[8] |
We’ll start with the closure straps. After I finished my bag, I found mine was too long. (I made this project up as I went.) So I have adjusted the length of the pieces in the pattern instructions above.
For each strap (the one with the D-ring and the one with the clasp), press the sides to the center. |
[9] |
Then fold the whole thing in half, lengthwise, so the raw edges are hidden. Loop a D-ring through the short strap and a clasp through the long strap. |
[10] |
I had already sewn my flap piece when I decided I wanted to do the closure like this, so that’s why my picture looks like this. I unstitched to add this. Place your strap down the center of the outer flap piece, with the raw edges lined up with the top of the flap.
Stitch down the right side of the strap, stopping about two inches above the bottom. Pivot, stitch across, then stitch back up the other side.
NOTE: My strap hangs down pretty far in this picture. Like I said above, it was too long and I ended up adjusting it later. So yours doesn’t need to hang down this far. It should be shorter. |
[11] |
Take your two flap pieces (one outer fabric, one lining) and place them right-sides together, along with the Insul-Bright. The silver should face the side with nearest the food. Sew around the sides and bottom, leaving the top open. Be sure not to catch your closure strap. Turn and press. |
[12] |
Top stitch around the flap, but do no catch the closure strap in the top-stitching. In this picture, the top edge is left unsewn. |
[13] |
Now let’s start on the outer bag.
Baste your Peltex to your outer bag pieces, including front, back, sides and bottom. If you bought fusible Peltex, fuse it on instead.
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[14] |
NOTE: I have to add something here before you do this step. I don’t have a picture. Add the small closure strap with the D-ring to the bottom of the front piece. Line up the raw edges of the strap with the bottom of the bag and sew up one side, across under the D-ring and back down the other side. I added this step after the fact and it was a huge pain. You should do it here. Look at the main photo to see what it looks like.
Sew your bag front and back to the bottom pieces along the long edges. In this pattern, the three pieces are identical. But take note that if you are using a directional fabric, like this one, one of the pieces has to face a different way so that it’s right-side up in the end.
Start and stop sewing 1/2 inch from each end. This will help later. |
[15] |
Sew one of your small side pieces to each side of your bag front piece. Line up the top edges of the pieces and let the overhang be at the bottom seam. Stop sewing 1/2 inch from the bottom, at the seam. There should be a tiny bit left unsewn. You’ll need this when you sew it to the bottom.
If this is confusing, open the picture bigger and examine.
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[16] |
You’ll end up with this. Now sew the other side of each of those side “flaps” to the back piece. |
[17] |
It will look like this. Notice how the bottom seam of the side pieces remains unsewn. |
[18] |
Pause and take note that your newly crawling baby has opened your bobbin case and dumped them everywhere. Note that said child has one dozen invisible arms and will shovel those bobbins into his mouth as fast as you can snatch them away. This Tiny Tornado will also grab pins out of your pincushion and wrap the iron cord around his neck. You never knew sewing could be so dangerous.
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[19] |
Now that Tiny Tornado is safe destroying Daddy’s CD collection, sew the bottom side seams. Now is when it comes in handy that you didn’t sew all the way to the ends of the earlier seams. It allows you to pivot and manipulate the corners better.
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[20] |
Turn your outer bag right-side out and push out the corners. Add the flap by placing it right-sides together with the back piece of your bag, raw edges together and baste across. |