This post is for you! I'm going to guide you in the most basic bag making. This basic bag tutorial doesn't include closure, pockets, etc. It's just so you know the work itself. Sorry for the poor pictures, excuse the Paint...
First, materials and toolst:
-I would really recommend getting a sewing machine if you don't have it yet. Sewing in hand is possible, but will take you a lot of time.
Get a few threads. Mostly basic colors like black and white.-
-Your machine will need needles. There are a few levels of strength of needles. Some are for thick fabrics and some for thin fabrics.
-Chalk for fabrics. There are special chalks for sewing purpose. I would recommend getting a few colors, because not all of them will be seen on certain fabrics.
-Sewing pins. I would recommend getting strong ones, not the toy ones.
-In hope that you won't need it, but probably will: seam ripper.
-Measuring tape.
- Good scissors for cutting fabric only. Don’t use them for other purpose. Plus, you might want to get small scissors that will cut the thread when sewing on your machine.
-To make your life easier, you can purchase rotary cutter, plus special cutting mat for this purpose and a ruler for the same purpose. You need all three if you want to cut easier and faster (like a few fabrics at once). But it's not a rule, you can just use scissors. If you decide not to buy these, you will still need a ruler.
-And of course the thing you won't be able to make a bag without: fabrics! Pick what you want. But not every fabric you like, because it will need to fit your purpose, which is bag. Therefore I wouldn't recommend a thin fabric. But it depends on what kind of bag you want to make.
I know it's a lot, but if your serious about it, you will need all of it.
Later on, you will know what else you need. But the above are the basic things, musts.
Now, remember that your first bag won't come out as great as you see at the store. But if you know the basics – this is how I started – you can easily learn how to get better, and make more and more complicated bags. You might want to read tutorials. But understanding tutorials might be a little difficult if you haven't seen one before, and haven't sewn a bag before. Once you understand the concept, it will get easier.
So now you have everything. I'm not gonna teach you right now how to make a great design or something, I want you to start with something a little less confusing. I promise to make more complicated tutorials for you later on.
Okay, first pick your fabrics. There should be one fabric for the exterior, and one for the interior (the lining). There are 2 terms in sewing world that you should know so you will understand what the hell they're talking about in the tutorial: right side and wrong side. The right side of the bag is the side that you do want to be seen. The wrong side of the fabric will be inside the bag and won't be seen. The wrong side is the side you will mark on.
In this tutorial you'll see in each picture the right side and wrong side, and exterior fabric and lining fabric, to make it easier for you:
After choosing the fabrics, and before cutting, choose the size you want your bag to be. Now add the seam allowance (inch or cm, whatever you work with) – when marking and cutting, because after sewing, the size will be smaller, so you need to calculate the size of the bag you want to be in the end, and add a cm/inch. You will always have to take it into account when choosing the size. After measuring, cut the fabrics in the shape you want. Right now I will recommend making a rectangle or another squary shape. You will need to cut 2 of each – 2 for the exterior and 2 for the lining. Of course you will mark the measurements first on the wrong side of the fabric with chalk.
Now make the strap/s. your can either choose to make one strap or two straps. There is more than one way to make straps. One option is by cutting a long strap (or two) that is wide enough, because you need to mark the middle line of the strap by drawing it or by folding it to half and iron it. After you know the middle line, fold again the two sides onto the middle line. Then another fold. Oh, and the fold must be inwards (wrong sides together):
Another way to make a strap is: again, pick the width. Now double its width, and add one more (inch or cm) seam allowance. This time you will fold the strap right sides together. Pin the open side. You now sew it together, like this (leave one side open):
You will need to turn it inside out. Take a pole or anything long enough that can also fit the width after the sewing. Press the pole to the closed end (in the right, in the picture) and push it thought the whole length of the strap, until it sprouts in the other end. Now it's all inside out, the right side of the fabric is outside. Fix the edges and corners, and press with an iron. You'd better sew the edges if you want it to look nice. That's the strap!
If you want two straps (handles) make another one. With two handles, they will be placed in the middle of the bag, and one strap in the sides. But this is for later.
Next…. Sewing the fabrics together. Remember that you cut the pieces? Let's turn them into a bag!Take the two pieces of each and do the same for the two pairs: sew the two of each together, right sides together (the wrong side is facing outside), but in the lining fabrics leave an opening (you will understand later, this is extremely important!). The part you don't want to be shown will be now outward. Sew like this:
Turn the lining inside out. Leave the exterior the same for now.
Adding the strap/s: you will sew the strap/s to the exterior piece… Place the strap where you want it (in the sides of the bag for one strap, and in the middle of both sides for two straps). You should place it inside the bag piece. Pin and sew the strap to the bag piece, a few times to make sure it's strong enough and can carry heavy stuff.
After sewing the strap/s, it's time to bring everything together:
Take the lining piece and place it inside the exterior piece (reminder: the lining is right side out). You will basically sandwich the strap/s between the two pieces:
Pin and sew around the top edge. Now the two pieces are attached to each other:
Remember the opening you left in the lining? You will now reach into the bag, through that opening and turn the whole thing right side out.
Last thing… closing the opening in the lining. Just sew it, and that's it! That's the basic bag! I would recommend that you will press and sew around the top edge.. It will be a nice finish.
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