.
You are then going to do a really fun bit and decide the order of the fabrics for the front and back of your bag, Take 1 of each design for the front and pin the top strip to the next strip along the long edges with right sides together, and stitch a 1cm seam, joining all 5 pieces in the same way together (The one piece that you used for the handles of the bags will be less wide - but this just adds to the Shabby Chicness of the bag - join this piece in exactly the same way as the others). When joined together you should have a piece that measures approx 45cm x 53cm. Make up the back in the same way. I like to arrange the pieces in a different order for the front and back, but feel free to have the same pattern both front and back.
At this point I like to neaten the edges, which can be done with a rotary cutter - but equally as easy with a pair of scissors.
Once the edges are neatened - measure the dimensions of this piece and cut out 2 pieces of fabric from the half metre piece of fabric to this size.
To create the handles, from the half metre piece of fabric cut 2 pieces measuring 45cm x 6.5cm, match these together with the 2 fabric pieces you put aside when cutting the strips, right sides together and sew with a 1cm seam. Turn the right side, iron and sew a topstitch down each long side, this is optional - its just I'm really into my top stitching at the moment - I l blame the Great British Sewing Bee!
Take your two pieces of fabric that you joined all the pieces together, decide which will be the top of the bag and right sides together, pin and using a 1.5cm seam - stitch both sides and along the bottom. To create a flat bottom, to the bag, fold the side seam towards the bottom fold line, matching the seams, until the corner of the bag makes a triangle shape, and sew a straight line at 3cm across the point of the triangle - this will be the width of the bag bottom - (see picture) Do this on both sides, making sure the seams match up, now trim the triangles off (as shown by the black line) leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance.
Then take the two pieces that you cut from the half metre of fabric, and repeat as above, but leave a 15cm opening in the middle of the bottom of the bag.
With both your outer and alternative reversible bag pieces, both turned wrong side out, fit the alternative reversible piece into the outer piece, so that right sides are matching, and align the top edges. Imagine this like fitting 1 box inside another box.
From each side seam measure 10cm around the top on each side, both front and back and mark. Take one of your handles and position at the 10cm mark on one side, sandwiched between the 2 layers facing down into the bag and leave the raw edges pocking above the top and pin, then repeat for other side. (see below)
Then sew a 1.5cm seam all around what will be the top of the bag - securing the handles between the layers.
Next reach down in through the bag to the hole that you left at the bottom and through until you feel the handles then pull the whole bag through on itself. Slip stitch the hole at the bottom and then give the whole thing a good press - Hey Presto - A fab reversible Shopper Bag.
It would almost be big enough to carry our new Cocker Spaniel Puppy - though I don't think he would stay in it very long - since his second injections at 12 weeks hes been loving his beach, forest and town walks :-)
