IMPORTANT NOTICE! This is a text file. It may not print out properly in a web browser. If you are having problems printing this document, save it to your hard drive (select "save" in the "file" menu) And open it with any text editor, such as notepad, wordpad, or word. Copyright 2004 SavvySeams. Some rights reserved. Visit http://www.savvyseams.com/ or email info@savvyseams.com for more information. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA. The Mini Duffel Bag Instructions Download the pattern (PDF format) A mini duffel bag for carrying whatever you want. You could use this as a purse, an airplane carry-on or for a more specific purpose, such as my sewing bag made with print of old-fashioned sewing ads. For this project, you need 3/4 yard of outside fabric, 3/4 yard of sturdy fabric (like twill), 3 yards of webbing for handles or a strip of fabric at least 1.5 yards long, two 14" zippers, two 7" zippers, 3" of 1/2" velcro, and matching thread. The instructions are divided into three pages: The Beginning The Middle The End Click here for text-only printable instructions. Getting Started Step 1: Sew the two #1 pieces of fabric together at the bottom (the long side). Use a 1/2" seam allowance. Press the seam allowance open and do the same for the lining/sturdy fabric pieces. Step 2: Line up the fabric body and the lining body, right sides OUT. They baste together or zig-zag stitch around the edges. Step 3: Sew the lining and fabric pieces #2 along one end, with the right sides together. Use a 1/2" seam allowance. Step 4:Flip the piece right sides out and topstitch along the seam. Then baste or zig-zag stitch the rest of the piece together The reverse side for step 4. Steps 5-9 are to make straps out of fabric. If you are using webbing, skip to step 10. Step 5: Cut out strap fabric. You need two strips of fabric, 3" wide by 1.5 yards long. (Or shorter if you want shorter straps). Step 6: Take each strip and press in 1/2 lengthwise, right side out. Step 7: Open up the strip and press the edges into the center. Step 8: Now fold in the center again and press. Step 9: Edgestitch along each side. Step 10: Make one giant circle (not two circles) of strapping, stitching the two pieces end to end with zigzag stitching. Make sure you don't incorporate any twists. Step 11: Align the joined ends of the strapping on the middle seam of the bag body (indicated by the arrows). Step 12: Mark the strap 2.5" from the edge. Stitch on the strap following the topstitching on the strap (or where it would be if you used webbing). The stitching pattern is more apparently looking at the back (next photo). The stitching pattern used to attach the straps. It may help to use an iron-on basting tape (like Stitch Witchery) rather than pins to hold the straps in place while stitching. Step 13: Make "lashing points" to cover up the raw strapping edges. Cut 2 of piece 7 out of either fabric or lining fabric. Fold the edges under (1/4" allowance) and press. Step 14: Place the lashing points over the raw strapping edges.... ... and topstitch in place. The Middle Moving onto the ends and zippered pockets... Step 15: Remembering the "right sides together" mantra, pin and sew a 7" zipper to the top edge of fabric piece # 4. Step 16: Same deal, sew the top piece #5 to the zipper. Your end should look like this now. Step 17: Pin the lining piece #5 to the zipper, but on the other side, and sew in place. When you fold both up both piece #5's, the zipper tape will be in the middle. (see step 19 for the finished look). Step 18: Repeat on with lining piece #4. Step 19: Fold all the pieces away from the zipper and press. See step 21 for the back view. Step 20: Topstitch on both sides of the zipper. Step 21: Move the zipper pull into the middle and stitch across both ends of the zipper tape. The back view at this point. Step 22: Trim off the excess zipper tape. Step 23: Lay a lining piece and fabric piece #6 right sides together and stitch with a 3/8" seam allowance around the center. Clip the curve and turn right side out. Press. Step 24: Lay the zippered piece one top of one bag end (piece # 3). In the picture they don't line up exactly, but I've fixed the pattern so they should line up better in your bag. Step 25: Lay the border circle over the top. Topstitch along the inner circle (the arrow is pointing to the topstitching). Zigzag stitch around the outer edge. Be sure to keep the zipper pull in the middle until you're finished. The End - Finishing Your Bag Step 26: Sew the two 14" zippers to the top piece (from piece #2). Put the open end of the zippers at the finished edge. Remember, right sides together. Trim the seam allowance (but not the zipper tape!) to less than 1/2". Step 27: Press the seam allowance under so the zippers lie flat. Step 28: Fold the top edge for the zipper tape over the seam allowance and baste in place. Step 29: Topstitch 1/4" and 1/2" away from the zipper. The seals the unfinished side edges under the zipper tape. Step 30: Stitch a 3" strip of velcro (sticky half) to the underside of this piece between the opening end of the zippers (see step 33 for a picture). Step 31: Fold piece #8 in half and sew up the sides with a 1/2" seam allowance. Step 32: Turn right side out and topstitch. Stitch a 3" piece of velcro (the soft half) The other side looks like this. Step 33: Attach the top to the bag sides. Sew the other sides of the zipper to the bag piece. Remember, right sides together. Note that becasue the finished edge of the top already has the seam allowance tucked under, the top is 1/2" shorter than the bag. So line up the unfinished edge (the one w/o velcro). Step 34: Repeat for the other side. Now you have a barrel. Step 35: Trim the seam allowance to less than 1/2" inch (so it is smaller than the zipper tape). Step 36: As you did for the top piece, topstitch the zipper tape to the bag 1/4" and 1/2" away from the zipper. Step 37: Slightly gather the ends of the bag. Do this by stitching two lines of stitching with a large stitch length very close to the end. Then pull the bobbin thread so it gathers the fabric, as below. Also, trim off the extra zipper tape at the ends. To gather the fabric, stitch two lines of stitching with a large stitch length very close to the end. Then pull the bobbin thread so it gathers the fabric, as below. Step 38: Making sure the orientation of the pocket it corrent, pin the bag end. Start with the closed zipper end. Then stitch the end to the bag with a 1/2" seam allowance. Turn the bag right side out to make sure you are happy with the stitch, and if so, stitch again very close to the seam to make sure it is secure. Step 39: For the open zipper end, stitch piece #8 to the bag end at the top, using a 1/2" seam allowance. The velcro will face down at this point. Step 40: Now stitch this end to the open zipper end of the bag as in step 38. The velcro from piece #8 should stick to the velcro on the top piece. Step 41: Use seam binding or double fold wide bias tape to finish the edges. Attach with a zigzag stitch. Step 42: Handstitch the piece #8 to the bound seam to keep it in place. Another view of step 42. You bag is now finished! Hooray!