Summer of Sewing: Vintage 30s Drawstring Bag

Welcome back to our Summer of Sewing tutorials here at Inspired by Fabric! 

We'll be featuring regular tutorials as part of our Summer of Sewing series, all using our newest fabric lines that you can find at your local quilt shop! Our tutorials will include a chance to win a bundle of the fabric line being used, so make sure to enter each time!

This week we're featuring Barbara J. Eikmeier's Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures collection in a drawstring bag. This bag is perfect for carrying around your hand sewing or knitting projects, or anything about that size (bag measures approximately 17" x 13-1/2"). 

Here's a quick look at the Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures collection. Great reproduction-style prints plus coordinating solids from our Painter's Palette Solids line. We didn't use all of the fabrics in the collection, but we did use most of them! 

Let's get started!

You'll Need:

10-14 print fat quarters (the more fat quarters, the scrappier the bag)

1 blue solid fat quarter

2 different pink solid fat quarters (or 1/2 yard total) for lining

1/4 yard cream solid

24" x 40" piece of batting or thin flannel

Cutting:

From the fat quarters:

Cut a total of (42) 4-1/2" squares (if you use 14 like we did, cut 3 from each print)

From the blue solid:

Cut (2) 2-1/4" x 17" strips

From each of the pink solids:

Cut (2) 7-1/4" x 17-1/2" strips*

*Note: We pieced the lining with two different solids for added interest. If you'd prefer to just use one lining fabric, simply cut (2) 14" x 17-1/2" pieces.

From the cream solid:

(2) 2" x 42" strips for drawstring

Make the Bag:

1. Lay out the (42) squares in the orientation shown below. 

2. Sew the squares together in diagonal rows and then join the rows. 

3. Layer the pieced squares with the batting piece. Tip: If you'd like your bag to be less bulky and a little more floppy, use flannel instead of batting. Baste and then quilt as desired. (We quilted straight lines 1/4" on either side of the seams.) Trim the quilted piece to measure 17-1/2" wide by 28" tall. 

4. Fold each blue solid piece in 1/4" on each long side and press. Fold each short end in 1/2" and press. Stitch across the short ends to create a finished end. Measure 2-3/4" from a short end of the quilted piece and pin the blue strip in place, centering it widthwise.

5. Topstitch along both long edges to create a casing. Repeat on the opposite end with the second blue strip.

6. Fold the quilted piece in half, right sides together and stitch along both short sides. Backstitch at the top edge. This creates the outer bag.
7. If you're doing the pieced lining like we did, sew (2) 7-1/4" x 17-1/2" pink pieces together. Place the two lining pieces right sides together and sew around three sides, leaving an opening along the bottom for turning. 

7. Turn the outer bag right side out and tuck in the lining so right sides are facing. 

8. Align the raw edges and pin together, matching the sides seams. 

9. Stitch along the top edge. Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the lining. Sew the opening in the lining shut and then stuff the lining into the bag. Press the top edge of the bag and then topstitch to secure the lining and create a finished edge. 

10. Sew the (2) 2" x 42" cream strips short ends together using a diagonal seam. Press the strip in half lengthwise. Open and press both long edges in to the center fold.

11. Refold on the center fold line and topstitch along the entire strip to create the drawstring.

12. Attach a safety pin to one end of the drawstring and feed it through both casings. 

13. Make the drawstring ends even and trim off excess (do this when the bag is laying flat). Knot the ends together. Your drawstring bag is complete! 

For a chance to win a FQ bundle of Vintage 30s Ruby's Treasures, make sure you follow our blog! Leave a comment below letting us know that you do, as well as telling us which print you like best in this collection. The giveaway is open through Sunday, August 7th at 11:59 pm EST. We'll draw a winner and share it next week. 

Congratulations to the winner from last week's Dryad Snack Pack: SusanKQuilts
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