Deb’s Handbagz Handbags Instructions

BAG SIZE: 12” x 9” x 4 1/2” (31cm x 22cm x 12cm)

BLOCKS
Cut and piece two 8” Handbagz blocks omitting the appliqued handle from the top section. We stitched one Handbagz block with a secret compartment and chose to cut the flaps on the diagonal - allow more fabric for this.

CUTTING GUIDE FOR THE BAG
front & back bottom borders - 1 1/2” x 8 1/2” (cut 2)
front & back side borders - 2 1/2” x 9 1/2” (cut 4)
sides/base - 5” x 30 1/2”
bag handles - 6” x 5” (cut 4)
appliqued handles - 6” x 7” (cut 2)
lining for front & back - 12 1/2” x 9 1/2” (cut 2)
lining for sides/base - 5” x 30 1/2”
batting for front & back - 14” x 11” (cut 2)
batting for handles - 6” x 5” (cut 2)
batting for sides/base - 6” x 32”

BAG CONSTRUCTION
1. FRONT AND BACK
Stitch the bottom borders to each block.
Stitch the side borders to each block.
Sandwich the front, back and sides/base with batting only.
Staystitch the edges to keep them neat.
Quilt. We used a straight wavy lines on one bag and diagonal wavy lines on the other to blend with the chosen fabrics.
Trim batting to fabric size.

2. BAG HANDLES
From a 6” wide by 5” high scrap of paper make a template;
Draw a curved shape handle within the rectangle, leaving room for and drawing a 1/4” seam allowance on the outer edge.
Allowing 1 1/4” as the handle’s width, draw the inner curve. Again add a second line for the 1/4” seam allowance. Your template is cut on the outer line.
Cut out four handles using the template as your guide.
With right sides together place two handle sections on top of their batting. Using a small machine stitch, stitch these sections together. Trim the batting equal to the fabric and turn right sides out.
Topstitch both sides of each handle.

3. CONNECTING THE SIDES/BASE
Divide and mark the sides/base to place the corners at intervals of 9 1/4”, 12” and 9 1/4”. Using these points as a guideline, pin the front to one side of the sides/base, face together, snipping the corners of the
sides/base back to the seam line to accommodate the corner stretch.
Stitch.
Repeat with the back.

4. LINING
Follow the same procedure as for CONNECTING THE SIDES/BASE with the lining but this time leave an opening of approximately 4” in one bottom seam.

5. TO FORM THE BAG
Turn the quilted bag section face out.
To attach the handles: We have allowed approximately 1/2” seam allowance to the bottoms of the handles. Position and pin the handles to the front and back bag sections with right sides facing.
To attach the lining:
Place the lining over the bag so they sit face together.
Pin the top edges together. Stitch.
Turn the bag face out using the lining opening.
Slipstitch the opening closed.
Top stitch the top edge of the bag to hold the lining in place.

6. APPLIQUED HANDLES
From scrap paper draw and cut a curve, 1/2” wide plus seam allowance to fit within the handle section/template. The handle will need to be extended approximately 2 1/2” in length on both sides to allow it to be appliqued to meet the handbagz block.
Cut out two appliqued handles
Hand applique in place.

7. TO FINISH
To make our bags sit sweetly we stitched a holding seam at the middle of both sides - 1” long and 3/4” in from the fold.
Place the templastic in the base.
Stitch a button on to each Handbagz flap.

made by Debbie Ogilby, 2003
©Copyright Jan Mullen 2004