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Classic Satchel | BAG WEEK | Melissa Nayler Variation
Moderate |
Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps
A timeless classic, which is great to use as a school bag or day-to-day. This cute satchel project will teach you a few useful sewing skills for all bag-making!
Six years ago, I made a modern take on a classic satchel. In celebration of ‘Bag Week’ my friend, co-author of A Year of Quilting and fellow designer has made this lovely floral adaptation of the satchel using tapestry fabric.
It’s amazing how the same project can have a totally different feel when different textures or colours have been used. This variation of the satchel is feminine and has a classic and maturer look.
Some of you may remember this project, and feel inspired to make the bag again, but for new members this may be your first time making the satchel! The step-by-steps below have been taken from the original project, but if you’d like to follow the video for extra guidance, please refer to this page.
Some words from Melissa...
‘It was great to re-visit Debbie's satchel, and I thoroughly enjoyed making it once again with tapestry fabric. Debbie's instructions are clear to follow and make a slightly more challenging project achievable by all, you will be thrilled with the result.
I love being a member of the Half Yard Club, the variety and availability of hundreds of projects in various sewing genres makes it suitable for everyone who wants to sew, beginners and the more experienced. It has a wonderful community feel and there's always someone to help you out when needed.’
Techniques used
By the end of this project, you’ll be comfortable at fitting the following to your bag:
The letterbox zip pocket is super handy; it is fitted into the lining before you construct the bag and can be made into any size that you like. Knowing how to create a letterbox zip is undeniably an invaluable skill to have in your repertoire, surprisingly easy and one of my favourite methods of adding a zipped pocket! Once you’ve got this technique nailed, you can apply it to future bags or accessories that you make, scaling it up or down according to the size of your project.
Expert help
Magnetic clasps annoyingly don’t come with instructions on how to fit them. Follow my method in order to add these fastenings without the clasps pulling and ruining your bag.
- When making your incisions into your fabric to fit the clasps, don’t cut them too big. You want the holders of the clasps to be stabilized snugly.
- I sandwich a piece of scrap fabric in between when attaching the clasp to its backing plate. This prevents the clasp from pulling.
Also best to keep in mind...
- If you use finer fabric, it may need support from a firm stabilizer but heavier fabric such as canvas may not need any at all.
- It’s advised to use non-directional fabric for this bag, since the flap comes over from the back of it – meaning part of the print would be upside down when using directional fabric!
- If you’d like to use a directional fabric, you could sew two pieces of fabric together with the prints in opposite directions before placing your pattern, with the seam in the centre.
Adding alternative embellishments
In the original project, I added some
If you haven’t tried these methods before, why not try adding:
- A Lazy Daisy stitch or stitching
- Fussy Cutting?
Difficulty
This project has been ranked as ‘moderate’ – don't be put off by this if you’re a beginner! Take your time and you’ll learn some useful bag-making skills along the way.
If you feel this is too difficult for the time being, it is recommended to turn to the Large Portable Craft Bag for your first time making a bag. This project will teach you how to make bag straps and utilize some top-stitching.
Here is a list of easy bags:
Note: use a ¼in (5mm) seam allowance.
If you'd like to chat with other members about making the satchel, remember to go to the forum or the Half Yard Sewing Club Facebook page.
For further bag inspo, you can also check out the Half Yard Sewing Club Pinterest.
MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up
You will need:
Equipment
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Hand sewing needle
- Scissors
- Pinking shears to snip into curves (optional)
- Free motion embroidery/darning foot for your sewing machine, if you’re embroidering the flap
- Ruler
- Erasable marker pen (I’ve used heat erasable; make sure to always test on a scrap piece of fabric first)
- Fabric glue pen (optional)
Materials
- 38 x 18in (96 x 45.75cm) of outer fabric
- 50 x 65in (127 x 165cm) of lining fabric
- 16 x 12in (41.75 x 30.5cm) of heavy fusible interfacing/foam stabilizer
- 32 x 12in (81.5 x 30.5cm) of fusible fleece
- 38 x 52in (96.5 x 132cm) of light-weight fusible interfacing
- Two 1in (25mm) rectangular rings
- One 1in (25mm) rectangular slider
- One magnetic snap
- One 9in (23cm) nylon zip
- Scraps of fabric for appliqué (optional)
- Adhesive sheet for appliqué (optional)
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Project steps:
Step 1
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Step 2
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