Thursday

ClothesPin Bag Tutorial

Peg Bag
I found this adorable vintage fabric and I thought it would make a cute clothespin bag. This photo shows a lot more fabric than necessary, but I will break it down to what you really need to make this.

So here is how I did it.  You will need the following to make this project:
  1. Three fat quarters of complementary fabrics.
  2. A 14-inch piece of 3/4" wide elastic.
  3. A 13" x 6" piece of heavy-weight iron-on stabilizer.
  4. A small piece of hook and loop tape (aka Velcro). I used 1 1/2".
  5. A large button.
Starting with the main fabric, cut 1 piece, 21 1/2" wide by 14" long.
Using a second fabric for the lining, cut 1 piece, 21 1/2" wide by 14" long.
Take the third fabric and cut the following:
Ties: Cut 2 pieces, 21" x 3"
Button Flap*: Cut 1 piece, 13: x 5"
Bag Bottom and Bag Bottom Lining: Cut 2 pieces, 4" x 7"
Stabilizer: Cut 1 piece, 2" x 13" (for the flap) and 1 piece, 4" x 7" (for the lining bottom)

  1. Fold the main fabric in half, right sides together, lining up the 14" sides.  Sew along the edge with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
  2. Repeat Step 1 using the lining piece.
  3. Iron seams open.
  4. Mark the center of the bottom piece on the 7" side.  Line up the mark with the center of the seam of the main bag piece. Pin in place, right sides together, easing in the corners. 
  5. Sew the bottom to the main bag using the 1/2" seam allowance. Clip the corners.
  6. Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse the 4" x 7" piece of stabilizer to the wrong side of the lining bottom piece.
  7. Mark the center of the fused piece.
  8. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 using the lining piece and the stabilized bottom piece.
  9. Fuse the 2" x 13" piece of stabilizer to the wrong side of the button flap, placing it 1/2" away from one of the edges of the fabric (this will allow the stabilizer to sit inside of your seam when it is sewn).
  10. Fold the button flap piece, in half right sides together so you have a 13" x 2 1/2" piece. Sew a 1/2" seam allowance on the long edge and one of the ends. 
  11. Clip the corners and turn right-side out.  Do not worry about finishing off the open edge, it will be sewn in-between the main bag and the lining.
  12. Fold the tie pieces in half, lengthwise and sew a 1/4" seam allowance down the long edge stopping 1-inch from the bottom.
  13. With the needle down, turn the fabric on a 45-degree angle and sew to the opposite corner. 
  14. Cut off the corner.
  15. Turn the ties right-side out and press.  Do not worry about finish off the open edge, it will be sewn in-between the main bag and the lining.
  16. Lie the bag flat, with the seam facing up.  Pin the flap in the center of the seam.  Place the ties 2-inches to the outside of the flap and pin to the to.p of the bag. Baste the ties and flap to the bag.
  17. Insert the bag inside the lining, right sides together. Make sure the ties and flap are totally inside the bag. Pin the edges together. 
  18. Sew using a 1/2" seam allowance and leaving a 2-inch opening.  
  19. Turn the bag right-sides out through the opening. Press out some of the wrinkles for pulling it through that little hole.
  20. Push the lining inside the main bag making sure everything lines up nicely.  Press a nice crisp edge on the top of the bag.
  21. Mark the bag 1-inch from the top all around the bag. Stitch along the mark forming the bottom of the casing that will hold the elastic.
  22. Using the opening from turning the bag right-side out, insert the elastic and stitch the ends of it together. 
  23. Sew another row of stitching 1/4" from the top of the bag which will give the casing a nice finished look and close the opening all at the same time.
  24. Attach one side of the hook and loop tape to the underside of the flap piece.
  25. Attach the other side of the hook and loop tape to the center of the body of the bag right under the elastic casing.
  26. Add your personalized label.
  27. Hand-sew the button onto the flap.
And there you have it...your own homemade clothespin bag.
Clothes Pin Bag

* The size of the flap was determined by the size of my clothesline posts.  You could make it a lot shorter if you just wanted it to be a bag closure.  If so, I would cut that piece approximately 7" x 5".

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