Cross Stitch Storage Bag for Mom

Now that I have completed all the items going to Thailand (which is happening in less than a week!), I'm moving on to some bags. I currently I have more scraps from making clothing than I know what to do with, so I opened up the offer to family members. First up is my mother, the avid cross-stitcher, for whom I made a bag for her cross stitch materials and projects!

 The bag is something of a combination of two styles out of the Simple Bags book (look in the right column of my blog under "on the sewing table" -- I should be making a master list of the books and patterns I use soon), a jewelry pouch and an embroidery bag. To fit her materials in I made it a little bit bigger than the example. The fabric was from my Label Dress (Dress "m") out of One Piece is the Best (also in the column>>). I lined in cream cotton and put in some iron on interfacing.This post could be considered part-tutorial part-experience example.

 The embroidery bag.

The jewelry pouch.

Because my scraps were not long enough, but plenty wide, I cut them in half and stitched them to mirror each other, so that when folded they would both be right side up.

Lining was cut by tracing size of the outside fabric, both on fold.

I then cut pockets (three total). My mom needed a pouch for glasses, so I used a method similar to the back of a pillow case, making two pockets overlap, open ends together. I used my own glasses for scale.

Pin and sew the pockets to lining and interfacing. Keep in mind that the bag will fold together when done.

Cut handles and button loop.

Fold long, raw edges of handles to the center, then fold in half and iron. Sew over long edges.

Pin loop and handles to the outside with raw edges in the same direction.

Place lining over that, right sides together. Sew together around edges leaving an open spot to turn it right side out.

Turn it right side out. I went ahead and topstitched where it was open, close to the edge, and on both sides to make it even. I also stitched under the handles.

The inside: two large pockets and one for glass or smaller things.

Found this cute tutorial for origami dresses and hope to make them for room decor!

Happy Sewing!